House Minority Leader Jarvis Caldwell and Assistant Minority Leader Ty Winter Celebrate Victory After Abandonment of Eleventh-Hour Push to Undermine Natural Gas Ballot Measure

(Denver, CO – May 11, 2026) – House Minority Leader Jarvis Caldwell (HD-20) and Assistant Minority Leader Ty Winter (HD-47) today issued the following statement celebrating a significant victory after sponsors abandoned their last-minute attempt to introduce legislation undermining the will of the people.

“Just two days before the legislature was set to adjourn, there was an attempt to rush through legislation to predetermine the impact of a proposed constitutional ‘right to natural gas.’ Thanks to strong Republican opposition, members of the majority have since backed down and will not be introducing this bill,” said House Minority Leader Jarvis Caldwell. “Our caucus held the line for the people of Colorado. This bill would have been routed outside the Energy and Environment Committee, where the relevant expertise exists, straight to the Judiciary Committee, where there would be a lack of informed debate. Despite a desperate attempt to undermine a ballot measure they opposed, we stood firm and protected Coloradans who deserve a fair and open process.”

Assistant Minority Leader Ty Winter elaborated, saying, “This hastily proposed legislation would have forced significant policy decisions affecting affordability and access to natural gas. Decisions that deserved full debate, not last-minute maneuvering. Combined with the numerous other energy policies moving through this building, it would have further threatened good-paying jobs in rural, energy-producing communities. We held the line and stopped this rushed legislation. This is a win for blue-collar workers, businesses, and communities across Colorado.”

Both Caldwell and Winter concluded, “Today proves that when Republicans stand united and fight for transparency, we can deliver results for the people of Colorado.”