Budget week wraps in the Senate

The Senate took action on the 46 bills in the FY 2024-25 budget package this week, with the Appropriations Committee hearing the bills on April 3, second reading on April 4, and third reading on April 5.

In the Appropriations Committee, the Senate reversed all of the House Second Reading Amendments to the Long Bill, and adopted a total of 19 amendments on second reading in the Senate, including 7 amendments that had also been adopted by the House. The Senate amendments increase total appropriations by $43.7 million above the introduced bill, and $29.8 million above the House-passed Bill.

The next step will be for the Joint Budget Committee to review the adopted amendments in a conference committee and determine which ones stick and which ones will be rejected. The JBC must return the budget back into balance, so if we accept the amendments, we must make reductions in other areas.

After the conference committee meets and the JBC makes its final determination, I will brief you on all the major items included in this year's budget. You can also read a short summary of the budget so far in this press release. Later this month, we will devote our monthly town hall meeting to reviewing the entire budget package, so I hope you will join us!

Companion bills to the budget

In addition to the budget (also known as the Long Bill due to its length), the Joint Budget Committee will also sponsor a series of companion bills, also referred to as orbitals. These are bills that move with the Long Bill and are tied to the budget in some way. Orbital bills are usually not substantive and will often perform an ordinary function neccessary to carry out the budget, such as a transfer from one fund to another.

This year the JBC sponsored 45 such bills ranging from the annual cash fund transfer bill for capital construction, to more complicated bills that were written to address an issue or problem. There are three orbital bills that I would like to call to your attention because they stand out to me as particularly interesting:

1. HB24-1403 Higher Education Support Homeless Youth: Concerning postsecondary education support for students experiencing housing disruptions in high school, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. The bill creates a last-dollar scholarship program for students experiencing homelessness, modled after the FosterEd program created through SB22-008. Currently, no programs exist that target this demographic with this manner of funding.The bill requires all Colorado public institutions of higher education to provide financial assistance to a Colorado youth between the ages of 17 and 26 and who has experienced homelessness in the state at any time during high school. This program will increase this populations ability to apply, enroll, and complete a post-secondary credential of value.
2. HB24-1389 School Funding 2023-24 for New Arrival Students: Concerning providing funding to schools in the 2023-24 budget year for increases in pupil enrollment after the 2023-24 budget year pupil enrollment count day, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. Between October 1, 2023, and February 29, 2024, Colorado experienced an unprecedented influx of new arrival students enrolling in schools across the state. Unfortunately, this increase in students occurred after the October 1 count date for annual funding. This sudden influx has strained existing school infrastructure and staffing, led to overcrowded classrooms, stretched resources, and increased complexity to the student learning environment. The bill provides additional funding to help address the increased needs of new arrival students.
3. HB24-1401 Appropriation to the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing for Denver Health: Concerning making an additional $5 million appropriation to the department of health care policy and financing for payments to the Denver health and hospital authority. Denver Health is the main safety-net hospital in the state. In 2023, Denver Health provided $140 million in uncompen-sated care to Coloradans from 62 of 64 counties. Between 2020-2023, costs have more than doubled. Denver Health has seen a substantial increase in uninsured and Medicaid patients due to two factors – the end of the public health emergency and the growing unhoused and migrant populations. Increased demand for services among uninsured and underinsured patients, especially complex patients with a mental health or substance abuse disorder diagnosis, have had a significant impact to the system. This bill aims to help Denver Health address their unsustainable financial situation.

New! SB24-191 Host Homes for Youth: Concerning the operation of host homes for youth. The bill was introduced and assigned to the Senate Health & Human Services Committee.

In committee this week: SB24-174 Sustainable Affordable Housing Assistance: Concerning state support for sustainable affordable housing, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. The bill was laid over for action only and will be heard again in the Senate Local Government & Housing Committee on Tuesday, April 9 at 2 pm.

In committee this week: HB24-1089 Vehicle Electronic Notifications: Concerning the use of electronic notifications for vehicle transactions. The bill will be heard in the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday, April 9 at 2 pm.

In committee this week: HB24-1266 Local Government Utility Relocation in Right-of-Way: Concerning the relocation of utility facilities in a local government right-of-way. The bill will be heard in the Senate Local Government & Housing Committee on Tuesday, April 9 at 2 pm.

In committee this week: HB24-1156 Chamber of Commerce Alcohol Special Event Permit: Concerning authorization to hold special events where substances that minors are prohibited from purchasing are served. The bill will be heard in the Senate Finace Committee on Thursday, April 11 upon adjournment. The bill will be heard in the Senate Business Labor & Technology Committee on Thursday, April 11 upon adjournment.

Passed! SB24-188 Public School Finance: Concerning the financing of public schools. The bill was introduced and assigned to the Senate Education Committee. The bill passed out of the full Senate and now heads to the House.

Passed! HB24-1430 2024-25 Long Appropriations Bill: Concerning the provision for payment of the expenses of the executive, legislative, and judicial departments of the state of Colorado, and of its agencies and institutions, for and during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024, except as otherwise noted. The bill was amended and will go back to the House before proceeding to Conference Committee.

Passed! SB24-170 America 250 - Colorado 150 Commission: Concerning the America 250 - Colorado 150 commission. The bill passed out of the Senate and now heads to the House.

Passed! HB24-1017 Bill of Rights for Foster Youth: Concerning a bill of rights for youth in foster care. The bill passed out of the Senate and now heads to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1388 Transfers to the Nurse Home Visitor Program Fund: Concerning an increase in the percentage of money transferred to the nurse home visitor program fund from the tobacco litigation settlement cash fund, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. The bill passed out of the Senate and now heads to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1389 School Funding 2023-24 for New Arrival Students: Concerning providing funding to schools in the 2023-24 budget year for increases in pupil enrollment after the 2023-24 budget year pupil enrollment count day, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. The bill passed out of the Senate and now heads to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1391 Appropriation Authority Educator Licensure Cash Fund: Concerning extending the continuous appropriation authority for the educator licensure cash fund. The bill passed out of the Senate and now heads to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1393 Accelerating Concurrent Enrollment Program Modifications: Concerning measures to reduce the cost of the accelerating students through concurrent enrollment program, and, in connection therewith, making and reducing an appropriation. The bill passed out of the Senate but was amended and therefore goes back to the House.

Passed! HB24-1394 Mill Levy Equalization: Concerning funding for charter school institute mill levy equalization, and, in connection therewith, increasing and decreasing appropriations. The bill passed out of the Senate and now heads to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1395 Public School Capital Construction Assistance Fund Transfer Date: Concerning delaying a transfer from the marijuana tax cash fund to the public school capital construction assistance fund, and, in connection therewith, reducing an appropriation. The bill passed out of the Senate and now heads to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1397 Creative Industries Cash Fund Transfer: Concerning cash funds that provide funding for the creative industries division in the office of economic development. The bill passed out of the Senate and now heads to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1400 Medicaid Eligibility Procedures: Concerning medicaid eligibility procedures. The bill passed out of the Senate and now heads to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1401 Appropriation to the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing for Denver Health: Concerning making an appropriation to the department of health care policy and financing for payments to the Denver health and hospital authority. The bill passed out of the Senate and now heads to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1402 Evaluation of Colorado Department of Higher Education Information Technology: Concerning an evaluation of the department of higher education's information technology functions and services by the office of information technology, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. The bill passed out of the Senate and now heads to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1403 Higher Education Support Homeless Youth: Concerning postsecondary education support for students experiencing housing disruptions in high school, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. The bill passed out of the Senate and now heads to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1404 Financial Aid Appropriation Alignment: Concerning an exception for appropriations of less than two million dollars in new legislation to the requirement that appropriation increases for student financial aid align with appropriation increases to institutions of higher education. The bill passed out of the Senate and now heads to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1405 Higher Education Special Education Services Funding Medicaid Match: Concerning the increased money received pursuant to the federal "Families First Coronavirus Response Act" used for health services at the university of Colorado, and, in connection therewith, reducing an appropriation. The bill passed out of the Senate and now heads to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1407 Community Food Assistance Provider Grant Program: Concerning the creation of the community food assistance provider grant program, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. The bill passed out of the Senate and now heads to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1408 Expenditures for Care Assistance Programs: Concerning expenditures for care assistance programs, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. The bill passed out of the Senate and now heads to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1409 Employment-Related Funding & Workforce Enterprise: Concerning the funding of employment-related services in the state through the department of labor and employment, and, in connection therewith, making and reducing appropriations. The bill passed out of the Senate but was amended and now heads back to the House.

Passed! HB24-1410 Changes to Just Transition Office: Concerning administrative changes to the just transition office in the department of labor and employment. The bill passed out of the Senate but was amended and now heads back to the House.

Passed! HB24-1411 Increase in Property Tax Exemption Filing Fees: Concerning an increase in the amount of fees paid to the property tax exemption fund for filing property tax exemption forms. The bill passed out of the Senate and now heads to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1414 Repeal COVID Heroes Collaboration Fund: Concerning repealing the COVID heroes collaboration fund, and, in connection therewith, transferring the balance of the fund to the general fund. The bill passed out of the Senate and now heads to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1415 State Employee Reserve Fund: Concerning the state employee reserve fund, and, in connection therewith, transferring thirty-one million one hundred sixty thousand dollars from the state employee reserve fund to the general fund. The bill passed out of the Senate and now heads to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1416 Create the Healthy Food Incentives Program: Concerning the creation of the healthy food incentives program, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. The bill passed out of the Senate but was amended and now heads back to the House.

Passed! HB24-1419 Transfer to Stationary Sources Control Fund: Concerning a transfer of ten million dollars from the energy and carbon management cash fund to the stationary sources control fund. The bill passed out of the Senate and now heads to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1420 Transfer to Colorado Crime Victim Services Fund: Concerning the transfer of money from the general fund to the Colorado crime victim services fund. The bill passed out of the Senate and now heads to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1421 Modifying Public Safety Program Funding: Concerning modifying funding for grant programs administered by the division of criminal justice in the department of public safety, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. The bill passed out of the Senate and now heads to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1422 Capital Renewal Project Cost Threshold: Concerning the cost threshold of controlled maintenance projects for capital renewal. The bill passed out of the Senate but was amended and now heads back to the House.

Passed! HB24-1424 College Opportunity Fund Transfer to General Fund: Concerning the transfer of one million four hundred ninety-six thousand dollars from the college opportunity fund to the general fund. The bill passed out of the Senate and now heads to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1426 Controlled Maintenance Trust Fund Transfer: Concerning transferring the balance of the controlled maintenance trust fund to the general fund. The bill passed out of the Senate and now heads to the Governor.

Passed! HB24-1427 Public Employees' Retirement Association Study Conducted by an Actuarial Firm: Concerning a requirement that the state auditor retain an actuarial firm with experience in public sector pension plans to conduct a study regarding the public employees' retirement association, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. The bill passed out of the Senate and now heads to the Governor.

HB24-1429 Transfer from Unused State-Owned Real Property Fund: Concerning a transfer from the unused state-owned real property fund to the general fund. The bill was laid over until Monday.

April 7, 2024 Grand Junction Sentinel: Legislature makes progress on $40 billion budget

April 7, 2024 Chalkbeat Colorado: What's in Colorado's budget for K-12, early childhood, and higher education?

April 7, 2024 Ark Valley Voice: Colorado Senate Gives Initial Sign-off to $40.6 Billion State Budget

April 6, 2024 Colorado Community Media: Westminster's Ezeadi collects county assembly delegate majority for state senate seat

April 6, 2024 The Center Square: Colorado Senate approves $40.6B budget, up 3.7% from last year

April 5, 2024 The Colorado Sun: Three strikes for Jared Polis; Voters no longer see Colorado as swing state

April 5, 2024 Yahoo News: LGBTQ+ foster youths could expect different experiences as Tennessee and Colorado pass opposing laws

April 3, 2024 Colorado Politics: WATCH: Proponents, critics clash over legislation aimed at increasing Colorado condo construction

March 30, 2024 The Villager: A solution to reviving the condominium market is finally at hand

April 5, 2024 RELEASE: 2024 School Finance Act to Pay Off B.S. Factor, Fully Fund Colorado Public Schools Clears Senate

April 4, 2024 RELEASE: Senate Gives Initial Approval to FY 24-25 Budget to Support K-12 Schools, Hardworking Families

April 4, 2024 RELEASE: Zenzinger, Michaelson Jenet’s Bill of Rights for Foster Youth Passes Senate

Legislative Town Hall Meeting: 2024-25 Long Bill



Please join Representatives Bird, Daugherty, Titone and Senator Zenzinger on Saturday, April 20 at 10:30 am for our monthly legislative town hall meeting. We will review this year's budget. The location for the town hall will be the Indian Tree Golf Course, 7555 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80003 (and NOT the library). For more information, click HERE.