In 2019, the General Assembly enacted Senate Bill 19-181, which changes how the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) in the Department of Natural Resources regulates the development of oil and natural gas in Colorado. Since July 2019, the COGCC has conducted rulemaking hearings...

This memorandum provides instructions and deadlines for interested parties to submit fiscal information for consideration by Legislative Council Staff, outlines the process for filing a motion for a rehearing before the Title Board if there are objections to the fiscal summary prepared by LCS,...

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...

During the 2020 legislative session, the General Assembly considered measures related to its operations, state employees and retirement plans, state agencies and procurement, open records and meetings, and notarization.  Several of the bills were in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the...

During the 2020 legislative session, the General Assembly considered a variety of issues related to energy, including consumer protection and bill assistance; energy efficiency in new construction; renewable energy; and natural gas.

Article V, Section 1 (7.5), Colorado Constitution, and Section 1-40-124.5, Colorado Revised Statutes, require the Legislative Council Staff to prepare a ballot information booklet prior to each election in which a statewide issue appears on the ballot.  The booklet's purpose is to provide voters...

This memorandum provides an overview of the history of the Clean Air Act, describes common air pollutants and their health impacts, describes Colorado’s air quality concerns and state programs, and lists recently proposed legislation, which aims to improve air quality.   

This memorandum provides information concerning severance taxes in Colorado and eight other western states.  The memo provides detailed information on Colorado’s severance tax structure, including estimates for the current value of the ad valorem tax credit and the stripper well exemption. ...

This memo uses a unique dataset to estimate property taxes levied on the production of oil and gas to answer the following questions...

This memorandum provides information regarding programs in Colorado that address deforestation and forest degradation, and the role that forests can play in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.