JBC votes to redirect $10M from Prop EE tobacco education to preschool fund, directs bill drafting

The Joint Budget Committee voted 6–0 to pursue redirecting $10 million that otherwise would reduce general fund support for Colorado’s universal preschool (UPK) program by shifting the planned Proposition EE tobacco education increment into the preschool cash fund.

Vice Chair Bridges framed the proposal as a one‑time redirection rather than a permanent reallocation, saying, “I think the idea is rather than those dollars accruing in there and then going out to those programs, that we would, send those dollars instead to UPK.” Kelly Shinn, Joint Budget Committee staff, explained the statutory timing behind the proposal: “For each fiscal year commencing on or after 07/01/2027, the tobacco education amount goes to 30,000,000 from 20,000,000,” meaning the scheduled increase is tied to future fiscal years but the receipts will begin to accrue earlier.

Committee members asked whether the transfer would require standalone legislation or could be reflected in the long bill. Staff recommended preparing a separate appropriation clause that would swap $10 million of general fund UPK dollars with the tobacco education cash fund and drafting language in the transfer bill or as a separate bill if needed. Director Harper and other budget staff said they would build the assumption into balancing and reflect the change in long‑bill narrative even if the language did not run with the package.

Chair and committee members emphasized the action was intended as a one‑time fix to reduce near‑term general fund pressure; they directed staff to “go to draft” on the concept and to try to run it with the long bill if feasible. The motion to send the concept to drafting passed unanimously.

Next steps: staff will draft appropriation language and advise whether the provision will be filed as an amendment in the long bill or as a standalone transfer bill. The committee recorded the motion as approved 6–0.