Staff Publications Ranked Choice Voting This memorandum provides an overview of ranked-choice voting, or instant-runoff voting. Ranked‑choice voting (RCV) is currently used in some nonpartisan elections in three Colorado municipalities, with an additional two municipalities using it in future elections. House Bill 21-1071, passed in the 2021 legislative session, may lead to more municipalities using RCV in nonpartisan elections beginning 2023. Release date: 2022-01-05 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Elections & Redistricting Local Government Download
Issue Briefs Colorado Fireworks Law (21-06) This issue brief examines Colorado fireworks law, including permissible fireworks, sales, local government regulations, penalties for violating state laws, and executive orders. Release date: 2021-09-16 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Local Government State Government Download
Summary of Major Legislation Summary of 2021 Housing Legislation During the 2021 legislative session, the General Assembly focused on continued impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, landlord-tenant relations, and affordable housing. Release date: 2021-09-07 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Housing Local Government Download
Summary of Major Legislation Summary of 2021 Local Government Legislation During the 2021 legislative session, the General Assembly considered several measures related to local governments, including the powers and duties of local governments and matters related to special and local improvement districts, community revitalization, procurement, the limited gaming impact fund, and property rights. Release date: 2021-08-11 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Local Government Download
Issue Briefs Family, Medical, and Sick Leave Laws (21-02) This issue brief provides an overview of federal and state family, medical, and sick leave laws. Release date: 2021-01-29 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Health Care & Health Insurance Labor & Employment Local Government Download
Summary of Major Legislation Summary of Business and Economic Development Legislation (2020) During the 2020 legislative session, the General Assembly passed legislation intended to promote economic development in rural areas and to assist businesses in surviving and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Release date: 2021-01-14 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Business & Economic Development Local Government Download
Issue Briefs Local Government Affordable Housing Strategies This issue brief focuses on additional strategies that local governments and communities in Colorado are using to meet the housing needs of residents. Release date: 2020-11-04 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Housing Local Government Download
Staff Publications Energy Handbook (2020) 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 are calculated and distributed. Section III looks at energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. Section IV provides an overview of the state departments involved in energy issues. Section V highlights local governments' role in energy. The handbook also includes t Release date: 2020-10-28 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Business & Economic Development Energy Local Government Natural Resources & Environment State Government Download
Summary of Major Legislation Summary of 2020 Housing Legislation Interactions between landlords and tenants, funding related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and construction were major topics during the 2020 legislative session. Release date: 2020-09-25 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Housing Local Government Download
Tax Expenditure Evaluation Impact Assistance Credits Report No. 2020-TE27 Release date: 2020-09-15 Publishing Agency: Office of the State Auditor Subjects: Fiscal Policy & Taxes Local Government Natural Resources & Environment Download
Staff Publications Community Choice Energy 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 costs for energy customers and allow greater control of the energy mix, particularly through increasing the proportion of renewable energy that is supplied. Release date: 2020-08-05 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Energy Local Government Download
Issue Briefs Home Rule Governance in Colorado (20-16) 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. Release date: 2020-06-01 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Local Government State Government Download
Staff Publications State and Local Cybersecurity Collaboration 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. Release date: 2020-04-15 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Local Government State Government Telecommunications & Information Technology Download
Issue Briefs Consumer Data Privacy Laws (20-08) This issue brief provides an overview of consumer data privacy, describes applicable federal laws, and summarizes recent state legislation proposed to strengthen consumer data privacy laws. Release date: 2020-03-09 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Local Government Telecommunications & Information Technology Download
Issue Briefs Mobile Home Parks Overview (20-03) This issue brief provides background information on mobile homes and an overview of the Mobile Home Park Act, including recent changes to the law with regard to county ordinances, registrations, the dispute resolution and enforcement program, and evictions. Release date: 2020-01-24 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Housing Local Government Download
Summary of Major Legislation Summary of Housing Legislation (2019) Interactions between landlords and their tenants was a major topic during the 2019 legislative session. This was evident in bills that made changes to the eviction process, unfit rentals, rental applications, and mobile home parks. Release date: 2019-08-12 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Housing Local Government Download
Summary of Major Legislation Summary of Local Government Legislation (2019) Laws passed during the 2019 session related to local government addressed a number of topics. This summary provides an overview of legislation concerning safety, county operations, special districts, property rights, business owners, and emergency service providers. Release date: 2019-07-16 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Local Government Download
Staff Publications Impact of Final Residential Assessment Rate on Local Share The final Residential Assessment Rate (RAR) Study released by the Division of Property Taxation (DPT) on April10, 2019,estimates anRARof 7.15 percent for property tax years 2019 and 2020. The General Assembly would have to pass a bill for this rate to become law. The anticipated assessed values associated with this study have a significant impact on the local share for school finance. Release date: 2019-04-12 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Education & School Finance (Pre & K-12) Fiscal Policy & Taxes Local Government State Revenue & Budget Download
Summary of Major Legislation Summary of Gaming Legislation (2018) In 2018, the General Assembly considered bills regulating simulated gaming devices and slot machines, as well as funding for communities affected by gaming. Release date: 2018-07-13 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Gaming, Lottery, & Racing Local Government State Revenue & Budget Download
Summary of Major Legislation Summary of Local Government Legislation (2017) During the 2017 legislative session, the General Assembly considered a variety of measures related to local government. These topics were wide-ranging and encompassed special districts, local taxes, and intergovernmental agreements and contracts. Peace officer status, nonprofit boards, and internet services were also part of the conversation. Release date: 2018-06-01 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Local Government Download
Other 2018 Salaries for County Officers 2018 Salaries for the following County Officers (Pursuant to CRS 30-2-102). County Commissioners County Sheriffs County Treasurers, Assessors, and Clerks County Coroners County Surveyors Release date: 2017-12-21 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Local Government Download
Final/Annual Reports 2017 Police Officers' and Firefighters' Pension Reform Commission Final Report Final Report to the Colorado General Assembly by the Police Officers' and Firefighters' Pension Reform Commission. Release date: 2017-12-15 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Local Government Download
Staff Publications Broadband Internet Service Programs in Colorado This memorandum provides an overview of broadband internet service programs in Colorado, including the Colorado High Cost Support Mechanism; state grant programs and other state efforts; local governments’ ability to provide broadband; and related recent legislation. Release date: 2017-11-22 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Business & Economic Development Local Government State Government Telecommunications & Information Technology Download
Summary of Major Legislation Summary of Housing Legislation (2017) During the 2017 legislative session, the General Assembly considered measures related to affordable housing, landlord-tenant agreements, construction defects, and homelessness. Release date: 2017-10-02 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Housing Local Government Download
Staff Publications Impacts of Senate Bill 17-267 on Special Districts This memorandum presents the impact of Senate Bill 17-267 on special districts that previously assessed sales taxes on retail marijuana transactions. Release date: 2017-09-26 Publishing Agency: Legislative Council Staff Subjects: Fiscal Policy & Taxes Liquor, Tobacco, & Marijuana Local Government Download