Colorado General Assembly
| Colorado General Assembly | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Type: | State legislature |
| Term limits: | 8 years in the Senate, 4 terms (8 years) in the House |
| Session start: | January 10, 2024 |
| Website: | Official Legislature Page |
| Leadership | |
| Senate President: | Stephen Fenberg (D) |
| House Speaker: | Julie McCluskie (D) |
| Majority Leader: | Senate: Dominick Moreno (D) House: Monica Duran (D) |
| Minority Leader: | Senate: Paul Lundeen (R) House: Mike Lynch |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 35 (Senate), 65 (House) |
| Length of term: | 4 years (Senate), 2 years (House) |
| Authority: | Art V, Colorado Constitution |
| Salary: | $43,977/year for legislators whose terms began in 2023. $41,449/year for legislators whose terms began in 2021. + Per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last election: | November 8, 2022 |
| Next election: | November 5, 2024 |
| Redistricting: | Colorado Reapportionment Commission has control |
The Colorado State Legislature is known as the Colorado General Assembly. It is a bicameral legislature, composed of the Colorado House of Representatives and the Colorado State Senate.
General legislative elections are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in each even-numbered year. The entire House is elected in each general election. Senators are elected in two classes such that, as nearly as possible, one-half of the senators are elected in each general election.
Colorado has a Democratic trifecta. The Democratic Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.
Elections
2024
Elections for the Colorado State Senate will take place in 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024. A primary is June 25, 2024. The filing deadline is March 19, 2024.
Elections for the Colorado House of Representatives will take place in 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024. A primary is June 25, 2024. The filing deadline is March 19, 2024.
2022
Elections for the Colorado State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for June 28, 2022. The filing deadline was March 15, 2022.
Elections for the Colorado House of Representatives took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for June 28, 2022. The filing deadline was March 15, 2022.
2020
Elections for the office of Colorado State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for June 30, 2020. The filing deadline was March 17, 2020. Heading into the 2020 general election, there were 19 Democrats and 16 Republicans in the chamber.
Elections for the office of Colorado House of Representatives took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for June 30, 2020. The filing deadline was March 17, 2020.
2018
Elections for the Colorado State Senate took place in 2018. An open primary election took place on June 26, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 20, 2018, for major party candidates and April 2, 2018, for minor party candidates. There was a July 12, 2018, deadline for unaffiliated candidates.[1]
Elections for the Colorado House of Representatives took place in 2018. An open primary election took place on June 26, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 20, 2018 for major party candidates. There was an April 2, 2018, deadline for minor party candidates. There was a July 12, 2018, deadline for unaffiliated candidates.[2]
2016
Elections for the Colorado State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 28, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was April 4, 2016.[3]
Elections for the Colorado House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 28, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was April 4, 2016.
2014
Elections for the Colorado State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 24, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 31, 2014.
Elections for the Colorado House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 24, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 31, 2014.
2012
Elections for the office of the Colorado State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on June 26, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was April 2, 2012.
Elections for the office of Colorado House of Representatives took place in 2012. The primary election was held on June 26, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was April 2, 2012.
2010
Elections for the office of the Colorado State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on August 10, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was May 27, 2010.
Elections for the office of Colorado House of Representatives took place in 2010. The primary election was held on August 10, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was May 27, 2010.
Sessions
Article V of the Colorado Constitution establishes when the General Assembly is to be in session. Section 7 of Article V states that the Assembly is to convene its regular session no later than the second Wednesday of January of each year. Regular sessions are not to exceed one hundred twenty calendar days.
Section 7 also states that the Governor of Colorado can convene special sessions of the General Assembly. Special sessions can also be convened by a two-thirds vote of the members of both legislative houses.
2024
- See also: 2024 Colorado legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions
In 2024, the legislature is scheduled to convene on January 10, 2024, and adjourn on May 8, 2024.
2023
In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 9, 2023, and adjourn on May 8, 2023.
| Click [show] for past years' session dates. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
2022In 2022, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 12, 2022, and adjourn on May 11, 2022. 2021In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 13, 2021, and adjourn on June 8, 2021. 2020In 2020, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 8, 2020, and adjourn on June 15, 2020.
Several state legislatures had their sessions impacted as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. The Colorado State Legislature suspended its session, effective March 14, 2020, through May 26, 2020. The suspension had originally been scheduled to continue through March 30, 2020. The suspension was then subsequently extended, first to April 2, 2020, then to May 18, 2020, and then to May 26, 2020. The legislature adjourned on June 15, 2020.[4][5][6][7][8][9] 2019In 2019, the legislature was in session from January 4, 2019, through May 3, 2019. 2018In 2018, the legislature was in session from January 10, 2018, through May 9, 2018. To read about notable events and legislation from this session, click here. 2017
In 2017, the legislature was in session from January 11, 2017, through May 10, 2017. The legislature held a special session from October 2 to October 3. 2016
In 2016, the legislature was in session from January 13 through May 11. 2015
In 2015, the legislature was in session from January 7 through May 6.[10] Major issues in 2015Major issues during the 2015 legislative session included energy development, the medical marijuana industry, tax refunds, and gun restrictions passed during the 2013 legislative session.[11] 2014
In 2014, the legislature was in session from January 8 to May 7. Major issues in 2014Major issues during the 2014 legislative session included packages of bills for flood relief and wildfire mitigation.[12] 2013
In 2013, the legislature was in session from January 9 to May 9. Major issues in 2013Major issues during the 2013 legislative session included gun control, immigration reform, election reform, and the enactment of laws to regulate and tax legal marijuana.[13] 2012
In 2012, the legislature was in session from January 11 to May 9. A special session was held from May 14 to May 16.[14] 2011
In 2011, the legislature was in session from January 12 through May 11. 2010
In 2010, the legislature was in session from January 13th to May 12th. |
Role in state budget
- See also: Colorado state budget and finances
Colorado on 
|
The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[15]
- Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in March.
- Agencies submit their budget requests to the governor in July.
- The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature in November.
- The legislature typically adopts a budget in April for the new fiscal year beginning July 1.
Colorado is one of 43 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[15]
The governor is legally required to submit a balanced budget to the legislature, which must in turn adopt a balanced budget.[15]
Legislators
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $43,977/year for legislators whose terms began in 2023. $41,449/year for legislators whose terms began in 2021. | For legislators residing within 50 miles of the capitol: $45/day. For legislators living more than 50 miles from the capitol: $237/day. Set by the legislature. Vouchered. |
When sworn in
Colorado legislators assume office on the first day of the legislative session after their election. The legislative session must begin no later than 10:00 AM on the second Wednesday of January.[16] The state constitution requires the newly elected governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, treasurer, and secretary of state to take office on the second Tuesday of January.[17] In the year after those offices are elected, the legislative session must begin before the second Tuesday of January to declare the winners of those races.[18][19]
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Colorado
On November 6, 2018, Colorado voters approved two constitutional amendments, Amendment Y and Amendment Z, establishing separate non-politician commissions for congressional and state legislative redistricting. Each commission consists of four members belonging to the state's largest political party, four members belonging to the state's second-largest party, and four members belonging to no party. Commission members are appointed by a panel of three judges selected by the Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court. The amendment requires at least eight of the commission's 12 members, including at least two members not belonging to any political party, to approve a map.[20]
The Colorado Constitution requires that state legislative district boundaries "be contiguous, and that they be as compact as possible based on their total perimeter." In addition, "to the extent possible, districts must also preserve the integrity of counties, cities, towns and–where doing so does not conflict with other goals–communities of interest." There are no similar requirements for congressional districts.[21][22]
2020
On November 15, 2021, the Colorado Supreme Court approved the state legislative redistricting plans approved by the state's Independent Legislative Redistricting Commission on October 11 and 12, 2021.[23] These maps took effect for Colorado’s 2022 state legislative elections.
The Colorado Sun's Thy Vo wrote that the House and Senate maps "appear to favor Democrats' maintaining their majority in the General Assembly."[23] Colorado Politics' Evan Wyloge wrote that the new maps created nine House districts where previous election results fell within a five percentage point margin and eight such Senate districts. At the time of approval, Democrats held a 42-23 majority in the House and a 20-15 majority in the Senate.[24]
2010
Colorado's population increased from 4.30 million to 5.03 million between 2000 and 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.[25] Much of the state's 16.9 percent growth occurred in the I-25 corridor, on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Roughly half of the state's population increase was a result of Hispanic population growth. The Colorado Springs area and the southern Denver suburbs experienced the highest rates of population increase. Despite the fast rate of growth, Colorado did not gain another Congressional seat as a result of the new U.S. Census numbers.[26]
The Colorado Reapportionment Commission, which review plans drafted by both Republicans and Democrats, selected a Democratic plan for the new state legislative districts. Both parties filed lawsuits, and the Colorado Supreme Court rejected the plan. Subsequently, the Commission submitted a new reapportionment plan, also drawn by Democrats. This plan received the Supreme Court's approval.[27][28]
Senate
The Colorado Senate is the upper house of the Colorado General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Colorado. It is composed of 35 members elected from single-member districts.
As of the 2020 Census, Colorado state senators represented an average of 165,205 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 144,141 residents.
Senators are elected to 4-year terms, and are limited to 2 consecutive terms in office.
| Party | As of January 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 23 | |
| Republican Party | 12 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 35 | |
Click here for a list of members of this chamber.
Democrats won control of the Colorado State Senate in 2018. In 2022, they won a 23-12 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the Colorado Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
Colorado State Senate election results: 1992-2022
| Year | '92 | '94 | '96 | '98 | '00 | '02 | '04 | '06 | '08 | '10 | '12 | '14 | '16 | '18 | '20 | '22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 23 |
| Republicans | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 12 |
Before 1992
Between 1900 and 2022, the chamber changed partisan hands 14 times.
House of Representatives
The Colorado House of Representatives is the lower house of the Colorado General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Colorado. The House is composed of 65 members.
As of the 2020 Census, Colorado state representatives represented an average of 88,956 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 77,614 residents.
Representatives are elected to 2-year terms, and are limited to 4 consecutive terms in office.
| Party | As of January 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 44 | |
| Republican Party | 19 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 2 | |
| Total | 65 | |
Click here for a list of members of this chamber.
Democrats won control of the Colorado House of Representatives in 2012. In 2022, they won a 46-19 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the Colorado House following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
Colorado House of Representatives election results: 1992-2022
| Year | '92 | '94 | '96 | '98 | '00 | '02 | '04 | '06 | '08 | '10 | '12 | '14 | '16 | '18 | '20 | '22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 31 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 33 | 39 | 38 | 32 | 37 | 34 | 37 | 41 | 41 | 46 |
| Republicans | 34 | 41 | 41 | 39 | 38 | 37 | 32 | 26 | 27 | 33 | 28 | 31 | 28 | 24 | 24 | 19 |
Before 1992
Between 1900 and 2022, the chamber changed partisan hands 19 times.
District maps
State Senate
State House
History
Partisan balance 1992-2013
Colorado State Senate: From 1992-2013, the Republican Party was the majority in the Colorado State Senate for 11 years and the Democrats were the majority for the other 11 years. During the final nine years of the study, the Colorado senate was controlled by the Democratic Party with the final year (2013) being a Democratic trifecta.
Across the country, there were 541 Democratic and 517 Republican state senates from 1992 to 2013.
Colorado State House of Representatives: From 1992-2013, the Republican Party was the majority in the Colorado State House of Representatives for 15 years and the Democrats were the majority for the other seven years. During the final year (2013), Colorado was under a Democratic trifecta.
Across the country, there were 577 Democratic and 483 Republican State Houses of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.
Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.
The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Colorado, the Colorado State Senate and the Colorado House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.
.PNG)
SQLI and partisanship
- To read the full report on the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI) in PDF form, click here.
Colorado was one of eight states to demonstrate a dramatic partisan shift in the 22 years studied. A dramatic shift was defined by a movement of 40 percent or more toward one party over the course of the study period. Colorado has shifted dramatically from Republican to Democratic control.
The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Colorado state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. Colorado has consistently ranked in the top-10 in the SQLI ranking during the period of the study, and also ranked in the top-5 for thirteen of the twenty years studied. The state has ranked 1st for two separate years (1997 and 2007), once under divided government and once under a Democratic trifecta. Colorado experienced its most precipitous drop in the SQLI ranking between 2009 and 2010, while still remaining in the top-10 of states. Republican trifectas occurred during the periods between 1999 and 2000 and again between 2003 and 2004, while Democratic trifectas occurred between 2007 and 2011 and again beginning in 2013 to the present. The state experienced a disruption in the Democratic trifectas between those periods when Republicans controlled the state house for two years, between 2010 and 2013.
- SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: 3.25
- SQLI average with Republican trifecta: 5.50
- SQLI average with divided government: 4.69
Joint standing committees
- See also: Public policy in Colorado
The Colorado General Assembly has six joint standing committees. Additional year-round committees and commissions can be found on the Colorado Legislature website.
- Budget
- Capital Development
- Executive Committee of the Legislative Council
- Legal Services
- Legislative Audit
- Legislative Council
Joint select committees (2023)
- Joint Select Committee on Rising Utility Rates
Constitutional amendments
In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.
The methods in which the Colorado Constitution can be amended:
- See also: Section 1 of Article V and Article XIX of the Colorado Constitution and Laws governing ballot measures in Colorado
| Colorado Constitution |
|---|
|
| Preamble |
| Articles |
| I • II • III • IV • V • VI • VII • VIII • IX • X • XI • XII • XIII • XIV • XV • XVI • XVII • XVIII • XIX • XX • XXI • XXII • XXIII • XXIV • XXV • XXVI • XXVII • XXVIII • XXIX • Schedule |
The Colorado Constitution provides three mechanisms for amending the state's constitution—a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. Once on the ballot, a 55 percent supermajority vote is required for the approval of any constitutional amendment put on the ballot by the legislature or by a citizen initiative, except those that only remove language from the constitution, rather than adding language or changing existing language.
Initiative
- See also: Initiated constitutional amendment
An initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. There are 18 states that allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.
In Colorado, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 5% of the votes cast for the Colorado secretary of state in the preceding general election. Colorado has a distribution requirement for initiated amendments. Signatures must be collected from at least 2% of the registered voters who live in each of the 35 state Senate districts. A 55% vote is required for voter approval.
Combined initiated constitutional amendments and state statutes
A combined initiated constitutional amendment and state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends both a state's constitution and state statute. There are at least two (2) states that allow citizens to initiate combined amendments and statutes.
In Colorado, the number of signatures required for a combined initiated constitutional amendment and state statute is equal to 5% of the votes cast for the Colorado secretary of state in the preceding general election. Colorado has a distribution requirement for initiated amendments. Signatures must be collected from at least 2% of the registered voters who live in each of the 35 state Senate districts. A 55% vote is required for voter approval.
Legislature
A two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during one legislative session for the Colorado State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 44 votes in the Colorado House of Representatives and 24 votes in the Colorado State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
Convention
According to Article XIX of the Colorado Constitution, the state Legislature can refer a state constitutional convention question to the ballot. A two-thirds (66.67%) vote of legislators in each chamber is required.
2025 measures:
- See also: 2025 ballot measures
Certified:
- The following measures have been certified for the ballot.
No measures to list
Potential:
- The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2025.
No measures to list
2024 measures:
Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2024 ballot by the legislature or that have made it approximately halfway through the process in the legislature for referral to the ballot in 2024.
- See also: Colorado 2024 ballot measures
Certified:
- The following measures have been certified for the ballot.
| Colorado Property Tax Exemption for Veterans with Individual Unemployability Status Amendment | Democrats | Republicans | |||
| Senate: | Required: 24 | Yes votes: 34 (97.14%) | No votes: 0 (0.00%) | Yes: 23; No: 0 | Yes: 11; No: 0 |
| House: | Required: 44 | Yes votes: 62 (95.38%) | No votes: 0 (0.00%) | Yes: 44; No: 0 | Yes: 18; No: 0 |
| Colorado Independent Judicial Discipline Adjudicative Board Amendment | Democrats | Republicans | |||
| Senate: | Required: 24 | Yes votes: 35 (100.00%) | No votes: 0 (0.00%) | Yes: 23; No: 0 | Yes: 12; No: 0 |
| House: | Required: 44 | Yes votes: 60 (92.30%) | No votes: 3 (4.62%) | Yes: 44; No: 0 | Yes: 16; No: 3 |
Potential:
- The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2024.
No measures to list
See also
| Elections | Colorado State Government | State Legislatures | State Politics |
|---|---|---|---|
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "2018 Colorado Election Calendar," accessed September 5, 2017
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "2018 Colorado Election Calendar," accessed September 5, 2017
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Elections & Voting," accessed October 6, 2015
- ↑ CBS Denver, "State Legislature Adjourned Until March 30th," March 14, 2020
- ↑ 9 News, "What will Colorado lawmakers do when they come back to work after COVID-19?" March 30, 2020
- ↑ The Denver Post, "Colorado legislature can resume its regular session after breaking for coronavirus, Supreme Court rules," April 1, 2020
- ↑ The Denver Post, "Colorado lawmakers bracing for coronavirus budget hit of up to $3 billion," April 9, 2020
- ↑ The Denver Post, "Amid coronavirus, Colorado lawmakers delay return until after Memorial Day," May 10, 2020
- ↑ Colorado Politics, "They're back: Colorado legislature gavels in much poorer than they gaveled out," May 26, 2020
- ↑ Colorado General Assembly, accessed September 23, 2015
- ↑ thedenverchannel.com, "Tax refunds at top of list for Colorado lawmakers," January 5, 2015
- ↑ reporterherald.com, "Flood-response issues to be a focus of Colorado Legislature's 2014 session," January 5, 2014
- ↑ kdvr.com, "Colorado’s historic 2013 legislative session in review," May 10, 2013
- ↑ Pueblo Chieftain, "Civil Union supporters rally prior to special session," May 14, 2012
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Colorado Constitution - Article 5, Section 7," accessed February 9, 2021
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Colorado Constitution - Article 4, Section 1," accessed February 9, 2021
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Colorado Constitution - Article 4, Section 3," accessed February 9, 2021
- ↑ Colorado LegiSource, "Surprise! The 2019 Legislative Session Convening a Week Earlier," September 20, 2018
- ↑ Colorado General Assembly, "SCR18-004: Congressional Redistricting," accessed May 14, 2018
- ↑ All About Redistricting, "Colorado," accessed April 22, 2015
- ↑ Redistricting in Colorado, "Constitutional Provisions," accessed April 22, 2015
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 The Colorado Sun, "Colorado legislative maps get final approval from state Supreme Court," Nov. 15, 2021
- ↑ Colorado Politics, "Supreme Court approves Colorado legislative redistricting maps," Nov. 15, 2021
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "2010 Census: Colorado Profile," accessed April 23, 2015
- ↑ National Journal, "Census Quick Cuts: Colorado, Washington, Oregon," February 24, 2011
- ↑ The Huffington Post, "Colorado Redistricting: Supreme Court Rejects New House, Senate District Maps (UPDATE)," November 29, 2011
- ↑ The Denver Post, "Colorado Supreme Court sides with Democrats, picks their maps for new legislative districts," December 12, 2011
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