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Final/Annual Reports

2024 Health Insurance Exchange Oversight Committee Final Report

Section 10-22-107, C.R.S., establishes the Colorado Health Insurance Exchange Oversight Committee (oversight committee) for guiding the implementation of the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange, which currently does business under the name Connect for Health Colorado (exchange), and making recommendations to the General Assembly.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly
  • Health Care & Health Insurance

Final/Annual Reports

2024 Treatment of Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System Final Report

Submitted herewith is the final report of the Legislative Oversight Committee for the Treatment of Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System. The committee was created pursuant to Article 98 of Title 37, Colorado Revised Statutes. The purpose of this committee is to oversee an advisory task force that studies and makes recommendations concerning persons with behavioral health disorders who are justice-involved.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Courts & Judicial
  • Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement
  • General Assembly

Final/Annual Reports

2024 Transportation Legislation Review Committee Final Report

Submitted herewith is the final report of the Transportation Legislation Review Committee (TLRC). This committee was created pursuant to Section 43-2-145, Colorado Revised Statutes. The purpose of this committee is to give guidance and direction to the Colorado Department of Transportation on the development of the state transportation system, and to provide legislative oversight of and input into such development.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly
  • Transportation & Motor Vehicles


Session Related Publications

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 the legislature's committees. This memorandum provides guidance to the public in participating in the legislative process.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly
  • State Government

Session Related Publications

2025 Fiscal Notes Response Form

This response form is provided to state agencies for responding to fiscal note information requests from Legislative Council Staff.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly
  • State Revenue & Budget


Session Related Publications

2025 Agency Expense Worksheet

This worksheet is provided to state agencies for responding to fiscal note information requests from Legislative Council Staff.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly
  • State Revenue & Budget

Final/Annual Reports

2024 American Indian Affairs Interim Study Committee Final Report

Submitted herewith is the final report of the American Indian Affairs Interim Study Committee. This committee was created pursuant to Interim Committee Request Letter 2024-003. The purpose of this committee is to build better relationships between American Indian communities and the legislative branch through engaging in meaningful conversations between legislators, tribal citizens, and American Indian communities.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly
  • State Government

Staff Publications

Strategies to Reduce Fiscal Impacts of Legislation

Fiscal notes estimate the fiscal impact of legislation, including revenue impacts, state expenditures, and appropriations required. However, fiscal notes are decision-making tools for legislators, and the General Assembly is ultimately responsible for making appropriations and setting aside the state funding needed to implement legislation. This memorandum outlines several common strategies used to limit the fiscal impact of legislation, primarily expenditure impacts, and discusses how these strategies are treated in fiscal notes.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly
  • State Government

Issue Briefs

Smart Government Act

The State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent Government Act (SMART Act) was adopted in 2010 by House Bill 10-1119. This bill established a performance-based budgeting program.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly
  • State Government
  • State Revenue & Budget



Staff Publications

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.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Elections & Redistricting
  • General Assembly
  • Local Government
  • State Government

Final/Annual Reports

2024 Language Access Advisory Board Final Report

Pursuant to Section 2-3-2002, C.R.S. (House Bill 24-1368), the Language Access Advisory Board was created in the Legislative Department for the 2024 interim to study and make recommendations on improving language access to the legislative process for populations with limited English proficiency. The advisory board met four times over the 2024 interim, and it is required to report to the Executive Committee of the Legislative Council by December 15, 2024, on its work and its recommendations.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly
  • Local Government

Final/Annual Reports

2024 Treatment of Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System Final Report

Submitted herewith is the final report of the Legislative Oversight Committee for the Treatment of Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System. The committee was created pursuant to Article 98 of Title 37, Colorado Revised Statutes. The purpose of this committee is to oversee an advisory task force that studies and makes recommendations concerning persons with behavioral health disorders who are justice-involved.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Courts & Judicial
  • Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement
  • General Assembly
  • Human Services

Staff Publications

2025 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement Forecast

Colorado receives annual payments from tobacco manufacturers as part of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA). The Tobacco MSA was reached in 1998 between certain tobacco manufacturers (known as “participating manufacturers”) and the governments of 52 states and territories. Under the MSA, participating tobacco manufacturers were released from health‑related claims associated with their products in exchange for making perpetual annual payments to states.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly
  • Liquor, Tobacco, & Marijuana

Staff Publications

Overview and History of Statewide Ballot Measures in Colorado

This memorandum provides an overview of the statewide ballot measure process; a summary of the measures approved or rejected by Colorado voters between 1880 and 2024; and links to additional resources at the offices of the Colorado Legislative Council Staff and the Colorado Secretary of State.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Elections & Redistricting
  • General Assembly

Session Related Publications

House Term Limits

Term Limit Information for Members of the Colorado House of Representatives

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly
  • State Government

Staff Publications

Required Reporting on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reports

Legislative Council Staff produces greenhouse gas emissions reports (GHG reports) that estimate the emissions impact of certain bills. Utilization of these reports has been low. The reports repeal following the 2025 session unless extended by legislation.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Energy
  • General Assembly
  • Natural Resources & Environment
  • Public Health
  • Transportation & Motor Vehicles


Staff Publications

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 legislators and others to use when deliberating state policy.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly
  • State Revenue & Budget

Staff Publications

Fiscal Note FAQ's

Fiscal Note FAQ's

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly
  • State Revenue & Budget

Staff Publications

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 notes. These funding mechanisms include appropriations, transfers, diversions, and warrants on state funds, as well as fee revenue and gifts, grants, or donations. The memorandum concludes with a list of funding mechanisms for which voter approval is required.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly
  • State Government
  • State Revenue & Budget

Summary of Major Legislation

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).

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Capital Construction
  • General Assembly