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Staff Publications

State Fleet Management and Costs

The Department of Personnel and Administration (DPA) administers the State Fleet Management Program. This memorandum provides an overview of the program, characteristics of the state fleet, and how vehicle-related costs are handled in fiscal notes and the budget process.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • State Government
  • Transportation & Motor Vehicles

Session Related Publications

Colorado General Assembly Special Sessions

The Colorado General Assembly meets annually in regular session for up to 120 days. However, the Colorado Constitution allows the Colorado General Assembly to meet outside of the 120‑day regular legislative session to conduct legislative business in a special legislative session (special session). This memorandum provides information about special sessions, including their length and frequency, how they can be called, and information on each special session since statehood.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly
  • State Government

Session Related Publications

Senate Term Limits

Term Limit Information for Members of the Colorado State Senate.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly
  • State Government


Staff Publications

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 Minority Leader appointing the minority party members, all of whom must be approved by a majority of the Senate.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly
  • State Government


Summary of Major Legislation

Summary of 2025 Capital Construction Legislation

During the 2025 legislative session, the General Assembly considered a number of bills affecting funding for capital construction and the duties of the Capital Development Committee (CDC).

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Capital Construction
  • State Government
  • State Revenue & Budget

Staff Publications

2025 April Colorado General Assembly Digital Accessibility Report

Pursuant to Section 24-34-802 (1)(c)(II), C.R.S., this report outlines the ongoing efforts of staff of the legislative branch of the state of Colorado to improve and maintain a digital landscape that meets or exceeds accessibility standards and is inclusive and accessible to all.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • State Government



Staff Publications

2025 January Colorado General Assembly Digital Accessibility Report

In accordance with Section 24-34-802 (1)(c)(II), C.R.S., The Colorado General Assembly Digital Accessibility Report outlines the ongoing efforts made by the staff of the legislative branch of the State of Colorado to improve and maintain a digital landscape that is inclusive and accessible to everyone, including its ongoing accessibility efforts to meet or exceed accessibility standards.

This report will be updated quarterly through July 2025.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • State Government

Session Related Publications

House Term Limits

Term Limit Information for Members of the Colorado House of Representatives

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly
  • State Government

Staff Publications

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 2023-24, over 30 state government entities had received enterprise status for at least one fiscal year. In FY 2022-23, the most recent year for which financial data are available, enterprise revenue totaled $23.3 billion.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Fiscal Policy & Taxes
  • State Government
  • State Revenue & Budget

Staff Publications

The Colorado Recall Process

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.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Elections & Redistricting
  • General Assembly
  • Local Government
  • State Government


Staff Publications

Strategies to Reduce Fiscal Impacts of Legislation

Fiscal notes estimate the fiscal impact of legislation, including revenue impacts, state expenditures, and appropriations required. However, fiscal notes are decision-making tools for legislators, and the General Assembly is ultimately responsible for making appropriations and setting aside the state funding needed to implement legislation. This memorandum outlines several common strategies used to limit the fiscal impact of legislation, primarily expenditure impacts, and discusses how these strategies are treated in fiscal notes.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly
  • State Government

Staff Publications

Programs and Resources for Persons Experiencing Homelessness

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.

 
 
Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Housing
  • Local Government
  • State Government

Session Related Publications

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 the legislature's committees. This memorandum provides guidance to the public in participating in the legislative process.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly
  • State Government

Final/Annual Reports

2024 American Indian Affairs Interim Study Committee Final Report

Submitted herewith is the final report of the American Indian Affairs Interim Study Committee. This committee was created pursuant to Interim Committee Request Letter 2024-003. The purpose of this committee is to build better relationships between American Indian communities and the legislative branch through engaging in meaningful conversations between legislators, tribal citizens, and American Indian communities.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly
  • State Government

Issue Briefs

Smart Government Act

The State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent Government Act (SMART Act) was adopted in 2010 by House Bill 10-1119. This bill established a performance-based budgeting program.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly
  • State Government
  • State Revenue & Budget


Issue Briefs

Overview of the Office of the Attorney General

The Attorney General is a statewide elected official who acts as the chief legal representative of the state and the chief executive officer of the Department of Law. The Attorney General and the Department of Law together are known as the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. This issue brief provides an overview of the office’s functions.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Courts & Judicial
  • State Government


Staff Publications

Funding Mechanisms and Fiscal Notes

This memorandum is intended for use by policymakers, legislative drafters, and budget analysts to understand the different funding mechanisms that may be used in legislation. It describes how different funding mechanisms in legislation impact the state budget and how they are shown in fiscal notes. These funding mechanisms include appropriations, transfers, diversions, and warrants on state funds, as well as fee revenue and gifts, grants, or donations. The memorandum concludes with a list of funding mechanisms for which voter approval is required.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly
  • State Government
  • State Revenue & Budget

Staff Publications

Overview of the Colorado Public Employees' Retirement Association

The state legislature established the Colorado Public Employee's 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 Colorado Revised Statutes.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • State Government