We work to understand how ever-evolving financial products affect consumers. Do they work well for people who need a little help until pay day, or do they trap people in cycles of debt?
Given the state’s structural budget problems and the chaotic funding cuts raining down from the federal government, this legislative session will be dominated by fiscal concerns. In our 2026 legislative preview we explain the $840 million budget legislators will have to contend with. We’ve also got our eye on some consumer protection and workforce issues.
Household debt is on the rise nationwide, but without detailed state-level data, it’s difficult to create fair, equitable lending policies that truly meet Coloradans’ needs.
Despite the CFPB’s critical achievements, the agency’s protections are being rolled back, its employees are being fired, and its ongoing enforcement actions are being halted by the current administration.
Colorado’s financial progress is being jeopardized by new, unregulated high-cost loans, where individuals get short-term, small-dollar advances, borrowing against their future paycheck and leading to cycles of debt.
The Office of Financial Empowerment is making valuable progress in building the statewide infrastructure necessary to ensure the financial well-being of Colorado families and communities.
Add-on costs and fees are a growing concern for Coloradans and they’re beginning to appear in more and more places. These additional charges quickly add up and exacerbate financial challenges for consumers.
