What a session it's been! The Colorado General Assembly adjourned on May 13, and from the Capitol steps to the Governor's desk, COCPA members and staff showed up in a big way during the 2026 legislative session — and the results speak for themselves. Here's a look back at the highlights of a year that moved the needle for Colorado's accounting profession.

It all kicked off on January 27 with our annual PAC the House day at the State Capitol. Members and staff from across the state gathered to meet face-to-face with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, including licensure bill sponsors Sen. William Lindstedt, Sen. Lisa Frizzell, and Rep. Rebekah Stewart, as well as legislative friends like Sen. Scott Bright and Rep. Katie Stewart. The energy in those halls was great — whether the conversations touched on professional licensure, tax policy, or just the basics of what CPAs do for Colorado's families and businesses, our members showed up as passionate, credible advocates. These are exactly the kinds of relationships that pay off when it matters most. We're also deeply grateful to Daniel Furman of Furman Political Strategies, whose tireless work at the Capitol on behalf of COCPA throughout the session helped make so much of this possible.

And the timing of PAC the House couldn't have been better, because just days later, SB26-076 — the CPA Licensure Modernization bill — was formally introduced in the Colorado General Assembly. The product of years of careful stakeholding with COCPA members, educational partners, firms, and policymakers, the bill creates three flexible pathways to CPA licensure: a traditional bachelor's degree plus 30 additional credit hours and one year of experience; a new bachelor's degree plus two years of work experience pathway; and a master's degree plus one year of experience option. All three pathways continue to require passage of the Uniform CPA Exam and a board-approved ethics exam, preserving the rigorous standards that make CPAs trusted advisors. The bill gained unanimous committee support and sailed through both chambers. Governor Polis signed SB26-076 into law on May 4, and COCPA is now actively engaged in the rulemaking process with the State Board of Accountancy to put the law into effect. As we do that, we want your input — visit cocpa.org/legislative-advocacy/licensure-pathways to stay informed and share your voice.

The session wasn't all smooth sailing, though. COCPA also had to play defense against two problematic tax bills — HB 26-1221 and HB 26-1222 — that would have imposed roughly $580 million in new taxes on businesses while significantly decoupling Colorado's tax code from federal law. These bills would have created enormous compliance burdens for firms and their clients, with some depreciation differences requiring tracking for up to 27 years. COCPA President and CEO Alicia Gelinas, CPA, testified directly against these bills, warning legislators about the "complexity debt" these measures would pile onto an already strained profession. Keeping Colorado's tax code manageable isn't a partisan issue — it's a practical one that affects every business and every taxpayer in the state.

All told, the 2026 session was a powerful reminder of what's possible when COCPA members engage. Whether testifying at committee hearings, showing up for PAC the House, or simply writing a letter to a legislator, your participation is what makes this advocacy work. We're already looking ahead to the next session — and the rulemaking work happening right now — and we'd love to have you with us every step of the way. Stay connected at cocpa.org/legislative-advocacy.