Search Publications

This memorandum provides an overview of the process to fill vacancies in various elected offices at the federal, state, and local levels.  A vacancy in an elected office occurs when an office holder resigns or dies during his or her elected term.   A vacancy may also occur when an elected official moves outside of the district he or she represents.  Vacancies in federal, state, and local elected offices in Colorado are filled in a variety of ways, including appointments, vacancy elections, and political party vacancy committees.

This memorandum provides an overview of the "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent Government Act" (SMART Government Act).  The act requires executive agencies to annually present specific information to joint legislative committees during the first two weeks of the legislative session.  This memorandum summarizes the information that state agencies are required to submit to committees in advance of the hearings and the requirements of the hearings.

The General Assembly distributes state operating funding to public institutions of higher education (IHEs) in Colorado primarily based on a formula. This issue brief provides an overview of the formula and mechanisms for distributing state funds from the General Assembly to public IHEs in Colorado.  IHEs also receive revenue from tuition and fees and state grants for capital construction projects, allocations for student financial aid, and funding to implement specific legislative initiatives.

This issue brief provides a summary of the federal legislation that was passed in response to the COVID‑19, or coronavirus, public health emergency.

In 2019, the General Assembly enacted Senate Bill 19-181, which changes how the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) in the Department of Natural Resources regulates the development of oil and natural gas in Colorado. Since July 2019, the COGCC has conducted rulemaking hearings to adopt rules required in the bill. This memorandum summarizes Senate Bill 19-181 and the new rules adopted by the COGCC as of December 2020.

This memorandum provides an overview of various federal, state, and local programs and resources that are available to provide assistance to small businesses in Colorado during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

This memo provides an overview of data on income inequality in Colorado and the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic by income and other demographic characteristics.  This memo uses new sources of publicly available high-frequency data from the U.S. Census Bureau and private companies to examine how the pandemic’s effects have been distributed among Colorado’s diverse households.

The Long Bill Narrative, which is the annual appropriations act, is prepared by staff to explain funding decisions recommended by the JBC to the rest of the General Assembly.  This document is a companion document to the actual Long Bill.  The narrative outlines budget changes based on the introduced version of the Long Bill.

Focus Colorado presents forecasts for the economy and state government revenue through FY 2020-21. 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, legislation passed by the General Assembly affecting the forecast is described throughout the report.

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 with the text, title, and a fair and impartial analysis of each initiated or referred constitutional amendment, law, or question on the ballot.  The analysis must include a summary of the measure, the major arguments both for and against the measure, and a brief fiscal assessment of the me

During the 2021 legislative session, the General Assembly considered several measures related to agriculture including animal welfare, economic development, the Department of Agriculture, and other agriculture-related bills.

During the 2021 legislative session, the General Assembly considered several measures related to public health including behavioral health, suicide prevention, and public safety. 

During the 2021 legislative session, the General Assembly considered several measures intended to support economic development efforts in the state.

During the 2021 legislative session, the General Assembly considered several measures concerning immigration and immigrants.  The bills addressed immigration services, benefits, and protections, as well as health care, child welfare, employment matters, personal identifying information, and criminal justice.

This memorandum provides an overview of constitutional and statutory changes affecting the ballot information booklet ("Blue Book"), newspaper publication of ballot titles and texts, and related statewide initiative policy since 1994.  

During the 2021 legislative session, the General Assembly considered several consumer protection measures related to mortgage lenders, online dating services, after‑market airbags, and towing companies.  

Focus Colorado presents forecasts for the economy and state government revenue through FY 2020-21. 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, legislation passed by the General Assembly affecting the forecast is described throughout the report.

This memorandum summarizes legislative efforts since 2017 to control prescription drug prices.  It includes information on both bills that failed as well as those that became law. 

Summary report for the Pension Review Commission.

The Sales and Use Tax Simplification Task Force (task force) was originally created in 2017 pursuant to House Bill 17-1216.  In its original form, the task force was scheduled to be repealed in 2020.  However, House Bill 20-1022 extended the work of the task force for an additional five years through July 1, 2026.

The Legislative Oversight Committee Concerning Tax Policy (committee) is charged with reviewing the state’s current tax policy and the evaluations of tax expenditures that are statutorily completed by the Office of the State Auditor.  The committee is also charged with oversight of the Task Force Concerning Tax Policy.