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The House Transportation, Housing & Local Government today passed legislation to improve safety and traffic flow on Colorado’s mountain highways. < Back April 10, 2024 Bipartisan Bill to Improve Mountain Highway Safety, Ease Traffic Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Transportation, Housing & Local Government today passed legislation to improve safety and traffic flow on Colorado’s mountain highways. SB24-100, sponsored by Representative Elizabeth Velasco, is focused on improving safety on the western slope, including through Glenwood Canyon. “Living in Glenwood Springs, our community is incredibly reliant on mountain highways, specifically I-70, to keep our economy running, emergency services accessible and to ensure our stores are well-stocked,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs . “While we cannot control bad winter weather, improving preparedness and strengthening safety precautions on our mountain roads will help prevent speed-related crashes, spin-outs and accidents that completely shut down our mountain highways. This bill is about improving mountain highway safety which will keep the flow of traffic moving so everyone, from tourists to locals, can travel more efficiently along the mountainous areas of I-70.” SB24-100 , also sponsored by Representative Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction, would improve safety by allowing the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to establish a zone with increased speeding fines for commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in Glenwood Canyon. The bill would also ban CMVs from driving in the left lane on I-70 in several key stretches where crashes are most frequent and disruptive, except to pass vehicles going under the speed limit. SB24-100 passed committ ee by a vote of 11-0. According to CDOT , CMVs represent about 7-percent of traffic, but account for more than 52-percent of traffic incidents. Wrecks involving CMVs take nearly twice as long to clear as passenger incidents. SB24-100 would further expand locations where CDOT may require traction equipment from parts of I-70 to key mountainous stretches of other state and U.S. highways. The bill would also give port of entry officers the powers of a peace officer when enforcing highway closures and direct CDOT to study additional locations for chain-up and chain-down stations. Previous Next

< Back September 8, 2022 ROBERTS AND MCLACHLAN CELEBRATE HISTORIC BROADBAND INVESTMENTS Moffat, Routt, and Ouray Counties to receive over $5 million to connect nearly 760 homes to high speed internet AVON/DURANGO, CO – Representatives Dylan Roberts and Barbara McLachlan today celebrated a historic $22.8 million investment in broadband grants that will connect 4,267 homes to high speed internet across Colorado. This funding, awarded last week by the Broadband Deployment Board , comes from a combination of state and federal funds, including $35 million of stimulus funds provided through HB21-1289 . The Yampa Valley Electric Association will receive over $3 million to connect 439 homes in Craig and Hayden. “I’m excited to see this historic investment in broadband infrastructure that will connect over 400 homes in Craig and Hayden to high speed internet,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “This is exactly why we directed $35 million to expand high speed internet access in rural Colorado, save people money and build the 21st century infrastructure our families need. Affordable, high-speed internet is critical for our rural residents and economies and with these grants, we’re closer to our goal of connecting nearly every Coloradan. This is great news for Northwest Colorado..” Clearnetworx in Ouray County will receive over $2 million to connect 318 homes in Ouray. “High speed internet has become essential for everyday activities, but access can be a real struggle in our communities,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “The Colorado Broadband Board has already directed millions to expand high speed internet access in Southwest Colorado, and I’m excited to see even more funding flow to our communities that will provide hundreds more families in rural Colorado affordable internet access they need.” The projects announced last week are below, and the full list of projects funded by the Board can be found here : ### Previous Next

Bipartisan legislation goes into effect today to boost Colorado’s education workforce. HB24-1044, sponsored by Representative Eliza Hamrick and Senator Chris Hansen, allows school districts to hire more Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA) retirees, without the risk of the retirees losing their retirement benefits. < Back July 1, 2024 Hamrick, Hansen Bipartisan Law to Boost Educator Workforce Goes Into Effect DENVER, CO - Bipartisan legislation goes into effect today to boost Colorado’s education workforce. HB24-1044 , sponsored by Representative Eliza Hamrick and Senator Chris Hansen, allows school districts to hire more Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA) retirees, without the risk of the retirees losing their retirement benefits. “Colorado’s educator shortage is dire and our students deserve quality education,” said Eliza Hamrick, D-Centennial. “To address our educator shortage, we need to use every tool available to us. With our new law going into effect, more retired educators and staff are able to return to the schools, without the risk of losing their PERA retirement benefits. This will encourage retired teachers to return to the classroom and help our schools and most importantly – our students.” “Colorado schools are facing a critical shortage of teachers, which results in larger class sizes and fewer students getting the individualized attention they need,” Senator Chris Hansen, D-Denver, said. “Allowing more retirees to return to the classroom without jeopardizing their hard-earned PERA benefits will get more qualified teachers and staff into our schools and help more students get the quality education they deserve.” HB24-1044, also sponsored by Representative Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction, expands the number of service retirees that school districts may hire while still being eligible for PERA benefits. Specifically, school districts can exceed the current 10 retiree cap by 1 retiree for every 1,000 students above 10,000 students. Under current law, school districts may only hire retirees when a “critical shortage of qualified instructors” is established. This law aims to streamline placing educators in classrooms by instead allowing school districts to hire up to 10 retirees if the district identifies a “need” for additional instructors. Previous Next

< Back January 28, 2020 OIL AND GAS AND MINING OPERATORS UNDERREPORTING PRODUCTION, LIKELY NOT PAYING THEIR TAXES Audit reveals unacceptable levels of reporting noncompliance and millions in lost tax revenue and fines to the state and local governments DENVER, CO — The Joint Legislative Audit Committee today heard an audit of severance tax systems within the Departments of Revenue and the Department of Natural Resources, which shows unacceptable reporting noncompliance from oil and gas and mining operators that may have left state and local governments without millions in tax revenue. Severance taxes are meant to “recapture a portion of the wealth that is lost when nonrenewable natural resources are removed from the earth and sold for private profit.” These taxes are used to fund water infrastructure, local government projects, and a variety of conservation efforts. “This audit shows how oil and gas operators have failed to pay millions in tax revenue to the state, local governments, and their communities, all the while running expensive television ads to tout their contributions to the state,” said Speaker KC Becker (D-Boulder). “We have one of the lowest severance tax rates in the nation and yet operators aren’t even paying what they owe. This highlights yet another aspect of the oil and gas industry that has gone unchecked for years, and we need a reliable reporting and compliance system so this industry can no longer skirt the system with impunity.” “This report is astounding and reveals years of noncompliance by oil and gas operators, potentially leading to millions of dollars in unreported production,” said Audit Committee vice-chair Rep. Michaelson Jenet (D-Commerce City). “This money is critical for local governments, and is intended to be used for infrastructure projects in communities impacted by the extraction industry. “I supported this audit because Coloradans and state agencies need to know how much oil and gas is being produced in our state, and it’s now crystal clear that oil and gas operators are failing to pay their taxes and report this information,” said committee member Rep. Kraft-Tharp (D-Arvada). “I look forward to working with the Departments of Natural Resources, Revenue, and the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to swiftly fix these extremely troubling issues and get the severance tax system in order.” The audit report found that the state is largely unaware of how much oil and gas is produced because operators have failed to report this information as required by law. As a result, the state has likely lost millions of dollars in severance taxes. Of the 420 operators that produced oil and gas in the state from 2016 to 2018, 316 of them submitted incomplete monthy well reports or failed to submit as many as 50,055 required monthly reports. If the maximum $200 per day fine was imposed for failing to report this information, the state would have collected as much as $308 million in fines from oil and gas operators for the violations over two years. Furthermore, only eight of 79 mine operators submitted production reports in 2017, and 73 percent of the operators in the report’s sample failed to submit Oil and Gas Withholding Statements, which are used to enforce severance tax compliance. After applying all applicable deductions and credits, the state’s effective severance tax rate is just .54 percent of gross revenue for oil and gas. This audit, although focused on 2016 through 2018, shows extensive and systemic failures on the part of industry to comply with state reporting and tax remittance requirements. Previous Next

< Back May 20, 2021 HEALTH COMMITTEE DEMS ADVANCE BILL TO LOWER RX DRUG COSTS DENVER– The House Health and Insurance Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Yardira Caraveo, a physician, and Chris Kennedy to reduce the cost of prescription drugs. The committee also passed HB21-1307, sponsored by Representative Dylan Roberts, to ensure all Coloradans who need it have access to affordable insulin. “Colorado Democrats have made reducing the cost of health care and prescription drugs a top priority, and today we’re continuing our efforts by creating an affordability board that will save Coloradans money on the life-saving prescription drugs they need,” said Rep. Chris Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “Pharmaceutical companies are making billions in profit and spending billions more on advertising, CEO pay and stock buybacks that enrich their shareholders. At the same time, they are demanding consumers pay more and more for the same drugs they’ve used for years. It’s time to put an end to the myth that Big Pharma needs to price gouge US consumers to pay for research and development, and it’s time to make sure that every Coloradan can afford the life-saving prescription drugs they need.” “Coloradans need us to act now to reduce the cost of prescription drugs,” s aid Rep. Yadira Caraveo, D-Thornton, a physician. “Prescription drugs are essential tools for physicians to manage, prevent and cure diseases, but Coloradans are struggling to access them because the cost is too high when it shouldn’t even be a consideration. Even the most successful drug on the market becomes ineffective when a patient can’t afford it. The prescription drug affordability board is going to reign in the high cost of prescription drugs and ensure more patients have access to the treatments they need.” Nearly one-in-three Coloradans struggle to afford the cost of prescription drugs. As established in SB21-175, the Prescription Drug Affordability Board will convene a panel of experts to investigate prescription drug cost increases, and set guardrails on cost increases for the most expensive prescription drugs in the state. The affordability board would set upper payment limits for prescription drugs that meet certain cost increase thresholds. These payment limits would apply to all purchasers in the state, but will only be placed on the highest cost drugs. The board will collect and evaluate the data necessary to review the affordability of prescription drugs and make policy recommendations to legislators. The board will be made up of nonpartisan, unpaid, highly qualified experts who are free from conflicts of interest. A recent poll from the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative found that 77% of Coloradans supported the idea of establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board to analyze and act to lower the cost of certain prescription drugs — and this bill seeks to answer their call. In addition to passing SB21-175, the committee also advanced Rep. Dylan Robert’s bill to make insulin more available and reduce its cost. “No one should have to go without the insulin they need to survive, but too many Coloradans can’t afford the medicine they need. In 2021, that should not happen and we need to do something about it,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “This bill builds on Colorado’s national leadership on this issue and will guarantee that regardless of insurance status, Coloradans with diabetes can get insulin at an affordable price when they need it.” HB21-1307 would increase access to insulin by clarifying that the current $100 cap on a person’s monthly insulin supply applies regardless of the number of prescriptions a person may have. Furthermore it allows eligible consumers to access one emergency prescription insulin supply for no more than $35 per 12-month period. Finally, it creates the Insulin Affordability Program in the Division of Insurance to help eligible individuals obtain prescription insulin for $50 a month for 12 months. The findings of an investigation conducted by the Colorado Attorney General’s office released in November, 2020, found that over 40% of Coloradans using insulin rationed their medicine due to cost and that over 37% use expired insulin to stretch their supplies due to high costs. Previous Next

Senate Assistant Majority Leader Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Representative Tammy Story, D-Conifer, today released the following statements on the shooting at Evergreen High School: < Back September 10, 2025 Statements from Sen. Cutter and Rep. Story on Shooting at Evergreen High School DENVER, CO – Senate Assistant Majority Leader Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Representative Tammy Story, D-Conifer, today released the following statements on the shooting at Evergreen High School: Statement from Representative Tammy Story, D-Conifer: “I am horrified by the shooting at Evergreen High School, and my heart breaks for the students, educators, families and school personnel whose start to the school year has now been marked by inexplicable violence and harm. I am hoping for the swift recovery of the victims, and my thoughts are with them and their families. I am incredibly grateful to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, along with first responders and law enforcement from across the Metro area, for their quick action to protect our community and save lives. “No student should ever fear going to school or face danger like this, and parents should never have to worry when their child is at school. Shootings at schools are far too frequent in our country, and I am sickened that this has happened again in Jefferson County. Our community is strong, and I know we will come together to support the Evergreen High School community in this very difficult time. I am closely monitoring the situation, and I will do everything I can to support our community.” Statement from Senate Assistant Majority Leader Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County: “I am heartbroken by the news of the shooting at Evergreen High School and angered at another senseless act of gun violence in our state. Schools need to be safe places, and this tragedy is yet another reminder that we must do better to protect our kids. I am grateful for the rapid response by first responders, medical teams, school staff, and the students of Evergreen High School. My prayers are with the victims, their friends and families, and the entire Evergreen community. I am hopeful for a quick and full recovery for all those injured.” Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis signed bipartisan legislation today that will improve Colorado’s Medicaid program. < Back May 28, 2025 Gov. Polis Signs Bill to Improve Health Care Coverage in Colorado DENVER, CO — Governor Jared Polis signed bipartisan legislation today that will improve Colorado’s Medicaid program. HB25-1213 makes important Medicaid program updates so Coloradans can receive consistent, accessible health care coverage. “Everyone deserves access to affordable, high-quality health care, and this law makes important administrative and eligibility updates to Colorado’s Medicaid program to improve health care coverage,” said Rep. Lisa Feret, D-Arvada. “By adjusting timelines, cutting red tape, and improving transparency, we can make essential health care more accessible to Coloradans.” HB25-1213 , also sponsored by Representative Ron Weinberg, R-Loveland, will make important improvements to Medicaid coverage in Colorado. To improve access and streamline health care coverage, HB25-1213 makes several administrative, eligibility, billing and review changes to the Medicaid program. This law: Requires annual technical updates to the billing manual to make it easier and faster to bill and process Medicaid claims. Requires faster payments to providers when their claims must be reprocessed due to updated provider rates. Increases transparency by requiring managed care entities, which deliver care to Medicaid recipients, to report on their profits and medical loss ratio and by publishing that information online. Many Medicaid billing claims require a physician’s signature. The law streamlines access to physical, occupational, or speech therapy by eliminating this requirement for these services. Requires improved communication with Coloradans in long-term care using Medicaid when the services they receive are being discontinued. The Congressional Republicans’ tax ploy will have devastating effects on every sector of Colorado’s health care system, including the Colorado hospitals, clinics, and other providers that could lose up to $990 million in annual federal Medicaid funding. The proposed cuts to Medicaid will result in an estimated 140,000-230,000 Coloradans suddenly losing health care coverage. This law improves Medicaid coverage in Colorado to ensure vulnerable communities can receive the health care coverage they need to lead healthy lives. Previous Next

< Back April 8, 2019 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES REP. BIRD BILL TO INCREASE AFFORDABLE HOUSING & SAVE ENERGY (Apr. 8) — The House Energy and Environment committee passed a bill that would make additional capital available for affordable housing and other public housing authority projects by allowing these projects to participate in the New Energy Improvements District’s (NEID) Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program. “This is an important bill that will greatly benefit many hardworking Coloradans,” said Rep. Bird, D-Westminster. “By allowing housing authorities to participate in this program, we are reducing costs to develop affordable housing by 15 to 20 percent. This savings will benefit taxpayers and, importantly, can be passed on to tenants and significantly lower their living expenses.” HB19-1272 will expand access to Colorado’s C-PACE program to public housing authorities and affordable housing projects across the state, allowing these entities to have ready access to capital that can be used for energy and water efficiency projects on their properties. As a result, the overall operational costs of these properties will decrease and the savings will ultimately be passed on to Colorado’s most vulnerable including veterans and disabled individuals. The bill passed the committee with a bipartisan vote of 8-2 and now heads to the House floor. Previous Next

< Back June 6, 2020 WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS DURING HEALTH EMERGENCIES PASS COMMITTEE Denver, CO– The House Committee on Finance today considered and passed legislation, sponsored by Reps. Tom Sullivan and Leslie Herod, to protect workers from retaliation when they expose safety-related issues. The bill passed by a vote of 7-4. “The bill we passed today would ensure that workers feel empowered to speak out when their employers are putting health and safety at risk,” said Rep. Herod, D-Denver. “As this pandemic has shown us, this policy will not only benefit workers, it will benefit our communities and the broader public. Public health is a collective effort, and we need everyone to know that they won’t face workplace retaliation for doing the right thing.” “We’re working to get Colorado back to work and back on track as safely and responsibly as we can,” said Rep. Sullivan, D-Centennial . “That means making sure that all workplaces put health and safety first, and protecting employees who speak out when they see wrongdoing. This bill will hopefully give workers the confidence to make their voices heard without fear of losing their jobs.” Colorado has few state-level whistleblower protections, relying primarily on the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which take years to process retaliation claims. HB20-1415 protects Colorado workers from retaliation when they raise concerns about the health and safety of their workplace to their employer, fellow coworkers, the public, or government agencies. It grants workers the right to wear protective equipment to work, and it requires employers to inform employees of their rights to blow the whistle on unsafe conditions. The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment is charged with managing complaints. Previous Next

< Back October 12, 2021 TITONE: COLORADO LEADING THE WAY ON LGBTQ+ HEALTH CARE DENVER, CO — Representative Brianna Titone, one of the first transgender lawmakers elected in the country, today released the following statement after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved Colorado’s request to include comprehensive coverage for gender affirming health care in the state’s benchmark health insurance plans, making Colorado the first state in the country to do so. “Every person deserves access to the full range of health services they need, and I’m proud that Colorado is leading the way to cover comprehensive care for LGBTQ+ people in our state,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, D-Arvada. “For too long, too many transgender and nonbinary people have struggled to access the health care they need, despite having health insurance. These services are critical for the health and safety of LGBTQ+ communities and will provide more Coloradans with the agency they need to affirm their identities.” The plans approved today also include coverage for alternatives to opioid medications to help address substance use disorder, which was required through HB21-1276, legislation sponsored by Representatives Chris Kennedy and Leslie Herod. The plans also include coverage for an annual mental health wellness exam, which was established through HB21-1068, legislation sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Brianna Titone. Affordable Care Act insurance plans are offered through Connect for Health Colorado, the state’s marketplace for individual and small group plans. Previous Next

On August 7, two new laws will go into effect. HB24-1444 will implement History Colorado recommendations to support healing generational trauma in tribal communities, capture oral histories and dive deeper into long-standing inequities faced by tribal communities. SB24-053 will examine racial disparities and the impact of systemic racism on Black Coloradans. < Back July 29, 2024 Laws to Extend Federal Indian Boarding School Research Program, Uncover and Define Systemic Racial Inequities in Colorado Go Into Effect DENVER, CO – On August 7, two new laws will go into effect. HB24-1444 will implement History Colorado recommendations to support healing generational trauma in tribal communities, capture oral histories and dive deeper into long-standing inequities faced by tribal communities. SB24-053 will examine racial disparities and the impact of systemic racism on Black Coloradans. “History Colorado’s research about the dark history of federal Indian boarding schools left us with a choice on how to right these wrongs and better support our tribal communities today,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, sponsor of HB24-1444. “This law extends this important research for another three years, acknowledging the abuse and forced assimilation that occurred, and addressing some of the longstanding inequities still faced by our tribal communities.” “I was proud to join this bipartisan effort to acknowledge and address the injustices faced by American Indian communities in Colorado,” said Senator Jeff Bridges, D-Arapahoe County, sponsor of HB24-1444. “By extending the federal Indian boarding school research program until 2027 and providing new funding, we are helping ensure that the voices and experiences of tribal communities are heard and respected.” “We cannot erase the horrors of the past, but we must face them,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, sponsor of HB24-1444. “This new law directs the state of Colorado to continue to expose the truth about the American Indian boarding schools.” HB24-1444 , in consultation with tribes, extends the federal Indian boarding school research program within History Colorado until 2027. Enacted in 2022 through HB22-1327 , this research program was tasked with researching the victimization that occurred at American Indian boarding schools in Colorado. History Colorado released the findings from their report and recommendations in October 2023, which revealed that nine institutions in the state attempted to assimilate American Indian students. HB24-1444 invests $1 million to continue the program in consultation with different tribes, putting forward recommendations to work toward social, educational and economic equity for tribal communities. “Systemic racism has impacted Black Coloradans in every facet of our lives, leading to negative impacts like poorer health outcomes and less likelihood of accumulating generational wealth,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver , sponsor of SB24-053 . “While one law can’t make up for the impacts that Black Coloradans have endured, this legislation will help us identify the impacts that racial inequalities have had on our Black community so we can take intentional and effective action.” “Black Coloradans have been living with the impacts of systemic and historic racism – and the structural inequities that have resulted from it – for decades,” said Senator James Coleman, D-Denver, sponsor of SB24-053. “Studying that painful legacy is the first step towards addressing it, and will give us a deeper understanding of the impacts of past and current racial discrimination and policies on our community. This is an important opportunity for our state, and I am looking forward to continuing this conversation so we can begin to repair the damage and create a better and more equitable future for all Black Coloradans.” “Racial equity studies can be a useful tool to address racial inequity by compiling data of the long-term impacts that systematic racism has had on Black communities,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora , sponsor of SB24-053 . “Our legislation directs History Colorado to look further into how racial inequalities have impacted the success of Black Coloradans so we can develop meaningful policy that will make a real difference for our future.” SB24-053 creates the Black Coloradan Racial Equity Commission to determine and make recommendations on the lasting effects of systemic racism in Colorado’s practices, systems, and policies. History Colorado will conduct research across areas such as economic mobility, housing, K-12 education, health care and the criminal justice system. Racial equity studies, like the one outlined in this law, can be used as tools to qualify and quantify past discrimination and recommend certain corrective measures. The study also includes an economic impact analysis of the racial discrimination determined by the study. Previous Next

< Back March 17, 2022 JOINT RELEASE: ECONOMIC AND BUDGET FORECAST SHOWS CONTINUED ECONOMIC GROWTH JBC Dems to prioritize saving people money, making Colorado more affordable DENVER, CO – Democratic members of the Joint Budget Committee today released the following statements after the Legislative Council Staff (LCS) and the Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB) delivered the March economic forecasts, which will serve as the basis for the state budget for the coming fiscal year. “It’s great to see that our economy is making a bold recovery and that unemployment levels are falling,” said JBC Chair Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Our responsible approach to budgeting has positioned us well to craft a balanced budget that saves people money and moves our state forward. Our budget will invest in public schools and higher education to prepare students for success, and it will fund critical efforts to investigate and prevent crime to make our communities safer. I’m excited about where our state is headed, and look forward to the work ahead.” “Today’s numbers prove that, overall, our economy remains very strong,” said JBC Vice Chair Sen. Chris Hansen, D-Denver. “We’re back to the strong pre-pandemic levels of employment and wage growth, and the General Fund remains in a solid position. Democrats have worked to support our economy and Coloradans over the past few years, and it’s clearly paying off. We are well positioned to provide working Colorado families critical tax and fee relief while investing in our schools and making Colorado a more affordable place to live.” “Today's economic forecast shows that despite pandemic-induced inflation that is occurring nationally and a geopolitical crisis, Colorado's economic recovery is strong,” said JBC Member Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “Thanks to fiscally responsible decisions that we've made throughout the pandemic and especially this year, I am confident we have positioned Colorado for continued -- and sustained -- growth. The proactive steps we’ve taken to bolster our reserves and our budget will enable us to continue moving forward with critical investments in public schools and efforts to save people money.” “Based on the numbers, it appears that Colorado is financially on track to avert much of the recent disruptions caused by global events,” said JBC Member Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada. “The challenges will continue, and we can’t lose sight of our obligations and priorities in Colorado. We must remain focused on creating a budget that will work most efficiently and effectively for the greatest number of Coloradans.” The LCS Forecast anticipates General Fund revenues to be $15.96 billion in FY 2021-2022 and $16.05 billion in FY 2022-2023 – a $59 million increase for FY 2021-2022 and an $344.5 million decrease for FY 2022-2023 as compared with the earlier December revenue forecast. The unemployment rate continued to fall in Colorado to 4.1 percent in January, led mostly by gains in the food and accommodations sectors. The state has recovered more than 98 percent of the jobs lost during the pandemic. Inflationary pressures, however, will impact near term budget priorities and state departments. Geopolitical risk and monetary policy decisions were also presented as risks to the forecast. The OSPB anticipates that General Fund revenue will be $16.2 billion for FY 2021-22, which OSPB revised upward by $205.9 million relative to its December estimate. For FY 2022-23, OSPB projects General Fund revenue will be close to $16.6 billion, which OSPB revised upward by $344.7 million relative to its December estimate. The state will exceed its TABOR limit due to higher than anticipated income tax collections, and both OSPB and LCS anticipate the state exceeding the TABOR limit in the upcoming fiscal years as well. In addition, LCS and OSPB identified the uncertainty of the pandemic, evolving fiscal policy, inflation, and supply chain disruptions as risks to the forecast. Previous Next