Submitting to the registered electors of the state of Colorado an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning a person's inalienable rights related to their children.
Summary
HCR26-1004 is a proposed Colorado constitutional amendment that would ask voters in the 2026 general election whether to add a specific parental right to the state constitution. The measure would expand the existing list of inalienable rights in Article II, Section 3 to expressly include the right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children.
Because this is a concurrent resolution, it does not itself change statutory law; instead, it places a ballot question before the electorate. If approved by at least 55% of voters, the amendment would become part of the Colorado Constitution and would have the effect of elevating parental authority in these areas to a constitutional right, potentially affecting how state and local laws are interpreted when they touch on child-rearing, schooling, and child welfare.
Impact
The resolution would not amend the Colorado Revised Statutes directly. Its legal effect would be to submit a constitutional amendment to voters, and if adopted, to modify Article II, Section 3 of the Colorado Constitution by adding parental rights language. That change could influence future disputes involving education policy, family law, child welfare, and government regulation affecting parents’ decisions about their children’s upbringing, education, and care.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been introduced with clear support from a group of sponsors, including members from both chambers, suggesting interest in advancing the proposal. However, the only recorded committee action was a postponement indefinitely in the House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee on April 20, 2026, which indicates the measure did not advance out of committee and likely faced insufficient support or unresolved concerns. No floor votes or committee debate transcripts are available in the provided record.
Contention
The central point of contention is the scope and effect of elevating parental decision-making to an inalienable constitutional right. Supporters likely view the amendment as protecting parental authority over children’s upbringing, education, and care, while opponents or skeptics may worry it could limit the state’s ability to regulate schools, child welfare, health, or other matters involving minors. The committee’s decision to postpone indefinitely suggests there may have been concern about the breadth of the language or its potential conflict with existing governmental responsibilities.