Staff Publications Programs and Resources for Persons Experiencing Homelessness Homelessness affects thousands of individuals and families across Colorado. Among U.S. states, Colorado has the 8th highest number of residents experiencing homelessness. This memorandum describes the scope of homelessness in the state and provides an overview of the programs and resources available to Colorado’s unhoused population. Release date: 2025-01-03 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Housing Local Government State Government Download
Session Related Publications Public Participation in the Legislative Process Legislative committees are a very important part of Colorado's legislative process. At a legislative committee hearing, citizens have an opportunity to express their views and have them incorporated into the official legislative record. In Colorado, every bill receives a public hearing by one of the legislature's committees. This memorandum provides guidance to the public in participating in the legislative process. Release date: 2024-12-29 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: General Assembly State Government Download
Final/Annual Reports 2024 American Indian Affairs Interim Study Committee Final Report Submitted herewith is the final report of the American Indian Affairs Interim Study Committee. This committee was created pursuant to Interim Committee Request Letter 2024-003. The purpose of this committee is to build better relationships between American Indian communities and the legislative branch through engaging in meaningful conversations between legislators, tribal citizens, and American Indian communities. Release date: 2024-12-19 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: General Assembly State Government Download
Staff Publications Strategies to Reduce Fiscal Impacts of Legislation Fiscal notes estimate the fiscal impact of legislation, including revenue impacts, state expenditures, and appropriations required. However, fiscal notes are decision-making tools for legislators, and the General Assembly is ultimately responsible for making appropriations and setting aside the state funding needed to implement legislation. This memorandum outlines several common strategies used to limit the fiscal impact of legislation, primarily expenditure impacts, and discusses how these strategies are treated in fiscal notes. Release date: 2025-01-14 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: General Assembly State Government Download
Issue Briefs Smart Government Act The State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent Government Act (SMART Act) was adopted in 2010 by House Bill 10-1119. This bill established a performance-based budgeting program. Release date: 2024-12-18 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: General Assembly State Government State Revenue & Budget Download
Staff Publications Visitor Guide to the Colorado State Capitol Release date: 2025-01-14 Publishing Agency: Visit & Learn Subjects: General Assembly State Government Download
Staff Publications The Colorado Recall Process A recall is a process that allows voters to remove and replace an elected official before the official’s term ends. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Colorado is one of 19 states that allow for the recall of state and local elected officials. Release date: 2025-01-16 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Elections & Redistricting General Assembly Local Government State Government Download
Session Related Publications 2025 Fiscal Note Staff Assignments by Subject Area 2025 Fiscal Note Staff Assignments by Subject Area. Release date: 2024-12-11 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: State Government State Revenue & Budget Download
Staff Publications State Government Enterprises This memorandum provides information on state government enterprises under Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution, also known as the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR). From FY 1993-94 through FY 2023-24, over 30 state government entities had received enterprise status for at least one fiscal year. In FY 2022-23, the most recent year for which financial data are available, enterprise revenue totaled $23.3 billion. Release date: 2025-01-22 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Fiscal Policy & Taxes State Government State Revenue & Budget Download
Session Related Publications House Term Limits Term Limit Information for Members of the Colorado House of Representatives Release date: 2025-01-30 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: General Assembly State Government Download
Staff Publications 2025 January Colorado General Assembly Digital Accessibility Report In accordance with Section 24-34-802 (1)(c)(II), C.R.S., The Colorado General Assembly Digital Accessibility Report outlines the ongoing efforts made by the staff of the legislative branch of the State of Colorado to improve and maintain a digital landscape that is inclusive and accessible to everyone, including its ongoing accessibility efforts to meet or exceed accessibility standards. This report will be updated quarterly through July 2025. Release date: 2025-01-31 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: State Government Download
Issue Briefs Overview of the Office of the Attorney General The Attorney General is a statewide elected official who acts as the chief legal representative of the state and the chief executive officer of the Department of Law. The Attorney General and the Department of Law together are known as the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. This issue brief provides an overview of the office’s functions. Release date: 2024-11-25 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Courts & Judicial State Government Download
Staff Publications 2025 Fiscal Note Staff Assignments by Subject Area 2025 Fiscal Note Staff Assignments by Subject Area. Release date: 2024-11-20 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: State Government State Revenue & Budget Download
Staff Publications Funding Mechanisms and Fiscal Notes This memorandum is intended for use by policymakers, legislative drafters, and budget analysts to understand the different funding mechanisms that may be used in legislation. It describes how different funding mechanisms in legislation impact the state budget and how they are shown in fiscal notes. These funding mechanisms include appropriations, transfers, diversions, and warrants on state funds, as well as fee revenue and gifts, grants, or donations. The memorandum concludes with a list of funding mechanisms for which voter approval is required. Release date: 2024-11-19 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: General Assembly State Government State Revenue & Budget Download
Staff Publications Overview of the Colorado Public Employees' Retirement Association The state legislature established the Colorado Public Employee's Retirement Association (PERA) in 1931 to provide a pension benefit to state and local government employees, predating the federal Social Security Act of 1935 by four years. PERA is administered under Article 51 of Title 24 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. Release date: 2024-10-30 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: State Government Download
Issue Briefs Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act The harmful effects of secondhand smoke and emissions from tobacco, marijuana, and electronic smoking devices continue to be an issue in Colorado. Since 1992, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified secondhand tobacco smoke as a known cause of cancer. Release date: 2024-10-29 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Liquor, Tobacco, & Marijuana Local Government Public Health State Government Download
Staff Publications Ranked Choice Voting This memorandum provides an overview of ranked choice voting in Colorado and other states. Ranked choice voting is a method of voting where voters rank candidates by preference. Ranked choice voting is currently used in nonpartisan elections in several Colorado municipalities, with at least one additional municipality planning to use it in future elections. Release date: 2024-10-10 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Elections & Redistricting Local Government State Government Download
Staff Publications 2024 October Colorado General Assembly Digital Accessibility Report In accordance with Section 24-34-802 (1)(c)(II), C.R.S., The Colorado General Assembly Digital Accessibility Report outlines the ongoing efforts made by the staff of the legislative branch of the State of Colorado to improve and maintain a digital landscape that is inclusive and accessible to everyone, including its ongoing accessibility efforts to meet or exceed accessibility standards. This report will be updated quarterly through July 2025. Release date: 2024-10-01 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: General Assembly State Government Download
Issue Briefs State and Federal Immigration Laws The U.S. federal government holds exclusive authority to regulate immigration, including who may enter the country and under what conditions. Nevertheless, states can enact laws that impact immigrants and influence the enforcement of federal immigration laws, provided that these state laws do not conflict with federal law. This issue brief outlines current state and federal laws affecting immigration in Colorado, including immigration enforcement, the Office of New Americans, access to public services, health insurance coverage, and identification. Release date: 2024-09-25 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Immigration Local Government State Government Download
Staff Publications Informe de accesibilidad digital de la Asamblea General de Colorado De conformidad con la Sección 24-34-802 (1)(c)(II), C.R.S., este informe describe los esfuerzos continuos realizados por el personal de la rama administrativa del Estado de Colorado para mejorar y mantener un entorno digital que sea inclusivo y accesible para todos, incluidos sus esfuerzos continuos de accesibilidad para cumplir o superar las normas de accesibilidad. Release date: 2024-09-18 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: State Government Download
Staff Publications Como Un Proyecto De Ley Se Convierte En Ley En Colorado (Español) Cómo Un Proyecto De Ley Se Convierte En Ley En Colorado How a Bill Becomes Law in Colorado (Spanish) Release date: 2025-04-28 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: General Assembly State Government Download
Staff Publications How a Bill Becomes Law in Colorado How a Bill Becomes Law in Colorado Release date: 2025-04-30 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: General Assembly State Government Download
Staff Publications 2025 April Colorado General Assembly Digital Accessibility Report Pursuant to Section 24-34-802 (1)(c)(II), C.R.S., this report outlines the ongoing efforts of staff of the legislative branch of the state of Colorado to improve and maintain a digital landscape that meets or exceeds accessibility standards and is inclusive and accessible to all. Release date: 2025-05-05 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: State Government Download
Summary of Major Legislation Summary of 2024 State Government and Immigration Legislation During the 2024 legislative session, the General Assembly considered bills concerning state government, including addressing topics related to elected officials, state agencies, the Colorado Open Records Act, and accessibility. Additionally, the General Assembly considered legislation addressing various immigration matters. Release date: 2024-08-21 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: General Assembly Immigration State Government Download
Summary of Major Legislation Summary of 2025 Capital Construction Legislation During the 2025 legislative session, the General Assembly considered a number of bills affecting funding for capital construction and the duties of the Capital Development Committee (CDC). Release date: 2025-06-09 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Capital Construction State Government State Revenue & Budget Download