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Summary of Major Legislation

Summary of 2025 Finance Legislation

During the 2025 legislative session, the Colorado General Assembly considered several measures related to taxes, finance, and the state budget. Also, the General Assembly considered several bills during the 2025 extraordinary session related to matters of taxes and the state budget. 

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Financial Services & Commerce
  • Fiscal Policy & Taxes
  • General Assembly
  • State Revenue & Budget

Staff Publications

Understanding the Hierarchy of Evidence: A Framework for Health Research

This memo details the hierarchy of evidence framework, a tool used in health research to rank studies based on their ability to minimize bias and establish trustworthy conclusions. It reviews the strengths and weaknesses of different types of health research studies. Finally, it offers strategic guidance for applying the hierarchy to evidence-based health policymaking, emphasizing the need to balance study design with real-world feasibility and approaches for assessing recommendation strength.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Health Care & Health Insurance
  • Public Health

Issue Briefs

Artificial Intelligence: The National Regulatory Landscape

As no federal legislation regulating artificial intelligence (AI) has passed yet, the national regulatory landscape is primarily defined via Executive Orders (EO). On January 23, 2025, the second Trump Administration released its first AI EO. EO 14179, “Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence,” ordered the development of an AI action plan to achieve the Administration’s policy goals.  

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Telecommunications & Information Technology

Final/Annual Reports

2024 Legislative Oversight for Colorado Jail Standards Final Report

Pursuant to Section 2-3-1901, C.R.S, the Legislative Oversight Committee for Colorado Jail Standards (committee) is responsible for adopting and revising standards for Colorado jails. The committee adopted a set of jail standards in 2023. Pursuant to Section 2-3-1901.5, C.R.S, jails must comply with the standards by July 1, 2026.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Courts & Judicial








Staff 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:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly

Staff Publications

The Colorado Governmental Immunity Act and State Risk Management Funding

This memorandum provides an overview of the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act; the State Office of Risk Management’s role in the risk management process; and recent trends in state spending on property, liability, and workers’ compensation coverage and claims.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • State Government

Session Related Publications

2026 Sunset Review Hearings

During the 2026 legislative session, House committees of reference will consider 16 functions of Colorado state government and 6 advisory committees subject to sunset review. Sunset laws allow the General Assembly to periodically review the need for state regulations, advisory committees, or state agencies, and to update the law creating the agency or function.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Agriculture
  • Business & Economic Development
  • Courts & Judicial
  • Health Care & Health Insurance

Staff Publications

2025 Crime Classification Guide

This guide is a compilation of crimes and traffic infractions in Colorado.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Courts & Judicial
  • Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement

Staff Publications

Economic Impacts to Employers Providing Employee Health Programs and Health Insurance

This memo synthesizes evidence regarding the economic impacts of employer-funded health programs and insurance coverage on a company’s financial bottom line. Findings suggest that while interventions in chronic disease management, mental health, and occupational safety can generate positive returns on investment, the magnitude of these impacts remains highly sensitive to company size, program design, and methodological limitations like selection bias.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Health Care & Health Insurance

Issue Briefs

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also commonly known as bird flu, is present in Colorado and nationwide. Recently, it has caused outbreaks in poultry and dairy herds, resulting in the largest animal disease outbreak in the state’s history. 

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Agriculture
  • Public Health

Session Related Publications

2026 Fiscal Notes Common Policies

This memorandum describes the common policies for submitting a fiscal note response to the Legislative Council Staff, and the standard costs to be used in estimating the fiscal impact of legislation considered during the 2026 legislative session. 

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly

Session Related Publications

2026 Fiscal Notes Common Policies Summary

This summary document provides an overview of the fiscal note common policies for the 2026 legislative session. It highlights key dates, policies, and commonly used cost assumptions.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly


Issue Briefs

Colorado Juvenile Justice Systems

This issue brief summarizes how Colorado’s justice system handles juveniles found guilty of a crime, covering problem-solving courts, detention and commitment, juvenile facilities, support services, and the Youthful Offender System.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement