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Right to Natural Gas (Initiative #177)

On the ballot

Colorado · November 2026 general election · Constitutional amendment · Election day November 3, 2026
Topics: Civil rights, Energy and environment

In plain language

This initiated constitutional amendment would create a right in the Colorado Constitution for consumers to purchase natural gas for cooking or heating in homes or businesses, and for distributors and utilities to sell natural gas for those purposes. Legislative Council Staff notes that local governments with building codes that restrict or prohibit natural gas in new residential and commercial construction would need to bring those codes into line with the new provision. Because it adds language to the state constitution, it requires 55 percent approval to pass.

Fiscal impact

Legislative Council Staff's initial fiscal impact statement (March 9, 2026) projects no change in state revenue, state expenditures, transferred funds, TABOR refunds, or state FTE in FY 2025-26 or FY 2026-27. It notes the measure may increase state agency workload and legal services related to building-code technical assistance and the state's greenhouse gas emissions reduction plan, and would increase costs for local governments that must conform their building codes and permitting processes. Legislative Council Staff notes it may revise this estimate for the Blue Book.

Summarized from the official fiscal analysis listed in the sources below. Figures are the state's, not this site's.

What supporters and opponents say

These are summaries of arguments made by the named organizations, drawn from the sources listed below. They are their claims, not this site's, and this site takes no position on the measure.

What supporters say

  • Michael Fields, president of Advance Colorado, which filed the initiative, says natural gas is "a clean, reliable and affordable form of energy that more than 70% of Colorado homes use today" and that the right to use it should be protected.
  • Ballotpedia reports it has not identified a registered campaign committee supporting the measure as of its most recent review.

Attributed to Advance Colorado.

What opponents say

  • State Rep. Julie McCluskie (D-13) says the initiative is "overly broad, lacks clarity and could upend years of work to craft durable policy" on air quality, transit, and cleaner energy.
  • State Rep. Jennifer Bacon (D-7) says the measure is poorly drafted and that its lack of definitions creates ambiguity that could affect safety.
  • Gov. Jared Polis (D) questions granting a constitutional right to an explosive material without an accompanying regulatory framework.

Attributed to the sources cited below.

Official ballot language

Reproduced verbatim from the state's certified ballot text.

Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado Constitution creating new law granting the right for consumers to purchase natural gas for cooking or heating in homes or businesses and for distributors and utilities to sell natural gas to consumers?

Sources

Everything on this page traces to these sources. Follow them to read the original documents.

Last updated . How this page is sourced and corrected is described in the correction policy.