Skip to main content

Search Publications

Filter

Displaying 26 - 50 of 125


Issue Briefs

Overview of the Office of the Attorney General

The Attorney General is a statewide elected official who acts as the chief legal representative of the state and the chief executive officer of the Department of Law. The Attorney General and the Department of Law together are known as the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. This issue brief provides an overview of the office’s functions.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Courts & Judicial
  • State Government


Issue Briefs

Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act

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 (EPA) has classified secondhand tobacco smoke as a known cause of cancer.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Liquor, Tobacco, & Marijuana
  • Local Government
  • Public Health
  • State Government

Staff Publications

Ranked Choice Voting

This memorandum provides an overview of ranked choice voting in Colorado and other states. Ranked choice voting is a method of voting where voters rank candidates by preference. Ranked choice voting is currently used in nonpartisan elections in several Colorado municipalities, with at least one additional municipality planning to use it in future elections.

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

Staff Publications

2024 October Colorado General Assembly Digital Accessibility Report

In accordance with Section 24-34-802 (1)(c)(II), C.R.S., The Colorado General Assembly Digital Accessibility Report outlines the ongoing efforts made by the staff of the legislative branch of the State of Colorado to improve and maintain a digital landscape that is inclusive and accessible to everyone, including its ongoing accessibility efforts to meet or exceed accessibility standards.

This report will be updated quarterly through July 2025.

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

Staff Publications

Informe de accesibilidad digital de la Asamblea General de Colorado

De conformidad con la Sección 24-34-802 (1)(c)(II), C.R.S., este informe describe los esfuerzos continuos realizados por el personal de la rama administrativa del Estado de Colorado para mejorar y mantener un entorno digital que sea inclusivo y accesible para todos, incluidos sus esfuerzos continuos de accesibilidad para cumplir o superar las normas de accesibilidad.

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

Summary of Major Legislation

Summary of 2024 State Government and Immigration Legislation

During the 2024 legislative session, the General Assembly considered bills concerning state government, including addressing topics related to elected officials, state agencies, the Colorado Open Records Act, and accessibility. Additionally, the General Assembly considered legislation addressing various immigration matters.

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

Staff Publications

2024 June Colorado General Assembly Digital Accessibility Report

In accordance with Section 24-34-802 (1)(c)(II), C.R.S., The Colorado General Assembly Digital Accessibility Report outlines the ongoing efforts made by the staff of the legislative branch of the State of Colorado to improve and maintain a digital landscape that is inclusive and accessible to everyone, including its ongoing accessibility efforts to meet or exceed accessibility standards.

This report will be updated quarterly through July 2025.

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


Staff Publications

Statutory Reports Sent to Joint Business Committee

This memorandum provides an overview of all the statutory reports that are required to be sent to members of the Joint Business Committee in FY 2023‑24. Most of the reports can be found in the Required Reports Database. Some reports are included as part of the agency’s annual reporting. Please contact Legislative Council Staff if you are unable to locate a report. A list of the reports is provided in Table 1.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Business & Economic Development
  • Labor & Employment
  • Professions & Occupations
  • State Government

Tax Expenditure Evaluation

Contaminated Land Redevelopment Credit

Report No. 2023-TE15

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Office of the State Auditor
Subjects:
  • Business & Economic Development
  • Fiscal Policy & Taxes
  • Natural Resources & Environment
  • State Government

Issue Briefs

New to Colorado

Colorado’s population reached nearly 5.8 million according to the 2020 census, a 14.8 percent increase from 2010. For those joining the influx of new people moving to the Centennial State, this issue brief outlines best practices for establishing residency, applying for state identification, registering a vehicle, registering to vote, and paying state income taxes. It also provides links to other Legislative Council Staff (LCS) resources that may be helpful in understanding Colorado’s state budget and policy landscape.

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

Summary of Major Legislation

Summary of 2023 Firearms Legislation

During the 2023 legislative session, the General Assembly examined a number of measures related to firearms. Specifically, lawmakers debated policies about ghost guns, extreme risk protection orders, the minimum age to purchase a firearm, waiting periods, and lawsuits filed against firearm industry members.
Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly
  • State Government

Issue Briefs

Law Enforcement Liability

Under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act (CGIA), public entities and employees are generally immune from liability in all claims except those specifically provided for in state law. In 2020, national and local public demonstrations against excessive use of force by law enforcement prompted the passage of Senate Bill 20-217 which limits qualified immunity for law enforcement officers. This issue brief provides an overview of law enforcement officer actions that are subject to civil or criminal liability.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Civil Law
  • Courts & Judicial
  • State Government

Issue Briefs

Food Assistance in Colorado

Federal, state, and local entities work to deliver programs and initiatives to increase food security and accessibility for Coloradans. This issue brief provides an overview of key programs and efforts within the state, including beneficiaries, operations, and funding.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Children & Domestic Matters
  • Human Services
  • Public Health
  • State Government

Summary of Major Legislation

Summary of Local Government 2023 Legislation

The General Assembly considered several measures related to local government during the 2023 legislative session, including bills regarding local government operations, metropolitan districts, public employees, electric vehicles, and safety.

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

Summary of Major Legislation

Summary of 2023 State Government and Immigration Major Legislation

The 2023 Colorado General Assembly considered a range of state government and immigration bills related to detention facilities, government records, legislative committees, workplace standards, and public buildings.

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

Staff Publications

Legislative Council Handbook

Colorado statute establishes the Legislative Council as a body of 18 Senators and Representatives with specific functions and responsibilities (Section 2-3-301, et seq., C.R.S.).  Six senators are appointed, with the President of the Senate appointing the majority party members and the Minority Leader appointing the minority party members, all of whom must be approved by a majority of the Senate.

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

Session Related Publications

SMART Act Hearings Overview Memorandum

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.

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

Staff Publications

Vacancies in Elected Offices

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.

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

Staff Publications

State Government Enterprises

This memorandum provides information on state government enterprises under Article X, Section 20 of the Colorado Constitution, also known as the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR).  From FY 1993-94 through FY 2022-23, 33 state government entities had received enterprise status for at least one fiscal year.  In FY 2020-21, the most recent year for which financial data are available, enterprise revenue totaled $27.1 billion.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • Fiscal Policy & Taxes
  • State Government
  • State Revenue & Budget

Summary of Major Legislation

Summary of 2022 Information Technology Legislation

During the 2022 legislative session, the Colorado General Assembly considered several measures related to information technology (IT), including: privacy protections, IT-related state services; and Joint Technology Committee-sponsored bills.

Release date:
Publishing Agency:
Legislative Council Staff
Subjects:
  • General Assembly
  • State Government
  • Telecommunications & Information Technology

Staff Publications

Process for Writing the Ballot Information Booklet

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 statewide initiated or referred constitutional amendment, law, or question on the ballot.  The analysis must include a summary of the measure, the major arguments for and against the measure, and a brief fiscal assessment of t

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

Summary of Major Legislation

Summary of State Government Legislation (2022)

During the 2022 legislative session, the General Assembly considered several measures related to State Government including task forces and commissions, payments and fees, compensation, holidays, and daylight savings.

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