Proposed amendment
What would Amendment 85 require?
Amendment 85 proposes a constitutional requirement that ballot questions use plain language and no more than an eighth-grade reading level.
Colorado · 2026 ballot
Amendment 85,
on the record.
What it says. What it changes.
And where to read it for yourself.
Proposed amendment
Is eighth grade a target or a ceiling?
A ceiling. The proposal says “at no more than” an eighth-grade reading level. Simpler wording would still fit that requirement.
Proposed amendment
Does it cover local ballot questions too?
Yes. The official ballot question describes a requirement for all state and local ballot questions, not just statewide initiatives.
Proposed amendment
What happens to conflicting statutory wording?
The proposal would bar a statute from interfering with the plain-language requirement by mandating wording before, after, or within an initiative’s ballot title.
Current law
Didn’t Colorado already pass a plain-language law?
Yes. HB26-1320 became law in 2026. It requires accessible language in titles set by the title board. Amendment 85 is a separate proposed constitutional change.
Initial estimate
What does the fiscal estimate say?
The initial fiscal impact statement dated May 5, 2026 identifies “Minimal State Workload.” It projects no change in state revenue or expenditures in its two-year table.
No questions in this topic.
Behind the answers
The record is open.
The ballot listing, final text, fiscal statement, and related law. Read the documents in full, not just our excerpts.
Browse the sources