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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.

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.

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.

This memorandum provides information on Colorado's construction defect laws and the various issues surrounding construction defects in Colorado. It also provides data on housing trends in the state and offers a comparative view of construction defect civil laws in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, and Texas.

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.

This memorandum provides an overview of the process to fill vacancies in various elected offices at the federal, state, and local levels.  A vacancy in an elected office occurs when an office holder resigns or dies during his or her elected term.   A vacancy may also occur when an elected official moves outside of the district he or she represents.  Vacancies in federal, state, and local elected offices in Colorado are filled in a variety of ways, including appointments, vacancy elections, and political party vacancy committees.

Colorado's transportation system consists of the state highway system, county and municipal roads, mass transit, airports, railroads, and bicycle and pedestrian routes.  The system is primarily managed by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).  Cities, counties, transit authorities, regional transportation authorities, public highway authorities, and other state agencies are also involved in managing portions of the system.  The Colorado Transportation Commission provides direction to CDOT, a role authorized by the General Assembly in state law.  Both state an

This memorandum provides information about special district elections in Colorado.  Specifically, it provides an overview of special district elections and the times at which special district elections are conducted.  Also included are an overview of special districts generally and a table of all election dates in Colorado law.

This memorandum provides information about irrigation districts in Colorado.  Specifically, it discusses the current irrigation districts, the powers and duties of irrigation districts, and how those powers and duties compare to those of special districts.

This memorandum provides an overview of ranked-choice voting, or instant-runoff voting.  Ranked‑choice voting (RCV) is currently used in some nonpartisan elections in three Colorado municipalities, with an additional two municipalities using it in future elections.  House Bill 21-1071, passed in the 2021 legislative session, may lead to more municipalities using RCV in nonpartisan elections beginning 2023.

The Legislative Council Staff's Energy Handbook is intended to serve as a reference guide to Colorado's energy sector.  The book is divided into five sections.  Section I covers the sources and uses of energy in Colorado.  Section II explains how severance taxes and federal mineral lease moneys are calculated and distributed.  Section III looks at energy-related greenhouse gas emissions.  Section IV provides an overview of the state departments involved in energy issues.  Section V highlights local governments' role in energy.  The handbook also includes t

Community choice energy (CCE) is an alternative to the investor-owned utility energy supply system that allows local entities to aggregate individual customers within a defined service area and secure alternative energy suppliers on their behalf.  The primary goals of CCEs have been to lower costs for energy customers and allow greater control of the energy mix, particularly through increasing the proportion of renewable energy that is supplied. 

This memorandum describes how some states find new ways to share cybersecurity knowledge and resources with their local governments to improve the state’s overall cybersecurity posture.

This memorandum provides an overview of broadband internet service programs in Colorado, including the Colorado High Cost Support Mechanism; state grant programs and other state efforts; local governments’ ability to provide broadband; and related recent legislation.

This memorandum presents the impact of Senate Bill 17-267 on special districts that previously assessed sales taxes on retail marijuana transactions.

This memorandum provides a legislative history of county courthouse funding in Colorado.  Specifically, this memorandum provides information on:

• the origins of county courthouse funding laws;
• notable legal decisions regarding county courthouse funding;
• county courthouse funding reports and recommendations;
• bills introduced, but not enacted related to county courthouse funding; and
• county court supplemental funding grant legislation.

This memorandum provides an overview of county jails, including their function, population served, cost per day, and relationship with the state Department of Corrections.

This memorandum provides a legislative history of county courthouse funding in Colorado.  Specifically, this memorandum provides information on:

• the origins of county courthouse funding laws;
• notable legal decisions regarding county courthouse funding;
• county courthouse funding reports and recommendations; 
• bills introduced, but not enacted related to county courthouse funding; and
• county court supplemental funding grant legislation.