Seasons. While there are four universally recognized seasons — winter, spring, summer, and fall — county government typically experiences three: construction season, budget season, and, of course, legislative season.

Colorado’s 2026 legislative session kicked off last week and will run until May 13. That’s a lot of time to introduce a lot of bills that will have a lot of impact on Weld County residents.

As Gov. Polis heads into his last year and the state is looking at a huge budget deficit (estimated at more than $800 million), the public should expect bills and discussions that could include the state cutting programs, adding “fees” to services, and challenging local control.

Energy

For years, Weld County Commissioners have taken proactive involvement on bills aimed at further regulating the energy industry, specifically oil and gas.

In fact, the passage in 2019 of Senate Bill 181 (which changed the mission of the Colorado Oil and & Gas Conservation Commission from one of fostering oil and gas development in the state to one of regulating that development) led to the creation of the county’s oil and gas energy department, allowing the county to continue to have proactive say in the development and support of those energy resources.

Today, the board of commissioners continues to advocate for responsible and reasonable energy production, including testifying in support of House Bill 25-1040, which added nuclear energy as a clean energy resource.

In 2026, the county expects the state to move forward with a renewable energy siting bill, which likely will aim to put siting authority for things such as wind, solar, storage, and transmission projects with the state rather than with the local government entity.

As a strong and vocal proponent of local authority, expect the commissioners to testify in support of maintaining local control in every way possible, as they vehemently believe the best decisions for county residents are made at the county level.

Air

Often tied with energy production regulations are air quality regulations, another topic the commissioners watch vigilantly. In fact, Weld County staff from various departments, including the health department, the oil and gas energy department, and the county attorney’s office, participate regularly in various discussions and policy groups to ensure Weld County’s voice is heard, and local government has a seat at the table when decisions are made.

Since installing three air quality monitoring towers across the county in 2020, Weld County has collected and shared valuable ozone and meteorological data to help policymakers make data-driven decisions before creating regulations that can bring harm to local businesses, including those in our farming and ranching communities.

The county expects to see more bills looking to further regulate emissions from vehicles of all types in an effort to encourage more transit options for urban areas. It is important to watch these bills and discussions, as what works for the metro area likely won’t work in a more rural county such as Weld. As with many bills that come through the legislature, a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works.

Technology

Artificial Intelligence and data centers are likely to be points of interest in upcoming proposed bills. Commissioners will be monitoring those initiatives closely as they will continue to advocate that siting and zoning should remain at the local level, and restrictions must balance opportunity. With companies eyeing Weld County as a possible location for data centers, the board wants to balance responsible implementation of these businesses with economic opportunity for residents.

Agriculture

On the agricultural front, possible legislation to restrict the ability for farmers to use coated seeds will be on the county’s radar, as will any legislation that aims to ban or restrict certain rodenticides — again, looking to maintain local control and warn against any “what’s good for Denver is good for everywhere” approach to bill creation and passage.

It’s a lot to keep up with, and the pace will be frantic as hundreds of bills will be proposed, debated, and passed this session. To help individuals stay informed on the proposed legislation the county is monitoring, supporting, or opposing, residents are encouraged to visit the county’s legislative webpage at www.weld.gov/go/legislation. Each week, after commissioners and staff meet to review the latest list of proposed bills, the webpage is updated, and links are provided to the bill language so residents can access the information easily.

And if you are wondering what one gets another for legislative season, it’s simple: involvement in the process, a voice that is heard, and action when needed. All that and maybe scissors, to help cut any red tape.