The fight to establish trust in government is never won, because with every step forward comes setbacks that shake people’s faith. These arrive in the form of an errant comment, new technology, an ill-conceived policy, a human mistake, lies, greed, tyrants, and more.
But Colorado’s legislative leaders showed last week they understand that transparency is their best weapon in the endless war against government skeptics and haters, a group that’s been growing in recent years.
The state legislature’s executive committee voted 5 – 1 on Wednesday to deploy video livestreaming “for all legislative committee meetings on a year-round basis, beginning in January 2026,” according to a report by Jeffrey A. Roberts of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition. It removes Colorado from the notorious position of being the only state in the country not to provide such video.
The decision means people cannot only listen to the proceedings at the Capitol, as they’ve been able to do, but also watch them and see slide presentations at hearings — as well as human interactions.
House Speaker Julie McCluskie (D-Dillon) hopes the livestreaming will help more people get involved in the government process.
“By greenlighting the video streaming of committee hearings, we’re opening up more opportunities for Coloradans to engage in the legislative process,” said McCluskie in a news release. “A recent report found that the committee video streaming pilot project was accessed over 15,000 times between 35 committee hearings this interim. Coloradans are already using this option to tune in to our state government. I am excited the legislature has expanded video livestreaming and will continue to stream committee hearings in the 2026 legislative session and beyond.”
McCluskie was smart to put the need for a better-functioning government above concerns about the relatively tiny amount of money (up to $70,000 in 2026) that livestreaming will cost.
The state legislature is impressive, scary, ugly, beautiful, idealistic, sad, and nothing close to perfect. Now you can pop some corn, watch what goes on there, and possibly get inspired to do something. And tell any government haters you may know to tune in.
RELATED: Amid Mass Skepticism of Government, It’s the Wrong Time for a Video Blackout at the Colorado Capitol
