Many resources listed in these guides require University of Denver or University of Denver Sturm College of Law IP addresses for access. Other resources, such as Westlaw and Lexis, require individual user accounts and passwords.

Colorado Joint Legislative Library: Background, Resources, and Services. By Molly Otto & Gay E. Roesch. Legal Research Corner. 36 Colo. Law. 73 (February 2007).

Colorado State Archives: Legislative Records. See brief category descriptions of available legislative records. Note: Closed Wednesday.

Conducting Colorado Legislative History Research. By Andrea L. Hamilton. Legal Research Corner. 37 Colo. Law. 113 (August 2008).

Glossaries: Floor, Committee, and Legislative from Colorado General Assembly.

Glossary - Acronyms and Definitions from Joint Budget Committee.

Glossary of Legislative Terms from Colorado Legislative Council.

Glossary of Legislative Terms from National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).

A Guide to Colorado Legal Research Sources - Part I. By Andrea L. Hamilton. Legal Research Corner. 36 Colo. Law. 79 (February 2006).

How a Bill Becomes a Law in Colorado (chart) from Offices of Legislative Legal Services, Colorado General Assembly. October 2001.

The Legislative Process from Colorado Legislative Council.

Legislative Research Fundamentals from Colorado Legislative Council.

An Overview of the Legislative Process from Colorado Legislative Council. November 2004.

Quick Guide to Colorado Legislative Information. By The Colorado State Publications Library. Revised April 2011.

Researching Legislative History. By Peggy Lewis and Matt Dawkins from Office of Legislative Legal Services (OLLS), Colorado General Assembly. Revised 09/09/2011.

Uncovering Colorado Legislative Law-making and Legislative Intent. By Alvin Dong. Colorado Writes. 25 Colorado Libraries 39 (Fall 1999).

Uncovering Legislative History in Colorado. The Legal Research Corner. 32 Colo. Law. 47 (February 2003).

This research guide has been adapted from legislative history materials in the above references.

What is Colorado legislative history? Colorado legislative history is all documentation generated by a House or Senate bill as it progresses through House and Senate chambers of the General Assembly during the annual legislative process. Many researchers seek to clarify or to determine the purpose of existing laws (legislative intent) and/or pending legislation by reviewing:  

• All Versions of House and Senate Bills. 
• Committee Hearing Transcripts. 
• Floor Debate Transcripts.
• Comprehensive Committee Reports.

Why is legislative intent important? Be aware that content of certain laws generated during the legislative history process may be vague, confusing, or possibly affect interests of clients and other concerned parties. 

Why is Colorado legislative history research sometimes challenging? Colorado General Assembly does not publish transcripts of floor debates, comprehensive committee reports, or hearings in print or online. 

Where do researchers look to find pending legislation? Use this research guide as a pathfinder. Click Researching Pending Legislation tab and find directions for locating the following:

Researching Pending Legislation

• Bill Sponsors.
• Bills.
• Governor's Office.
• Journals.
• Live Video/Audio Broadcasts.
• Periodicals and/or Media.
• Red Book.
• Status Sheets.

What about older legislative history? Use this research guide as a pathfinder. Look up the current statute citation and read legislative history source note immediately after the text of the statute. Record session law and bill number citations by year. Determine the year, click Researching as of January 1, 1973 and After tab or Researching Before January 1, 1973 tab, and find directions for locating the following:

Researching January 1, 1973 and After:

• Audio Recordings.
• Bill Sponsors.
• Bills.
• Colorado Legislative Council (CLC) Research Publications & Interim Studies.
• Conference Committee Summaries
• Journals.
• Legislative Summaries.
• Periodicals and/or Media.
• Red Book
• Session Laws.
• Status Sheets. 
• Statutes (Annotated Codes).

Researching Before January 1, 1973:

• Bills.
• Colorado Legislative Council (CLC) Research Publications & Interim Studies.
• Journals.
• Periodicals.
• Red Book/Comparative Tables.
• Session Laws.
• Statutes (Annotated Codes).

• Annual Survey of Colorado Law. Denver, CO: Continuing Legal Education in Colorado, Inc., Colorado Bar Association, Denver Bar Association, 1970-2009. Law-Level 3 KFC 1870 .A55. (See electronic download of 2010 Annual Survey of Colorado Law.) 
• Colorado: The State We're In: A Publication of the League of Women Voters of Colorado Education Fund, 3rd edition. Denver, CO: League of Women Voters of Colorado Education Fund, 2004. Law-Level 3 Reference Desk KFC 2209.D3 2004. See Chapter 4: Citizens Influence Public Policy.
• The Colorado General Assembly, 2nd edition. Boulder, CO: University Press of Colorado, 2000.Law-Level 3 Reference KFC 1820 .S75 2000. See Chapter 5: The Committee System and Chapter 9: The Legislative Process.
• Colorado Legal Research. By Robert Michael Linz. Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press, 2010. Law-Level 3 Reference KFC 1875 .L56 (3 copies). See Chapter 5: Legislative History.
• Colorado's Government: Structure, Politics, Administration, and Policy, 8th edition revised. Colorado Springs, CO: Center for the Study of Government and the Individual, 2005. Law-Level 3 Reference Desk KFC 2209 .L67 2005. See Chapter 8: The Colorado State Legislature.
• Guide to State Legislation, Legislative History, and Administrative Materials, 7th edition. Buffalo, NY: William S. Hein & Co., Inc., 2008. Law-Level 3 Reference & Level 3 KF 1 .F57 2008. See Colorado chapter.

This research guide has been adapted from legislative history materials in the above references.

Colorado Capitol Watch. By the people, for the people. Tracks current House and Senate bills plus voting records of legislators.

Colorado General Assembly. Link to current and prior legislative session information.

Colorado Joint Budget Committee. Permanent staff of fiscal and budget review agency of Colorado General Assembly.

Colorado Legislative Council. Permanent research staff of Colorado General Assembly: provides staff support, responds to research requests and constituent services, prepares fiscal notes, and provides revenue projections.  See searchable (publication number, year, subject, and keyword) Colorado Legislative Council Research Publications at Westminster Law Library from 1954 to recent. 

Colorado State Auditor's Office. Permanent audit staff of Colorado General Assembly. Focuses on reducing costs, increasing efficiency, improving quality of services, and ensuring accuracy and integrity of financial information.

Office of Legislative Legal Services (OLLS). Permanent legal staff of Colorado General Assembly and Revisor of Statutes. Click About the OLLS on left frame > at next page, click Duties and Responsibilities.