Forecast September 2024
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,...
Ranked Choice Voting
This memorandum provides an overview of ranked choice voting in Colorado and other states. Ranked choice voting is a method of voting where voters rank candidates by preference. Ranked choice voting is currently used in nonpartisan elections in several Colorado municipalities, with at least one...
Summary of 2024 Capital Construction Legislation
During the 2024 legislative session, the General Assembly considered a number of bills affecting funding for capital construction and the duties of the Capital Development Committee (CDC).
Report on Referendum C Revenue and Spending FY 2005-06 through FY 2024-25
This report contains the final audited figures for state revenue retained under Referendum C in the 2005‑06 through 2023-24 state fiscal years and preliminary numbers for the 2024-25 state fiscal year. It also reflects the actions of the General Assembly and
...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 Clean Indoor Air Act
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 (EPA) has classified secondhand tobacco smoke as a known cause of cancer.
Fiscal Note FAQ's
Fiscal Note FAQ's
2025 Fiscal Note Staff Assignments by Subject Area
2025 Fiscal Note Staff Assignments by Subject Area.
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...
Overview of the Fiscal Note Process
Fiscal notes are prepared by Colorado Legislative Council Staff (LCS) to provide the members of the Colorado General Assembly with the estimated impact of proposed legislation on state and local government revenue and expenditures. The fiscal note is a non-binding, decision-making tool for...
Economic Outlook Presentation December 2024
Legislative Council Staff economic outlook presentation to the Joint Budget Committee.
Colorado Open Records Act Maximum Hourly Research and Retrieval Fee
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...
Summary of 2024 Finance, State Budget, and Taxes Legislation
During the 2024 legislative session, the General Assembly passed several bills related to finance, the state budget, and taxes.
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.
While the recall...
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...
2025 Fiscal Notes Common Policies
This memorandum describes the common policies for submitting a fiscal note response to the Legislative Council Staff, and the standard costs to be used in estimating the fiscal impact of legislation considered during the 2025 legislative session.
2025 Fiscal Notes Response Form
This response form is provided to state agencies for responding to fiscal note information requests from Legislative Council Staff.
2025 Fiscal Note Response Form – Institutions of Higher Education
The purpose of this form is to collect fiscal assessments, including impacts to specific funding sources, for higher education based on legislation.
2025 Agency Expense Worksheet
This worksheet is provided to state agencies for responding to fiscal note information requests from Legislative Council Staff.
2025 Fiscal Note Staff Assignments by Subject Area
2025 Fiscal Note Staff Assignments by Subject Area.
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...
State and Federal Immigration Laws
The U.S. federal government holds exclusive authority to regulate immigration, including who may enter the country and under what conditions. Nevertheless, states can enact laws that impact immigrants and influence the enforcement of federal immigration laws, provided that these state laws do...