Colorado lawmakers may miss the opening of the Colorado State Fair on Aug. 22 as Gov. Jared Polis has called a special legislative session starting Aug. 21 to address a projected $1.2 billion budget shortfall for fiscal year 2026. The shortfall stems from the Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which will reduce state funding.
Rep. Ty Winter (R–Pueblo County) criticized the timing, saying the fair is a key opportunity for rural communities to gather and for legislators to meet constituents.
He accused Polis of being “out of touch” and argued the state’s financial problems stem from Democratic spending priorities, not revenue shortages. Winter cited more than $500 million in recent state spending on healthcare, education, and legal services for non-citizens.
Democrats pushed back. Colorado Democratic Party Chair Shad Murib accused Winter of prioritizing the fair over addressing cuts to healthcare, food assistance, tax credits, and Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) refunds. Sen. Nick Hinrichsen (D–Pueblo) said the special session’s work could determine whether residents lose access to care, with potentially life-or-death consequences.
Hinrichsen said the timing is unavoidable due to the need for accurate fiscal data and possible ballot measures. His priorities include safeguarding community health centers, healthcare coverage, and food assistance for children. Winter maintains his objections are about timing, not the session itself.
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Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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