First Regular Session | 75th General Assembly
Colorado General AssemblyThis issue brief outlines home rule governance for municipalities and counties, including the process for adopting a home rule charter and the powers that a home rule charter provides to local governments.
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...
Report No. 2020-TE15
Report No. 2020-TE17
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...
This issue brief examines Colorado fireworks law, including permissible fireworks, sales, local government regulations, penalties for violating state laws, and executive orders.
This memorandum provides an executive summary of the various Executive Orders issued during the declared disaster emergency related to COVID‑19 in Colorado.
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...
The harmful effects of secondhand smoke and emissions from tobacco, marijuana, and electronic smoking devices continue to be an issue in Colorado. Since 1992, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified secondhand tobacco smoke as a known cause of cancer. The Centers for Disease...
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...
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.
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...
Respite care provides temporary relief to a caregiver from the physical and emotional impacts of caring for a person with special needs who requires assistance to care for themselves. Care can be provided for a few hours, overnight, or on an extended basis by a friend, family member, volunteer...
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 the 2020 session, the Colorado General Assembly considered the following measures related to the regulation of liquor, tobacco/nicotine, and marijuana.