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Passed in August 2024, House Bill 24B-1001 created a property tax limit for school districts beginning with the 2025 property tax year (PTY), for which taxes are payable in 2026. The bill’s provisions limit statewide qualified local share property tax revenue, or local share total program revenue excluding certain sources or uses, by adjusting the residential assessment rate applied to school district mill levies temporarily downward if qualified revenue is expected to exceed the limit. Section 29-1-1702.5 (4)(c) C.R.S.

This memorandum provides an overview on the federal immigration system, Colorado’s role in immigration, and patterns of immigration in the state and nationally. It then discusses the impact of immigration on different sectors of the economy and state government programs and services, and highlights recent state legislation to address these issues.

Report No. 2021-TE26

Pursuant to Section 22-55-104 C.R.S., Legislative Council Staff, in consultation with the State Auditor, the State Treasurer, the Department of Education, the Office of State Planning and Budgeting, and the Joint Budget Committee, is required to conduct a review of the model used to forecast revenue to and expenditures from the State Education Fund and the spending requirements for the Public School Finance Act of 1994 by February 1 of each year.

Pursuant to Section 22-55-104 C.R.S., Legislative Council Staff, in consultation with the State Auditor, the State Treasurer, the Department of Education (CDE), the Office of State Planning and Budgeting, and the Joint Budget Committee (JBC), is required to conduct a review of the model used to forecast revenue to and expenditures from the State Education Fund, and the spending requirements for the Public School Finance Act of 1994 by February 1 of each year.

Report No. 2025-TE3

House Bill 24-1448 enacted a new school finance formula, to begin in FY 2025-26 and be phased in over a 6-year period. This memorandum provides an overview of the new formula, the six‑year phase‑in period, and the parameters that would result in pausing implementation of the new formula. It does not include provisions of HB24-1448 that are not directly related to the new formula, including changes to mill levy override limits, the mill levy override match program, and capital construction funding.

This memorandum summarizes the primary funding changes to school finance for FY 2025-26. Two bills during the 2025 legislative session substantively affected the financing of public schools in Colorado.

During the 2025 legislative session, the General Assembly considered a variety of measures related to K-12 education in Colorado. The legislature passed laws related to student health and well-being, student and school safety, standards and assessments, school accountability, and governance and funding.

ESTIMATED VALUE OF SCHOOL FINANCE FACTORS, INCLUDING NEGATIVE FACTOR, FY 2015-16

Reengrossed Senate Bill 15-267 FY 2015-16 Compared with FY 2014-15

Overview of the State Education Fund and K-12 Public School Funding

Overview of the State Education Fund and K-12 Public School Funding

Joint Education Committee

Senate Bill 15-267 amends the Public School Finance Act of 1994 to provide funding for school districts in FY 2015-16. The bill was signed by the Governor on June 5, 2015, and became effective on that date. Senate Bill 15-234, the "Long Bill," appropriates most of the state aid distributed to school districts. The following summarizes the primary funding changes contained in these bills.

House Bill 14-1292 and House Bill 14-1298 amend the Public School Finance Act of 1994 to provide funding for school districts in FY 2014-15. The bills were signed by the Governor on May 21, 2014, and became effective on that date. House Bill 14-1336, the "Long Bill," appropriates most of the state aid distributed to school districts. The following summarizes the primary funding changes contained in these bills.

The school finance bill, Senate Bill 13-260, amends the Public School Finance Act of 1994 to provide funding for school districts in FY 2013-14. The bill was signed by the Governor on May 18, 2013, and became effective on that date. Senate Bill 13-230, the "Long Bill," appropriates most of the state aid distributed to school districts. The following summarizes the primary funding changes.

House Bill 16-1422 amends the Public School Finance Act of 1994 to provide funding for school districts in FY 2016-17. The bill was signed by the Governor on June 10, 2016, and became effective on that date. House Bill 16-1405, the "Long Bill," appropriates most of the state aid distributed to school districts. The following summarizes the primary funding changes contained in these bills.

The forecast for the State Education Fund and the level of General Fund appropriations needed to pay for school finance have changed from when the General Assembly adjourned in May 2011. Property values have stabilized and are expected to grow slowly over the next few years, helping to boost the local contribution to school finance. Similarly, income tax receipts are growing, which is increasing deposits into the State Education Fund and the General Fund.

The forecast for the State Education Fund and the level of General Fund appropriations have changed from when the General Assembly adjourned in May 2010. The ongoing economic recession is affecting forecasts for property values and income tax receipts, which in turn are placing pressure on state aid appropriations. Despite projected increases in General Fund revenue, declining local taxes are putting pressure on the State Education Fund to support education funding.

The forecast for the State Education Fund and the level of General Fund appropriations needed to pay for school finance have changed from when the General Assembly adjourned in May 2014. Property values are expected to grow more rapidly over the next few years, helping to boost the local contribution to school finance. Similarly, income tax receipts continue to grow, increasing deposits into the State Education Fund and the General Fund.

The forecast for the State Education Fund and the level of General Fund appropriations needed to pay for school finance has changed from when the General Assembly adjourned in May 2015. Property values grew rapidly in 2015, and are expected to continue to grow over the next few years, helping to boost the local contribution to school finance. In contrast, expectations for income taxes have fallen, decreasing projected deposits into the State Education Fund and the General Fund.

The forecast for the State Education Fund and the level of General Fund appropriations needed to pay for school finance have changed from when the General Assembly adjourned in May 2012. Property values have stabilized and are expected to grow modestly over the next few years, helping to boost the local contribution to school finance. Similarly, income tax receipts are growing faster than anticipated, increasing deposits into the State Education Fund and the General Fund.

The “negative factor” is a provision in state law that reduces the amount of total program funding and state aid provided to K-12 school districts.  This issue  brief  discusses how the negative factor is applied in the School Finance Act (SFA), gives a short history of school finance leading to the creation of the  negative factor, and provides a summary of the recent legal challenge to the negative factor.

House Bill 12-1345 amends the Public School Finance Act of 1994 to provide funding for school districts in FY 2012-13. The bill was signed by the Governor on May 19, 2012, and became effective on that date. House Bill 12-1335, the "Long Bill," appropriates most of the money distributed to school districts. Highlights of funding provided to school districts by the two bills follows. This memorandum also contains an appendix with estimates of school district funding in the current budget year.