Colorado General Assembly
| Colorado General Assembly | |
 | |
| General Information | |
| Party control: | Democrat |
| Session start: | January 14, 2026 |
| Session end: | May 13, 2026 |
| Term length: | Senate: 4 years House: 2 years |
| Term limits: | Senate: 2 terms (8 years) House: 4 terms (8 years) |
| Redistricting: | Commission |
| Members | |
| Total: | 35 (Senate) 65 (House) |
| Leadership | |
| President: | James Coleman (D) |
| Speaker: | Julie McCluskie (D) |
| Maj. Leader: | Senate: Robert Rodriguez (D) House: Monica Duran (D) |
| Min. Leader: | Senate: Cleave Simpson Jr. (R) House: Jarvis Caldwell (R) |
| Elections | |
| Last election: | November 5, 2024 |
| Next election: | November 3, 2026 |
The Colorado General Assembly is the legislative branch of the state government of Colorado. It is bicameral, composed of the Colorado House of Representatives as the lower chamber and the Colorado State Senate as the upper chamber. The governor and legislature work together to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the state legislature include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.
The Colorado General Assembly meets in Denver, Colorado.
This page contains the following information on the Colorado General Assembly.
- Which party controls each chamber (Senate and House)
- Current members of each chamber (Senate and House)
- Historical partisan control by chamber (Senate and House)
- Elections by chamber (Senate and House)
- Legislative session dates
- How vacancies are filled in the state legislature
- District maps for both chambers
- How redistricting works in the state
- Legislative procedures, such as veto overrides and the state budget process
- A list of joint legislative committees
- How can the state constitution be amended
Senate
The Colorado State Senate is the upper house of the Colorado General Assembly. 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 four-year terms and may serve no more than two consecutive terms in office.
Current partisan control
The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the Colorado State Senate as of October 2026:
| As of October 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Members | |
| Democratic | 23 | |
| Republican | 12 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 35 | |
Leadership
- Senate president: James Coleman (D)
- Majority leader: Robert Rodriguez (D)
- Minority leader: Cleave Simpson Jr. (R)
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
- Colorado State Senate
- Salary: $47,561
- Per diem: Within 50 miles of Capitol: $45/day; over 50 miles: $238/day.
- Source
Swearing in dates
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.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3][4]
Term limits
- See also: State legislatures with term limits
House
The Colorado House of Representatives is the lower house of the Colorado General Assembly. 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 two-year terms and may serve no more than four consecutive terms in office.
Current partisan control
The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the Colorado House of Representatives as of October 2026:
| As of October 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Members | |
| Democratic | 43 | |
| Republican | 22 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 65 | |
Leadership
The speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the body.[14]
- Speaker of the House: Julie McCluskie (D)
- Majority leader: Monica Duran (D)
- Minority leader: Jarvis Caldwell (R)
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
- Colorado House of Representatives
- Salary: $47,561
- Per diem: Within 50 miles of Capitol: $45/day; over 50 miles: $238/day.
- Source
Swearing in dates
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.[15] 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.[16] 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.[17][18]
Term limits
- See also: State legislatures with term limits
Sessions
Dates of legislative sessions in Colorado by year
2026
In 2026, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 14, 2026, and adjourn on May 13, 2026.
| Click [show] for past years' session dates. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
2025In 2025, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 8, 2025, and adjourn on May 7, 2025. 2024In 2024, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 10, 2024, and adjourn on May 8, 2024. 2023In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 9, 2023, and adjourn on May 8, 2023. 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. On March 16, 2020, the Alabama House of Representatives announced a suspension of legislative activity in response to the coronavirus pandemic, canceling all committee meetings scheduled for March 25, 2020. The House was scheduled to meet on March 26, 2020, but a quorum was not expected. Both the House and the Alabama State Senate were scheduled to reconvene on March 31, 2020, in keeping with their original schedules. At that time, according to a statement from House leadership, "a joint decision [would] be made as to future legislative meeting days."[27] On March 31, 2020, lawmakers approved a suspension of all legislative activity through April 28, 2020. That suspension was then extended to May 4, 2020, at which point the legislature reconvened. The legislature adjourned on May 18, 2020.[28][29][30] 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.[31] 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.[32] 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.[33] 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.[34] 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.[35] 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. |
About legislative sessions in Colorado
The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.[36] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions, legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.
Article V of the Colorado Constitution establishes when the Colorado 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 120 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.
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the Colorado General Assembly , a vacancy committee selects a replacement. The committee consists of members of the same political party that previously held the seat, including any county commissioners from that party who live in the district.
Depending on when the vacancy occurs, the replacement must stand for election either in the next general election or in a special election. These vacancy elections are limited to voters registered with the same political party as the previous officeholder and to unaffiliated voters.
- If the vacancy occurs in an even-numbered year, before July 31: The appointee is selected by the committee and runs in the regularly scheduled general election that year.
- If the vacancy occurs in an even-numbered year, on or after July 31: The appointee is selected by the committee and must run in a special vacancy election held in November of the following odd-numbered year.
- If the vacancy occurs in an odd-numbered year, before July 31: The appointee is selected by the committee and runs in a special vacancy election that same November.
- If the vacancy occurs in an odd-numbered year, on or after July 31: The appointee is selected by the committee and runs in the next general election, which occurs in the following even-numbered year.
If the previous member was unaffiliated with a political party, then the vacancy is filled by the vacancy committee designated on their original nomination petition. If the member has no vacancy committee, the governor appoints a replacement.
See sources: HB25-1315 Vacancies in the General Assembly
District maps
State Senate
State House
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.[37]
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."[38][39]
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.[40] 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."[40] 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.[41]
2010
Colorado's population increased from 4.30 million to 5.03 million between 2000 and 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.[42] 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.[43]
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.[44][45]
Legislative roles and procedures
Every state legislature throughout the country features its own internal procedures that it uses to govern itself and how it interacts with other parts of state government. Ballotpedia's coverage of internal state legislative procedures includes veto overrides, the role of the legislature in the state budget, term limits, procedures for filling membership vacancies, and redistricting.
Veto overrides
- See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures
State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Colorado are listed below.
How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members in both chambers
| Two-thirds of members in both chambers must vote to override a veto, which is 44 of the 65 members in the Colorado House of Representatives and 24 of the 35 members in the Colorado State Senate. Colorado is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto. |
Authority: Article IV, Section 11 of the Colorado Constitution
| "Every bill passed by the general assembly shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the governor. If he approve, he shall sign it, and thereupon it shall become a law; but if he do not approve, he shall return it, with his objections, to the house in which it originated, which house shall enter the objections at large upon its journal, and proceed to reconsider the bill. If then two thirds of the members elected agree to pass the same, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of the members elected to that house, it shall become a law, notwithstanding the objections of the governor." |
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:[46]
- Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in March.
- Agencies submit their budget requests to the governor in July.
- The governor submits a proposed budget to the state legislature in November.
- The legislature typically adopts a budget the following April for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
Colorado is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[46][47]
The governor is legally required to submit a balanced budget to the legislature, which must in turn adopt a balanced budget.[46]
Joint legislative committees
Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.
- Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
- Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
- Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.
The Colorado General Assembly has 15 joint committees:
- Capital Development Committee
- Capitol Building Advisory Committee
- Colorado Commission on Uniform State Laws
- Colorado Health Insurance Exchange Oversight Committee
- Commission on Property Tax
- Executive Committee
- Joint Budget Committee
- Legal Services Committee
- Legislative Audit Committee
- Legislative Council Committee
- Legislative Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Committee
- Statutory Revision Committee
- Technology Committee
- Treatment of Persons with Mental Health Disorders in the Criminal Justice System Committee
- Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee
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. Eighteen (18) states 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.
See also
| Elections | Colorado State Government | State Legislatures | State Politics |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Colorado Legal Resources, "Colorado Constitution - Article 5, Section 7," accessed February 25, 2025
- ↑ Colorado Legal Resources, "Colorado Constitution - Article 4, Section 1," accessed February 25, 2025
- ↑ Colorado Legal Resources, "Colorado Constitution - Article 4, Section 3," accessed February 25, 2025
- ↑ Colorado LegiSource, "Surprise! The 2019 Legislative Session Convening a Week Earlier," September 20, 2018
- ↑ LexisNexis, "Colorado Legal Resources," accessed February 10, 2021
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "2018 Colorado Election Calendar," accessed September 5, 2017
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Elections & Voting," accessed October 6, 2015
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2010 Colorado candidates," accessed April 23, 2015
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2008 Colorado candidates," accessed April 23, 2015
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2006 Colorado candidates," accessed April 23, 2015
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2004 Colorado candidates," accessed April 23, 2015
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2002 Colorado candidates," accessed April 23, 2015
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2000 Colorado candidates," accessed April 23, 2015
- ↑ Colorado House of Representatives, "Legislators," accessed February 9, 2021
- ↑ Colorado Legal Resources, "Colorado Constitution - Article 5, Section 7," accessed February 25, 2025
- ↑ Colorado Legal Resources, "Colorado Constitution - Article 4, Section 1," accessed February 25, 2025
- ↑ Colorado Legal Resources, "Colorado Constitution - Article 4, Section 3," accessed February 25, 2025
- ↑ Colorado LegiSource, "Surprise! The 2019 Legislative Session Convening a Week Earlier," September 20, 2018
- ↑ LexisNexis, "Colorado Legal Resources," accessed February 10, 2021
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "2018 Colorado Election Calendar," accessed September 5, 2017
- ↑ Follow the Money: "Colorado House 2010 Campaign Contributions"
- ↑ Follow the Money, 2008 Colorado candidates
- ↑ Follow the Money, 2008 Colorado candidates
- ↑ Follow the Money, 2004 Colorado candidates
- ↑ Follow the Money, 2002 Colorado candidates
- ↑ Follow the Money, 2000 Colorado candidates
- ↑ Alabama Political Reporter, "Alabama House cancels March 25 committee meetings due to coronavirus," March 17, 2020
- ↑ News 5 WKRG, "Alabama lawmakers suspend 2020 legislative session, will return in late April," April 1, 2020
- ↑ MultiState, "2020 Legislative Session Dates," last updated April 27, 2020
- ↑ CBS 42, "Alabama Legislature reconvening Monday despite coronavirus outbreak," May 4, 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
- ↑ Find Law, "Tenth Amendment - U.S. Constitution," accessed May 20, 2017
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 40.0 40.1 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
- ↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Separation of Powers: Executive Veto Powers," accessed January 26, 2024
