Staff Publications 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 Colorado Revised Statutes. PERA is a substitute for Social Security for most participating public employees. PERA benefits are pre-funded; while a member is working both the employer and the employee contribute a fixed percentage of the employee’s salary to the retirement trust fund. Release date: 2023-06-23 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: State Government Download File
Budget Related Publications Forecast June 2023 Focus Colorado presents forecasts for the economy and state government revenue through FY 2024-25. Implications of the forecast for the state's General Fund budget and spending limit are described in the report's highlights and executive summary sections. The report is based on current law, legislation passed by the General Assembly affecting the forecast is described throughout the report. Release date: 2023-06-20 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Fiscal Policy & Taxes State Revenue & Budget Download File
Tax Expenditure Evaluation Farm Close-Out Sales Tax Exemption Report No. 2023-TE9 Release date: 2023-05-31 Publishing Agency: Office of the State Auditor Subjects: Agriculture Fiscal Policy & Taxes Download File
Tax Expenditure Evaluation Newsprint & Printer's Ink and Newspapers Exemptions Report No. 2023-TE6 Release date: 2023-05-31 Publishing Agency: Office of the State Auditor Subjects: Fiscal Policy & Taxes Download File
Tax Expenditure Evaluation Sacramental Wine Exemption Report No. 2023-TE7 Release date: 2023-05-31 Publishing Agency: Office of the State Auditor Subjects: Fiscal Policy & Taxes Liquor, Tobacco, & Marijuana Download File
Tax Expenditure Evaluation Sales to Charitable Organizations Exemption Report No. 2023-TE8 Release date: 2023-05-31 Publishing Agency: Office of the State Auditor Subjects: Fiscal Policy & Taxes Download File
Tax Expenditure Evaluation Credit for Taxes Paid to Other States Report No. 2023-TE10 Release date: 2023-05-31 Publishing Agency: Office of the State Auditor Subjects: Fiscal Policy & Taxes Download File
Session Related Publications Subject Index of Introduced Bills 2023 Open Google Sheet Release date: 2023-05-07 Publishing Agency: Office of Legislative Legal Services Subjects:
Staff Publications Fiscal Note Reports (2023) Fiscal Note Data Reports show the fiscal impact of all legislation currently pending before the General Assembly, based on the most recent published fiscal note. Updated reports will be posted on this page approximately weekly during the legislative session. After session, final data will be posted. The data reports are contained in an Excel spreadsheet with each report located on a separate tab. Data in each report is in a sortable/filterable table. Included reports include: Release date: 2023-05-04 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Fiscal Policy & Taxes General Assembly State Revenue & Budget Download File
Final/Annual Reports 2022 Colorado Health Insurance Exchange Oversight Committee Final Report Submitted herewith is the final report of Colorado Health Insurance Exchange Oversight Committee. This 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, including reviewing the financial and operational plans of the exchange and approving the appointment of the executive director of the exchange. Release date: 2023-05-03 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Health Care & Health Insurance Download File
Staff Publications Executive Committee Policy on Electronic Participation in Joint Committees during the Legislative Interim Release date: 2023-04-18 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: State Government Download File
Staff Publications State Paid Family and Medical Leave Laws To date, Colorado and ten other states have enacted paid family and medical leave laws. The other states include California, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. However, the New Hampshire is voluntary for employers and relies on tax incentives for businesses to contribute. In addition, Hawaii has a paid medical leave law that does not extend to family leave. This memorandum provides a summary of the major components of the paid family and medical leave laws in each of these states. Release date: 2023-04-04 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Business & Economic Development Health Care & Health Insurance Insurance Labor & Employment Public Health Download File
Staff Publications State Funded Behavioral Health Programs This memorandum provides information about FY 2022-23 appropriations for state-funded behavioral health programs. Information for this memorandum was taken from: the FY 2022-23 Long Bill, House Bill 22-1329; other bills that include funding for behavioral health programs; Joint Budget Committee (JBC) staff FY 2022-23 figure-setting documents and the JBC Appropriations Report FY 2022-23; and department staff. Release date: 2023-04-03 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Health Care & Health Insurance Housing Human Services Public Health State Revenue & Budget Download File
Summary of Major Legislation Summary of 2022 Insurance, Financial Services, and Commerce Legislation During the 2022 legislative session, the General Assembly passed several laws related to the regulation of the business of insurance in the state, as well as laws related to workers’ compensation claims and commercial regulation. Release date: 2023-03-29 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Financial Services & Commerce Insurance Download File
Budget Related Publications FY 2023-24 Budget Package and Long Bill Narrative The Long Bill Narrative, which is the annual appropriations act, is prepared by staff to explain funding decisions recommended by the JBC to the rest of the General Assembly. This document is a companion document to the actual Long Bill. The narrative outlines budget changes based on the introduced version of the Long Bill. Release date: 2023-03-27 Publishing Agency: Joint Budget Committee Staff Subjects: Download File
Budget Related Publications Forecast March 2023 Focus Colorado presents forecasts for the economy and state government revenue through FY 2024-25. Implications of the forecast for the state's General Fund budget and spending limit are described in the report's highlights and executive summary sections. The report is based on current law, legislation passed by the General Assembly affecting the forecast is described throughout the report. Release date: 2023-03-16 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Fiscal Policy & Taxes State Revenue & Budget Download File
Staff Publications 2023 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement Payment Forecast Colorado receives annual payments from tobacco manufacturers as part of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA). In April 2022, the state received $88.2 million, which was used to determine distributions to MSA-funded programs for the current FY 2022-23. This document presents a forecast for annual receipts from the Tobacco MSA through FY 2024-25. The state is expected to receive $92.3 million in 2023; the actual amount received in 2023 will determine disbursements to MSA‑funded programs in FY 2023-24. Payments are expected to be $89.8 million in 2024 and Release date: 2023-03-03 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Liquor, Tobacco, & Marijuana State Revenue & Budget Download File
Staff Publications 2023 Colorado Water Handbook The Legislative Council Staff’s Water Policy Handbook is intended to serve as a reference guide to Colorado's water policies and programs. The book is divided into three parts. Each part covers a different aspect of Colorado water law and policy. Release date: 2023-03-01 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Agriculture Natural Resources & Environment Water Download File
Tax Expenditure Evaluation Wildfire Mitigation Deduction Report No. 2023-TE4 Release date: 2023-02-28 Publishing Agency: Office of the State Auditor Subjects: Fiscal Policy & Taxes Natural Resources & Environment Download File
Tax Expenditure Evaluation Structural Insurance Premium Tax Expenditures Report No. 2023-TE5 Release date: 2023-02-28 Publishing Agency: Office of the State Auditor Subjects: Fiscal Policy & Taxes Insurance Download File
Tax Expenditure Evaluation Long-Term Lodging Exemption Report No. 2023-TE3 Release date: 2023-02-28 Publishing Agency: Office of the State Auditor Subjects: Fiscal Policy & Taxes Housing Download File
Issue Briefs Colorado Paid Family and Medical Leave (23-06) In November 2020, Colorado voters approved Proposition 118, known as the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (act). The act created the Division of Family and Medical Leave Insurance (division) within Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) to administer the program, which is known as FAMLI. Release date: 2023-02-28 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Health Care & Health Insurance Labor & Employment Local Government Download File
Issue Briefs Colorado's Instream Flow Program (23-05) The instream flow (ISF) program was created by legislation in 1973, which authorized the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) to appropriate or acquire water rights of natural streams and lakes to preserve the natural environment without diverting the water. Release date: 2023-02-27 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Natural Resources & Environment Water 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: 2023-02-24 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: General Assembly State Government Download File
Budget Related Publications CY 2023 for FY 2022-23 Supplemental Narrative The Supplemental Narrative is prepared by the staff to explain proposed adjustments to prior year appropriations recommended by the JBC to the rest of the General Assembly. This narrative describes all of the proposed budget changes statewide, by department, and by program, and provides detailed calculations of the spending and revenue limits. This explanation does not reflect any subsequent changes to the Supplemental Bills as they are amended by the Senate or House of Representatives. Release date: 2023-02-06 Publishing Agency: Joint Budget Committee Staff Subjects: State Revenue & Budget Download File