First Regular Session | 73rd General Assembly
Colorado General AssemblyThis memorandum provides a summary of the various Executive Orders and Public Health Orders issued during the declared disaster emergency related to the presence of COVID‑19 in Colorado.
Vaccinations offer protection from common infectious diseases. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends specific vaccines for all infants, children, and adults during their lifetime to provide immunity from preventable illness. A recent analysis estimated that...
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...
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...
In the 2020 session, the Colorado General Assembly considered measures related to the regulation of health care facilities, behavioral health and substance use, prescription drug costs, and abortion.
This issue brief examines Colorado fireworks law, including permissible fireworks, sales, local government regulations, penalties for violating state laws, and executive orders.
During the 2020 session, the General Assembly considered bills related to immunizations, food safety, chemical and consumer safety, substance use disorders, and paid sick leave.
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...
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...
The following are new safety protocols for the reconvening of the General Assembly during the COVID-19 health epidemic.
This 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.
This issue brief discusses recent federal guidance related to 1332 state innovation waivers, the required criteria that must be met for approval of a waiver, the components of federal law that can be waived, the application process for a waiver, the monitoring and review process for an...
Coronavirus (COVID-19) has impacted almost every aspect of society, including the criminal justice system, leaving crowded courts, prisons and jails especially susceptible to the outbreak. This memorandum provides an overview of how Community Corrections is handling this public health emergency...
Coronavirus (COVID-19) has impacted almost every aspect of society, including the criminal justice system, leaving crowded courts, prisons and jails especially susceptible to the outbreak. This memorandum provides an overview of how the juvenile justice system in Colorado is handling this...
Coronavirus (COVID-19) has impacted almost every aspect of society, including the criminal justice system, leaving crowded courts, prisons and jails especially susceptible to the outbreak. This memorandum provides an overview of how courts in Colorado are handling this public health emergency. ...
During the 2019 legislative session, the General Assembly considered measures related to its own operations, federal relations, state employees and retirement plans, state agencies and procurement, open records and meetings, and notarization and recording.
This memorandum provides an overview of how energy consumption and usage has changed as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), and how Colorado utilities are responding.
This memorandum provides an overview of temporary changes the Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI) implemented in response to the spread of COVID-19 and associated declaration of a disaster emergency by Governor Polis on March 11, 2020. The DOI in the Department of Regulatory Agencies regulates...
This issue brief provides an overview of the Colorado unemployment insurance (UI) program, including UI benefits, funding, and solvency in the context of recent economic downturns.
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted almost every facet of the education system, including standardized tests and college entrance examinations. This memorandum provides scheduling updates on some of the country’s most relied upon placement and college entrance examinations and will...
This memorandum describes how some states find new ways to share cybersecurity knowledge and resources with their local governments to improve the state’s overall cybersecurity posture.
This memorandum provides an overview of cybersecurity, the current threat landscape as a result of COVID-19, and provides information about COVID-19 cybersecurity resources.
In the midst of school closures across the state due to the COVID-19 outbreak, schools and state agencies are working to ensure that K-12 students continue to receive academic support. Legislative Council Staff is committed to providing members of the Colorado General Assembly and other...
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), isolation and quarantine help protect the public by preventing exposure to people who have or may have a contagious disease. Isolation separates sick people with a communicable disease from people...
Senate Bill 18-200, Modifications to the Colorado Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA) to Eliminate Unfunded Liability, included an automatic adjustment provision (AAP) that triggers when PERA's trusts are not on track to reach full funding within the targeted 30-year period. This...