Want to be a more informed and active citizen? Want to have a say in the creation of local laws that impact you? Colorado’s 2024 legislative session kicked off last week, and now’s the time to brush off that old Schoolhouse Rock knowledge and start paying attention. Here’s a roadmap for following along and getting involved.
The Process
Need a refresher? Here’s the short-and-sweet on how a bill becomes a Colorado law.
So. Many. Bills.
Though each senator and representative is supposed to be limited to introducing five bills a session, there are usually exceptions. The Colorado Sun reports that in any given year over the past decade, the number of bills being considered ranged from 598 to 721, with an average of 66% of them being signed into law each year.
How do you sift through all that potential legislation?
- For education issues, watch Chalkbeat’s 2024 legislative preview
- One Colorado usually spotlights LGBTQ+ bills
- From zoning to transit, 5280 dug into this year’s biggest debates
- We spoke with Colorado Sun politics reporter Brian Eason about the hot button bills he is watching this year
How To Follow Along
Once a bill is introduced, curious citizens can find it listed on leg.colorado.gov, complete with details of the bill and its current status. You can search for a specific bill by bill number, sponsor name, or topic. You can also find a daily schedule for the House and Senate. If you’re interested in certain issue areas, you can browse the specific committees.
How To Participate
In Colorado, every bill introduced is required to get at least one committee hearing with public input. You can:
- Speak about a bill at a public committee hearing in-person, in writing, or virtually.
- Email or call your lawmaker. (Who’s your legislator? Find out here.)
- Watch or listen to committee meetings live.
