Legislative Council Handbook
Colorado statute establishes the Legislative Council as a body of 18 Senators and Representatives with specific functions and responsibilities (Section 2-3-301, et seq., C.R.S.). Six senators are appointed, with the President of the Senate appointing the majority party members and the...
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...
House Term Limits
Term Limit Information for Members of the Colorado House of Representatives
Senate Term Limits
Term Limit Information for Members of the Colorado State Senate
SMART Act Hearings Overview Memorandum
This memorandum provides an overview of the "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent Government Act" (SMART Government Act). The act requires executive agencies to annually present specific information to joint legislative committees during the first two weeks of the...
Vacancies in Elected Offices
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...
Overview and History of Statewide Ballot Measures in Colorado
This memorandum provides an overview of the statewide ballot measure process; a summary of the measures approved or rejected by Colorado voters between 1880 and 2022; and links to additional resources at the offices of the Colorado Legislative Council Staff and the Colorado Secretary of State....
Transportation Handbook (2022)
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,...
Overview of the Colorado Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA)
The state legislature established the Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA) in 1931 to provide a pension benefit to state and local government employees, predating the federal Social Security Act of 1935 by four years. PERA is administered under Article 51 of Title 24 of the...
State Government Enterprises
This memorandum provides information on state government enterprises under Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution, also known as the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR). From FY 1993-94 through FY 2022-23, 33 state government entities had received enterprise status for at least one...
Summary of 2022 Information Technology Legislation
During the 2022 legislative session, the Colorado General Assembly considered several measures related to information technology (IT), including: privacy protections, IT-related state services; and Joint Technology Committee-sponsored bills.
Process for Writing the Ballot Information Booklet
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...
Summary of State Government Legislation (2022)
During the 2022 legislative session, the General Assembly considered several measures related to State Government including task forces and commissions, payments and fees, compensation, holidays, and daylight savings.
Summary of 2022 Business and Economic Development Legislation
During the 2022 legislative session, the General Assembly passed numerous bills related to general business issues and economic development initiatives.
Summary of 2022 Higher Education Legislation
During the 2022 legislative session, the General Assembly considered measures related to higher education. Specifically, bills related to scholarships, grants, and financial assistance; pathways to student success; degrees and workforce development; and administration and governance.
Summary of 2022 Local Government Legislation
During the 2022 legislative session the General Assembly considered legislation related to special districts, local government administration, boards and commissions, funding, and firefighting assistance.
Special District Elections
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...
Colorado Operating Budget Data Public
Colorado State Operating Budget Appropriations Data since FY 1999-00. Includes total appropriations and General Fund-only appropriations for each state agency.
Irrigation Districts in Colorado
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.
Technical Debt and Modernization
This memorandum examines technical debt and modernization, along with legislation that aims to address legacy technical solutions that serve government organizations and their constituents.
Contaminated Land Redevelopment Credit
Report No. 2022-TE11
2022 SMART Act Hearing Overview Memorandum
This memorandum provides an overview of the "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent Government Act" (SMART Government Act). The act requires executive agencies to annually present specific information to joint legislative committees during the first two weeks of the...
Ranked Choice Voting
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...
Overview and History of Statewide Ballot Measures
This memorandum provides an overview of the statewide ballot measure process; a summary of the measures approved or rejected by Colorado voters between 1880 and 2021; and links to additional resources at the offices of the Colorado Legislative Council Staff and the Colorado Secretary of State....