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The recently renamed Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee (WRARC) was created to contribute to and monitor the conservation, use, development, and financing of Colorado's water resources and agriculture for the general welfare of the state (Section 37‑98‑102, C.R.S.). In 2022, the committee charge was updated to include Colorado agriculture issues. The committee is also required to review statewide planning for water resources. The WRARC reviews and proposes legislation to further its purpose.

The Colorado General Assembly considered many bills related to public health this legislative session over multiple subject matters including mental health, environmental health, and health in the education system.

Pursuant to Section 10‑16-221, C.R.S., the Statewide Health Care Review Committee was created to study health care issues across the state.

The Office of Legislative Legal Services prepares the Digest of Bills and Concurrent Resolutions as required under section 2-3-504, C.R.S. The Digest consists of summaries of all bills and concurrent resolutions enacted by the Seventy-fourth General Assembly at its First Extraordinary Session ending November 20, 2023. The summaries include the dates upon which the Governor acted and the effective dates of the bills. The Digest also includes an alphabetical subject index and several reference tables.

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides health benefits and services to Coloradans who meet eligibility requirements. Each state administers its own Medicaid program, and the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) set standards for the program to receive federal financial participation. The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) oversees Colorado’s Medicaid. This issue brief summarizes the process to add benefits under Medicaid.

Memo No. 2023-TE21

Memo No. 2023-TE20

Note: A more recent evaluation was issued in March 2026. Click HERE to access the March 2026 report.

Note: A more recent evaluation was issued in December 2025. Click HERE to access the December 2025 report.

Report No. 2023-TE15

Report No. 2023-TE16

Report No. 2023-TE17

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Many bills were introduced this year addressing health care and the insurance industry in Colorado. Recurring topics this session including reproductive health care, hospital and facility policies, prescription drugs, and consumer protections.

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.

This memorandum focuses on ground-level ozone, the harmful air pollutant that is the main ingredient of “smog.” Ground-level ozone significantly impacts the health of Coloradans and the environment. It is also important to note that ground-level ozone differs from “good” ozone, or stratospheric ozone, which occurs naturally in the upper atmosphere and forms a protective layer that shields the earth from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.

During the 2023 legislative session, the General Assembly considered a number of bills affecting funding for capital construction and the duties of the Capital Development Committee (CDC).

A dynamic model attempts to quantify the downstream effects of a policy change throughout the economy. Legislative Council Staff (LCS) does not conduct dynamic modeling, which means that fiscal notes and other analyses are limited to the scope of legislation's direct impacts and, in some cases, direct behavioral effects. This memorandum explains the difference between direct, behavioral, and dynamic effects of policy changes and current LCS practices in analyzing these impacts

A dynamic model attempts to quantify the downstream effects of a policy change throughout the economy. Legislative Council Staff (LCS) does not conduct dynamic modeling, which means that fiscal notes and other analyses are limited to the scope of legislation’s direct impacts and, in some cases, direct behavioral effects. This memorandum explains the difference between direct, behavioral, and dynamic effects of policy changes and current LCS practices in analyzing these impacts.

The General Assembly considered multiple bills related to higher education, including legislation focused on financial aid and loan forgiveness, credentials and workforce development, health and wellness, faculty, and governance and administration.

This memorandum summarizes the primary funding changes for school finance that were enacted during the 2023 legislative sessions.

Colorado’s population reached nearly 5.8 million according to the 2020 census, a 14.8 percent increase from 2010. For those joining the influx of new people moving to the Centennial State, this issue brief outlines best practices for establishing residency, applying for state identification, registering a vehicle, registering to vote, and paying state income taxes. It also provides links to other Legislative Council Staff (LCS) resources that may be helpful in understanding Colorado’s state budget and policy landscape.

This memorandum summarizes the primary funding changes for school finance that were enacted during the 2023 legislative sessions.

This handbook is intended to serve as a resource guide on the role and responsibilities of local governments, including counties, municipalities, special districts, and school districts.