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...
Community choice energy (CCE) is an alternative to the investor-owned utility energy supply system that allows local entities to aggregate individual customers within a defined service area and secure alternative energy suppliers on their behalf. The primary goals of CCEs have been to lower...
Some U.S. cities have adopted legislation to limit or restrict the use of natural gas systems in new construction, instead requiring building systems or appliances to be powered by electricity. In response to these natural gas prohibitions, some states have enacted legislation prohibiting...
This issue brief examines Colorado fireworks law, including permissible fireworks, sales, local government regulations, penalties for violating state laws, and executive orders.
Report No. 2020-TE27
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 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...
This issue brief focuses on additional strategies that local governments and communities in Colorado are using to meet the housing needs of residents.