1. Creates a Transition Advisory Committee

The bill creates a 26-person Postsecondary Talent Development System Transition Advisory Committee housed in the Governor’s Office.

The committee is responsible for developing a detailed transition plan to integrate oversight of higher education and workforce development programs across state government.

Under the bill as introduced, the committee must:

• Begin meeting by July 1, 2026
• Meet at least monthly
• Submit a transition plan to the Joint Budget Committee and relevant legislative committees by November 30, 2026

The committee will include representation from:

• The Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE)
• The Department of Higher Education (CDHE)
• The Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT)
• The Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC)
• The Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE)
• Business leaders, including large and small employers
• Two-year and four-year institutions and area technical colleges
• Apprenticeship representatives
• Workforce and education advocacy organizations
• Labor organizations

2. Requires a Formal Transition Plan

The transition plan must include recommendations on:

• The structure of the Department of Higher Education with a new scope over postsecondary talent development, education, training, and employment;
• Governance models for the Department;
• Technology and staffing needs;
• Data collection and analysis systems necessary or beneficial to the mission;
• Renaming the Department to reflect the new mission;
• When the transition activities could be completed

In preparing the plan, the committee must consider strategies to eliminate duplicative oversight, reduce bureaucracy, and improve alignment across agencies. The bill specifies that the transition plan may not include recommendations that would violate federal law or alter the governance structure of the State Apprenticeship Agency or State Apprenticeship Council.

3. Expands the Mission of the Department of Higher Education

Effective July 1, 2028, the bill expands the mission of the Department of Higher Education to oversee a system of postsecondary talent development that integrates postsecondary educational, training, and employment resources for Coloradans.

The legislation signals the General Assembly’s intent to consider renaming the department to reflect this expanded mission following review of the Transition Advisory Committee’s recommendations.

The statutory title of the Executive Director of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education would be updated to Executive Director of the Department of Higher Education, effective July 1, 2028.

What This Bill Seeks to Address

Colorado’s postsecondary and workforce systems currently operate across multiple agencies with different governance structures, funding streams, programs, and reporting requirements.

As introduced, the bill does not immediately move programs. Instead, it initiates a structured planning process to determine:

• How programs that support postsecondary education, workforce training, and employment services can be better integrated
• How governance and oversight could be streamlined
• How data systems could better inform talent development strategies

The transition advisory committee’s work in 2026 would inform any future implementation decisions prior to the July 2028 effective date.

What Happens Next

The bill will now move through committee hearings during the legislative session, where amendments may shape its scope, committee structure, and transition requirements. If enacted, the Transition Advisory Committee would begin meeting by July 1, 2026 and submit its transition plan by November 30, 2026. Additional legislation in future sessions will be required to codify the committee’s recommendations prior to the July 2028 effective date.