2018 Joint Technology Committee Final Report

The purpose of the Joint Technology Committee (JTC) final report is to provide annual and historical information on the information technology (IT) capital budget request process. The 2018 final report provides a comp...

2023 Local Government Handbook

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.

Bicycle Transportation in Colorado (19-02)

This issue brief outlines state regulations for bicycle transportation.  It details general safety regulations, the regulations for riding an electric bicycle, and regulations regarding safety stops.

Mental Health Medication in the Criminal Justice System (19-01)

According to the Colorado Department of Corrections (DOC), between 2012 to 2017, the number of inmates who had moderate to severe mental health needs increased by 7 percent.  Additionally, a steep increase in court-or...

Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Study Committee Final Report

Health Insurance Exchange Oversight Committee Final Report

The Colorado Health Insurance Exchange Oversight Committee was created pursuant to Article 22 of Title 10, Colorado Revised Statutes. The purpose of this committee is to guide Colorado's health insurance exchange, inc...

Occupational and Professional Licensing for Military Spouses

This memorandum provides information concerning occupational and professional licenses for military spouses, including reciprocity and other licensing mechanisms for military spouses in Colorado and other states, and ...

School Finance Handbook (2024)

The purpose of this publication is to help readers understand how Colorado finances its public elementary and secondary schools.  The major focus is an explanation of the funding formula included in the Public School ...

Impact of Final Residential Assessment Rate on Local Share

The final Residential Assessment Rate (RAR) Study released by the Division of Property Taxation (DPT) on April10, 2019,estimates anRARof 7.15 percent for property tax years 2019 and 2020. The General Assembly would ha...

Fiscal Assessment of Proposed Amendment SB188_L.045, Concerning Creation of the Family Medical Leave Insurance Program

This memorandum is an assessment of the fiscal impact of the attached proposed Amendment L.045 to Senate Bill 19-188. This fiscal assessment is for the impact of the bill with inclusion of this amendment only. Any oth...

Higher Education Enrollment and Tuition Revenue Forecast

This memorandum presents the 2025 Legislative Council Staff forecast for the state public institutions of higher education. The forecast provides projections of resident and nonresident full-time equivalent (FTE) stud...

Extreme Risk Protection Orders (19-08)

This issue brief provides an overview of extreme risk protection orders, including what they are, how they are used, and how Colorado's proposed law compares to other states.  It also addresses other types of protecti...

Refund Mechanisms Used for Prior TABOR Surpluses

Refund Mechanisms Used for TABOR Surpluses, Tax Years 1997 through 2019. No refunds were required for unlisted years, including 1993 through 1996 and 2020. 

History of TABOR Refund Mechanisms

This memorandum provides background information on current and past statutory mechanisms used to refund state revenue in excess of the spending limit contained in the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR).  TABOR allows t...

Summary of Civil Law Legislation (2019)

During the 2019 legislative session, the General Assembly examined a number of measures related to civil law.  Specifically, the legislature considered bills regarding consumer fraud, internet privacy, free-speech law...

Substance Use Disorders Major Legislation 2019

In response to the high rate of opioid-related addiction and deaths in Colorado, the Colorado General Assembly created the Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Study Committee.  The committee convened during the 2...

Summary of Energy Legislation (2019)

During the 2019 legislative session, the General Assembly considered a variety of issues related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, public utilities, energy industry transition, and the regulation of oil and natu...

Early Childhood and School Readiness Commission 2018 Final Report

Final report to the General Assembly of the Early Childhood and School Readiness Legislative Commission. The purpose of this commission is to study issues related to early childhood and school readiness in order to im...

Forecast March 2019

Focus Colorado presents forecasts for the economy and state government revenue through FY 2019-20. Implications of the forecast for the state's General Fund budget and spending limit are described in the report's high...

Family, Medical, and Sick Leave Laws (21-02)

This issue brief provides an overview of federal and state family, medical, and sick leave laws.

Fiscal Strategies for Budget Shortfalls

Each year, the General Assembly is tasked with balancing constitutional, statutory, and federal requirements with other legislative considerations, such as competing policy priorities, caseload pressures, and the heal...

Summary of Higher Education Legislation (2018)

During the 2018 legislative session, the Colorado General Assembly considered measures related to higher education. Specifically, the legislature considered measures regarding the transfer of credit, student admission...

2018 State Water Policy Handbook Update

This handbook was created to help members of the House Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources Committee, Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources and Energy Committee, the interim Water Resources Review Committee,...

Regulation of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems and Study of Youth Use

This memorandum provides an overview of Colorado's regulatory framework for electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).

2019 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement Payment Forecast

Colorado receives annual payments from tobacco manufacturers as part of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA).  In April 2018, the state received $177.3 million, including a one‑time payment of $113.3 million ...