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...

An overview of the rules and procedures to be followed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

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 a substitute for Social Security for most...

This memorandum provides an overview of the various Public Health Orders issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) during the declared disaster emergency related to COVID‑19 in Colorado.  Thirteen public health orders have been issued since March, 2020.

In 2019, Colorado enacted House Bill 19-1261, establishing statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals.  Colorado also enacted Senate Bill 19‑096, requiring the Air Quality...

This issue brief provides an overview of state‑sponsored retirement plans, retirement plan marketplaces, and multiple employer retirement plans for private sector workers. The brief also includes a discussion of related federal laws and Congressional activity.

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...

In 1982, voters approved a constitutional measure governing property taxes, including a provision known as the Gallagher Amendment (Gallagher).  Gallagher sought to protect homeowners from rising property taxes by maintaining a relatively constant ratio of residential and nonresidential property...

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...