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: 2025-09-16 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: State Government Transportation & Motor Vehicles Download File
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: 2025-09-11 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: General Assembly State Government Download File
Session Related Publications Senate Term Limits Term Limit Information for Members of the Colorado State Senate. Release date: 2025-08-24 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: General Assembly State Government Download File
Staff Publications Overview of Colorado Public Employees Retirement Association This memo provides an overview of PERA with a focus on the state legislature’s role in the pension system. PERA also has a wide variety of resources on its website for members, employers, and retirees. Release date: 2025-07-14 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Financial Services & Commerce State Government Download File
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: 2025-06-27 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: General Assembly State Government Download File
Staff Publications Colorado Legislative Branch Policy on Services for Persons with Disabilities, Including Grievance Resolution Procedures Release date: 2025-06-18 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: State Government Download File
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: 2025-06-09 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Capital Construction State Government State Revenue & Budget Download File
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: 2025-05-05 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: State Government Download File
Staff Publications How a Bill Becomes Law in Colorado How a Bill Becomes Law in Colorado Release date: 2025-04-30 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: General Assembly State Government Download File
Staff Publications Como Un Proyecto De Ley Se Convierte En Ley En Colorado (Español) Cómo Un Proyecto De Ley Se Convierte En Ley En Colorado How a Bill Becomes Law in Colorado (Spanish) Release date: 2025-04-28 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: General Assembly State Government Download File
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: 2025-01-31 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: State Government Download File
Session Related Publications House Term Limits Term Limit Information for Members of the Colorado House of Representatives Release date: 2025-01-30 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: General Assembly State Government Download File
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: 2025-01-22 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Fiscal Policy & Taxes State Government State Revenue & Budget Download File
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: 2025-01-16 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Elections & Redistricting General Assembly Local Government State Government Download File
Staff Publications Visitor Guide to the Colorado State Capitol Release date: 2025-01-14 Publishing Agency: Subjects: General Assembly State Government Download File
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: 2025-01-14 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: General Assembly State Government Download File
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: 2025-01-03 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Housing Local Government State Government Download File
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: 2024-12-29 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: General Assembly State Government Download File
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: 2024-12-19 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: General Assembly State Government Download File
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: 2024-12-18 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: General Assembly State Government State Revenue & Budget Download File
Session Related Publications 2025 Fiscal Note Staff Assignments by Subject Area 2025 Fiscal Note Staff Assignments by Subject Area. Release date: 2024-12-11 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: State Government State Revenue & Budget Download File
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: 2024-11-25 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Courts & Judicial State Government Download File
Staff Publications 2025 Fiscal Note Staff Assignments by Subject Area 2025 Fiscal Note Staff Assignments by Subject Area. Release date: 2024-11-20 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: State Government State Revenue & Budget Download File
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: 2024-11-19 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: General Assembly State Government State Revenue & Budget Download File
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: 2024-10-30 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: State Government Download File