Fix It or Fund It, Unfunded State Mandates

This mandate requires that anyone performing real estate appraisals for federally related transactions in Colorado must be registered, licensed, or certified by the Colorado Board of Real Estate Appraisers. It establishes four credential levels—Registered, Licensed, Certified Residential, and Certified General—each with specific education, experience, examination, and continuing education requirements. The division enforces compliance through licensing, renewal, discipline, and oversight aligned with federal appraisal standards (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice or USPAP).

Estimated fiscal impact $25,000.

Read more about C.R.S. section 12-61-706 on the State of Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) Real Estate Appraiser Program website or the law itself on the legislative LexisNexis database.

Under House Bill 21-1002, qualifying individuals—seniors (65 or older), veteran spouses, and disabled veterans (100% disability or unemployability), along with Gold Star spouses—are exempt from property taxes on 50% of the first $200,000 of their primary residence’s actual value. The state reimburses counties for the lost revenue.

Estimated fiscal impact $25,000.

Read the bill language on the Colorado legislative website or more about the exemptions on the Colorado Department of Local Affairs website.

Colorado law mandates strict procedures for the storage, surveillance, and destruction of election materials, including ballots, voting documents, and election logs.

These materials must be:

• Stored in secure, access-controlled locations (e.g., warehouses like those used at fairgrounds),
• Monitored by 24 hours, 7 days a week, video surveillance, retained per Colorado Secretary of State rules, and
• Destroyed following the designated retention period (usually 25 months for federal elections), with proper documentation and chain of custody.

This mandate ensures election integrity, aligns with Rule 20 of Colorado Election Rules (8 CCR 1505-1), and supports audits, recounts, and transparency.

Estimated fiscal impact $8,000.

Read more about C.R.S. Title 1, Article 7 Conduct of Elections on the Colorado Elections website.

Colorado allows 15- to 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote, even though they cannot vote until age 18. County clerks must process and maintain these records in the voter system. Many of these individuals may change addresses before turning 18 without notifying election officials, requiring ongoing updates and outreach efforts to ensure voter rolls remain accurate and compliant.

This mandate originates from C.R.S. section 1-2-101(2)(b) and supports early civic engagement but adds administrative responsibilities for counties.

Estimated fiscal impact $8,000.

Read the more about the law on the Colorado Elections High School Registration website.

Cradlepoints are secure wireless routers used at vote centers, drop box locations, and mobile voting sites to ensure encrypted, real-time connectivity to election systems.

Counties must:

• Maintain annual service subscriptions (typically $600–$1,000 per unit, depending on model and features),
• Ensure each device stays updated, monitored, and compliant with Colorado and federal cybersecurity standards, and
• Budget for multi-year operational costs, regardless of grant availability.

This cost supports secure data transmission during elections and is considered a required infrastructure expense under Colorado's election rules C.R.S. section 1-5-102.9.

Estimated fiscal impact $8,000.

Read more about C.R.S. Title 1, Article 7 Conduct of Elections on the Colorado Elections website.

Colorado election rules require restricted, auditable access to secure election facilities. This includes implementing key card or electronic access control systems to monitor and log all entries to ballot storage, tabulation areas, and voting equipment zones.

These systems must:

• Limit access to authorized personnel only,
• Log all entry and exit activity, and
• Comply with chain-of-custody and surveillance requirements.

These standards are outlined in 8 CCR 1505-1, Rule 20, and are often funded by federal or state election security grants (such as Help America Vote Act or HAVA funds).

Estimated fiscal impact $6,001.

Read more about Senate Bill 22-153's language on the Colorado legislation website.

Under Colorado Election Rules 19.3–19.4, counties are required to ensure all election judges and certain election staff complete in-person, state-certified training to be eligible to work in elections.

Key points include:

• In-person training is mandatory for certification unless the county is approved to host its own training.
• If your county does not host its own certified training, staff must attend a state-provided session elsewhere.
• Training covers essential topics such as election law, voting equipment, voter assistance, chain of custody, and de-escalation.

This is a state-mandated requirement and must be completed for each election cycle to ensure compliance and certification.

Estimated fiscal impact $2,200.

Read more about C.R.S. Title 1, Article 7 Conduct of Elections on the Colorado Elections website.

Under Senate Bill 21-249, effective January 2023, Colorado counties are required to offer and administer the “Keep Colorado Wild” Parks Pass through the motor vehicle registration process.

• The $29 pass is automatically included with most vehicle registrations unless the customer opts out.
• County motor vehicle offices must inform customers, explain the opt-out option, and process the pass in the transaction.
• This has added time and complexity to each Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) interaction, especially in-person, as clerks must explain the program and handle pass inclusion or removal.

This mandate supports state park funding but creates an unfunded administrative burden for county DMV offices.

Estimated fiscal impact $29,000.

Read the bill language on the Colorado legislative website.

Colorado law requires all areas used for election activities—such as ballot processing, storage, and tabulation—to have sufficient, continuous lighting to ensure security, visibility for surveillance cameras, and operational transparency.

Under Colorado Elections Rule 7.4.1, counties must:

• Install and maintain appropriate lighting levels,
• Ensure all spaces are well-lit during and after hours, and
• Maintain lighting as a permanent infrastructure requirement, regardless of grant support.

Even when grant funding (e.g., from Help America Vote Again, HAVA, or state election security grants) helps cover installation costs, the county remains responsible for ongoing maintenance and replacement.

Estimated fiscal impact $7,929.50.

Read more about C.R.S. Title 1, Article 7 Conduct of Elections on the Colorado Elections website.

Beginning in 2023, the Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR) requires county election staff—particularly those interfacing with the state voter registration system and motor vehicle data—to complete Motor Vehicle (MV) training.

This training ensures staff understand how:

• Driver’s license data impacts voter registration,
• To manage duplicate, pending, or conflicting records, and
• To comply with state and federal laws like the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).

The training is now a mandatory part of election staff compliance for counties working with voter registration tied to DOR records.

Estimated fiscal impact $5,445.60.

Read more about C.R.S. Rule 19: Certification and Education of Designated Election Officials, part of the Title 1, Article 7 Conduct of Elections on the Colorado Elections website.

Colorado requires counties to securely store ballot drop box keys in a locked container to maintain a proper chain of custody. This lock box must be:

• Tamper-evident and secure,
• Accessible only to authorized election personnel, and
• Used in conjunction with documented key access logs.

The requirement to maintain this secure storage remains mandatory under Colorado Elections Rule 7.4.1(g)(III), even if future funding is unavailable.

Estimated fiscal impact $210.

Read more about C.R.S. Title 1, Article 7 Conduct of Elections on the Colorado Elections website.

Per Colorado Election Code 2.8 and House Bill 16-1093, a confirmation card is a notice sent by a county clerk to a voter to confirm or update their registration information, typically due to a change-of-address indication. It complies with the federal National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and must:

• Inform the voter of the need to update their registration,
• Include a postage-paid, preaddressed return form, and
• Allow the voter to verify or correct their address to remain on the active voter list.

Estimated fiscal impact $40,000.

Read more about C.R.S. Title 1, Article 7 Conduct of Elections on the Colorado Elections website.

Per Colorado Election Rule 7.7.14, counties are required to send correspondence to voters who have fewer than two signatures on file prior to a general election.

• The notice must inform the voter of the issue and provide a form to submit an additional signature.
• This helps prevent future ballot signature mismatches, which can lead to ballot rejection.
• It is a preventive measure to maintain signature verification accuracy and voter access.

This is a state mandate to ensure signature verification integrity but creates added pre-election workload for county election offices.

Estimated fiscal impact $10,000.

Read more about C.R.S. Title 1, Article 7 Conduct of Elections on the Colorado Elections website.

Effective May 31, 2024, Colorado law now requires county clerks and sheriffs to facilitate in-person voting for eligible incarcerated individuals (pretrial detainees or those serving misdemeanor sentences).

Key provisions include:

• The sheriff must designate a coordinator (or designee) to work with the clerk to oversee voting access. 
• The designee must provide voter registration info, ballots, local issue materials, and facilitate curing signature or ballot deficiencies.
• At least one six-hour in-person voting session must be held between 15 and 4 days before the election.
• A secure drop location must be established for mail ballots, with ballot collection by bipartisan judges by 3 p.m. on Election Day. 
• County clerks must confirm voter eligibility via the Department of Corrections offender database to ensure they are not currently serving a felony sentence. 
• The Secretary of State must provide training materials for clerks and sheriff’s designees.
• Noncompliance can result in $5,000 per violation, paid by the county.

This mandate aims to expand voting access and uphold rights of eligible confined electors, with specific coordination, timing, training, and compliance measures required at the local level.

Estimated fiscal impact $15,000.

Read more about Senate Bill 24-072's language on the Colorado legislative website.

Colorado’s Wildfire Resiliency Code Board (WRCB), part of the DFPC (Division of Fire Prevention and Control), has adopted a statewide Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Code, effective July 1, 2025, with local adoption required by April 1, 2026, and enforcement beginning July 1, 2026. The code applies to new construction and significant alterations in areas mapped as WUI on the state’s Fire Intensity Classification map, which jurisdictions may refine locally.

Key County duties:

• Enforce minimum building and defensible space requirements for new structures, additions, and repairs in WUI zones. This includes fire-resistant roofing, vents, siding, defensible space (e.g., vegetation management), and access standards.
• Use state-mapped WUI and Fire Intensity layers, or adopt local maps consistent with state methodology.
• Enforce the code through permits, inspections, and code enforcement processes, following local adoption.
• Provide an appeals or petition process for jurisdictions seeking alternative codes or standards that meet or exceed state minimums, processed via the WRCB petition framework. 

Administrative and fiscal impact:

• Requires staff training for code enforcement, permitting, and inspections specific to WUI.
• Involves GIS and mapping updates, including review and periodic updates (every 3 years) to local WUI designations.
• Necessitates community outreach and policy updates to inform builders and residents.
• May require equipment, contractor services, or internal capacity expansion to manage increased permits and inspections.
• This is a state-enforced mandate tied to local implementation, with limited direct state funding, placing many compliance costs on counties 

By July 2026, Colorado counties must be prepared to permit, inspect, enforce, and map the new Wildfire Resiliency Code in WUI areas. The mandate is intended to reduce wildfire risk but creates a significant, potentially unfunded implementation burden at the local level for building departments, planning staff, and emergency management.

Estimated fiscal impact $325,000.

Read the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency code or the individual bill language for Senate Bill 23-166 and Senate Bill 24-005 on the Colorado legislative website.

Under Senate Bill 22-099, also known as the Colorado Clean Slate Act, Colorado implemented automatic sealing of certain criminal records starting July 1, 2024, without requiring individuals to petition the court.

• Eligible records include certain arrests without charges, dismissed cases, and some low-level convictions after waiting periods.
• The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and judicial branch coordinate the sealing process automatically, with no action required by the individual.
• Local agencies—including clerks, courts, and law enforcement—must update public access systems to reflect sealed status when notified.

This law aims to reduce barriers to housing and employment while adding data management and compliance responsibilities to local government systems.

Estimated fiscal impact $1000.

Read the bill language on the Colorado legislative website.

In compliance with Senate Bill 20-217, counties are required to equip law enforcement with body-worn cameras and manage all aspects of footage storage, access, and processing. The following costs are directly tied to fulfilling this mandate:

Included costs:

• Contracted access to Axon's and Evidence.com: cloud-based storage and management system for BWC footage.
• Footage processing for defendants and defense counsel as part of legal discovery.
• Multimedia specialist salary: Full-time staff responsible for reviewing, redacting, and preparing footage for release.
• Paid intern salary: supports review and processing of high-volume BWC footage.
• Hardware and processing costs for district attorney investigator BWCs.

Not included in estimate:

• Prosecutor time spent reviewing BWC footage for hearings, plea negotiations, trials, and other courtroom-related tasks.

This mandate results in substantial operational, personnel, and technology expenses for counties, with many costs unfunded or partially funded depending on grant availability.

Estimated fiscal impact $110,600.00.

Read the bill language on the Colorado legislative website.

Under C.R.S. section 25-20.5-406, each county or region must establish a local child fatality review team to examine the circumstances surrounding child deaths and make recommendations for prevention.

• District attorneys (DA's) are mandated members of these teams and must actively participate in case reviews.
• Reviews include deaths due to abuse, neglect, accidents, or undetermined causes.
• The DA’s role includes providing legal insight, ensuring confidentiality, and assisting in identifying system failures or gaps in services.

Administrative impact:

This is a state-mandated, multidisciplinary obligation that requires district attorney offices to allocate staff time and resources to regularly attend meetings, review cases, and contribute to reporting—without dedicated state funding.

Estimated fiscal impact $8,000.00.

Read more about this administrative review requirements on the Colorado Department of Human Services website.

Under C.R.S. section 19-3-308, Colorado counties are mandated to receive, review, and respond to founded findings of child abuse or neglect reported through the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) and the Child Welfare Hotline system.

As part of this responsibility, counties must:

• Receive and review all founded (confirmed) reports of child maltreatment from CDHS or caseworkers.
• Maintain accurate records in the Trails case management system.
• Provide due process to alleged perpetrators (including appeals).
• Coordinate with law enforcement and other child welfare stakeholders as needed.

Administrative impact:

This is a state-mandated function of county human services departments and includes case processing, documentation, family intervention, and compliance tracking, often with high volume and limited funding.

Estimated fiscal impact $58,000.00.

Read more about this C.R.S. on the LexisNexis law website.

Under C.R.S. section 16-2.5-301, each Colorado judicial district must maintain a CIRT to investigate incidents involving peace officers—typically officer-involved shootings or use of deadly force.

• The district attorney (DA) is legally required to review the findings of CIRT investigations.
• The DA must then issue a written decision on whether criminal charges will be filed.
• That decision must be published and made available to the public, along with the supporting reasoning and evidence summary.

Administrative impact:

This is a state-mandated responsibility for district attorneys and requires legal analysis, public communication, and transparency measures—often involving complex, high-profile cases and significant staff time. Funding for these tasks is not specifically provided, making it another unfunded mandate borne by the county.

Estimated fiscal impact $19,000.00.

Read more about this C.R.S. on the LexisNexis law website.

Under C.R.S. section 20-1-102 and the Colorado Constitution, district attorneys are legally mandated to prosecute all felony-level crimes committed within their judicial district.

The State of Colorado only funds $130,000 annually, covering the elected district attorney’s salary, but provides no additional funding for deputy prosecutors, investigators, support staff, or infrastructure required for felony caseloads.

By contrast, prosecution of misdemeanor and traffic offenses is not mandated by state law—yet counties often carry these out without required reimbursement.

Ironically, the state does fund appearance by prosecutors for weekend bond hearings, despite those being outside the core felony prosecution mandate.

Administrative and fiscal Impact:

This creates a significant unfunded mandate on counties, requiring local governments to fund the vast majority of constitutionally required felony prosecution duties—including staff salaries, case management systems, expert witnesses, and courtroom operations.

Estimated fiscal impact $2,950,000.00.

Read more about this C.R.S. on the LexisNexis law website.

Colorado law mandates the formation of crossover youth committees in each judicial district to improve outcomes for youth involved in both the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. This requirement stems from House Bill 12-1375 and is codified in C.R.S. section 19-2.5-303.

• The District Attorney’s (DA's) Office is required to participate in the committee.
• The DA must provide data and statistics on youth who are dually involved (both Department of Human Services and juvenile court cases).
• Committees meet regularly to identify trends, coordinate case management, and reduce duplication or gaps in services.

Administrative impact:

This is a state mandate requiring ongoing collaboration, data collection, and strategic planning by the DA’s Office, often without specific funding—placing additional workload on prosecutors and administrative staff.

Estimated fiscal impact $13,500.00.

Read the bill language on the Colorado legislative website.

House Bill 16-1395 reformed how juvenile delinquency records are handled in Colorado by expanding eligibility for expungement and streamlining the process.

Key elements include:

• Allows automatic expungement in certain cases, especially where charges are dismissed, or the juvenile successfully completes diversion or informal adjustment.
• Expands the list of offenses eligible for expungement, unless the offense is violent or sexual in nature.
• Requires courts to initiate expungement proceedings in eligible cases without requiring a request from the juvenile.
• Mandates notification to all relevant agencies (courts, law enforcement, probation, etc.) to remove or seal records.
• Strengthens privacy protections by limiting access to expunged juvenile records.

Operational impact on counties:

• Courts, district attorneys, and law enforcement must allocate resources to review, process, and confirm compliance with expungement orders.
• Often requires manual updates to legacy systems and additional staff time, making it an unfunded administrative mandate.

Estimated fiscal impact $1,640.00.

Read the bill language on the Colorado legislative website.

Under C.R.S. section 19-2.5-402, Colorado law mandates that all juveniles entering the justice system must undergo a standardized risk assessment and diversion screening to determine eligibility for alternative interventions.

Key requirements include:

• Use of an evidence-based screening tool (e.g., Colorado Juvenile Risk Assessment – CJRA).
• Conducted early in the process (often at arrest or intake) by probation, law enforcement, or juvenile services staff.
• Results must be considered when determining eligibility for diversion, detention, or services.
• Must be documented and shared with relevant parties (e.g., courts, district attorneys, defense).

Administrative impact:

This mandate places screening, documentation, and case coordination responsibilities on local agencies (probation, District Attorney’s office, and human services), requiring trained staff, tools, and data tracking, often without dedicated funding.

Estimated fiscal impact $85,000.00.

Read more about this C.R.S. on the LexisNexis law website.

Under C.R.S. section 18-6.5-108, certain professionals and government personnel are mandated reporters of suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of at-risk adults (generally individuals age 70 plus or adults with disabilities).

Counties, typically through their Adult Protective Services (APS) units, are required to:

• Receive, assess, and investigate reports of abuse or neglect of at-risk adults.
• Coordinate with law enforcement, healthcare providers, and service agencies.
• Maintain documentation, ensure victim safety, and determine protective actions.

Administrative impact:

This is a state-mandated duty for counties, requiring staff, intake systems, and investigative procedures—often with limited or insufficient funding relative to caseload demands.

Estimated fiscal impact $7,735.00.

Read more about this C.R.S. on the LexisNexis law website.

Under C.R.S. section 16-22-113, individuals convicted of qualifying sex offenses may petition the court to deregister as a sex offender after a specified waiting period. This process mandates several county-level actions, particularly from the District Attorney’s Office:

• The District Attorney (DA) is required to respond to the petition.
• The DA must make reasonable efforts to contact the victim(s) and inform the court of their position on the offender's request.
• The court then holds a hearing to determine whether deregistration is appropriate.

Administrative impact:

This statute places a mandatory, ongoing burden on district attorney offices, requiring legal review, victim outreach, and courtroom time. The responsibility is not funded by the state and applies to all petitions, regardless of case complexity.

Estimated fiscal impact $12,010.00.

Read more about this C.R.S. on the LexisNexis law website.

As part of Colorado’s criminal justice and bail reform efforts, under C.R.S. section 16-4-106, pretrial services units are required to complete risk-based intake reports for individuals arrested and awaiting bond hearings. These reports are reviewed by the Chief Deputy District Attorney (or similar supervisory prosecutor) to prepare for court proceedings.

• Reports include risk assessment scores, criminal history, and recommendations for bond conditions.
• The Chief District Attorney reviews reports daily, including weekends, to ensure appropriate prosecutorial input at initial advisements and bond hearings.
• Estimated time spent: approximately 1 hour per day, totaling 7 hours per week.

Administrative impact:

This is an ongoing, state-driven requirement to support pretrial reform, but it imposes a significant and unfunded workload on senior-level prosecutorial staff to ensure timely and informed responses during initial court proceedings.

Estimated fiscal impact $23,000.00.

Read more about this C.R.S. on the LexisNexis law website.

In addition to federal Victim Rights Act (VRA) compliance, the Colorado General Assembly has expanded state-level criminal statutes related to voting rights violations (e.g., voter intimidation, ballot tampering, and election interference) under the C.R.S. 24-4-1-302-5.

As new VRA-related crimes are added each year, district attorneys are mandated to:

• Identify and contact victims of these crimes.
• Inform victims of their constitutional rights under the Colorado VRA.
• And keep them informed of all critical stages in the criminal justice process (e.g., bond hearings, plea deals, trials, sentencing).

Administrative impact:

This is a state-mandated, ongoing responsibility for county district attorney offices. It requires victim outreach, legal coordination, and documentation, often with no additional funding to cover the increasing scope of prosecutorial obligations.

Estimated fiscal impact $238,420.00.

Read the bill language on the Colorado legislative website.

Under House Bill (HB)21-1286, the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) requires owners of large commercial, public, and multifamily buildings—including government buildings—to annually report benchmarking data for energy and water usage.

Key requirements include:

• Counties must submit annual reports on electricity, gas, and water consumption using the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool.
• Applies to buildings 50,000 sq. ft. and larger; phased-in compliance began in 2022 for public buildings.
• The data is used to assess energy performance, support emissions reductions, and track compliance with future building performance standards.

Administrative impact:

This is a state mandate that requires coordination with facility managers, utilities, and Information Technology (IT) systems to track usage, ensure accuracy, and complete submissions—often without direct funding for additional staff or system upgrades. Noncompliance may result in penalties.

Estimated fiscal impact $15,000.00.

Read the bill language on the Colorado legislation website.

As part of ongoing efforts to prevent misuse of public assistance, Colorado counties are required to comply with state-issued EBT "Fraud" Workbooks and related fraud detection policies for programs such as SNAP (Food Assistance) and Colorado Works (TANF).

Key elements include:

• Regular review and completion of EBT fraud monitoring workbooks provided by the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS).
• Analysis of transaction reports, including out-of-state use, unusual spending patterns, and high-frequency activity.
• Investigation and documentation of suspicious activity, with follow-up actions that may include referrals, benefit adjustments, or fraud claims.
• Coordination with program integrity units, eligibility technicians, and legal staff.

Administrative impact:

This policy is a state-mandated compliance tool that significantly increases the workload on county staff, requiring manual data review, investigations, and documentation. It is typically unfunded, adding to already high caseloads for human services departments.

Estimated fiscal impact $115,000.00.

Read more about this C.R.S. on the LexisNexis law website.

Beginning on or before July 1, 2027, Colorado House Bill 25‑1271 requires county departments of human or social services to:

• Within 90 days of taking custody of a foster child with a deceased parent, determine eligibility for federal survivor benefits (SSA, VA, Railroad Retirement). 
• Apply for benefits if the county is the most appropriate representative payee.
• Prohibit using these benefits to offset county foster care costs; instead, benefits must be deposited into a trust account, used only for the child’s unmet needs or saved for their future.
• Annually reassess eligibility, consult interested parties, and provide notifications and accounting to the child, parents, and legal representatives.
• Release remaining funds to the youth upon exit from foster care.

The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) must develop rules, guidance, and technical assistance, and counties will get support in 2025 – 2026. 

Administrative and fiscal impact:

Adds new caseworker duties, including eligibility reviews, applications, trust account setup, annual audits, reporting, and coordination with federal agencies.

According to a fiscal note, CDHS expects $131,000 in state FTE costs in fiscal year 2026 ‑ 2027, scaling to $1.1 and 1.4 million in subsequent years. Counties will absorb operational costs for implementation and ongoing compliance.

Estimated fiscal impact $90,000.00.

Read the bill language on the Colorado legislative website.

Under C.R.S. section 26-6-904.5(2) and (3)(a), Colorado counties are required to provide monthly financial reimbursement to non-certified kinship caregivers—relatives or close family friends caring for children placed in their home by child welfare agencies.

Key requirements:

• Counties must reimburse non-certified kin at a minimum daily rate established by the state, even though they are not licensed foster care providers.
• Caregivers must meet basic safety and placement requirements, but do not need full foster care certification.
• The goal is to support family stability and maintain children in familiar environments.

Administrative impact:

This is a state-mandated reimbursement obligation for counties. While some state funds are allocated to support these payments, counties often experience funding gaps—especially as the number of kin placements grows. It also increases administrative workload related to eligibility determinations, documentation, and payments, making it a partially funded mandate with ongoing cost pressure.

Estimated fiscal impact $211,000.00.

Read more about this C.R.S. on the LexisNexis law website.

Under C.R.S. section 19-3-208 and Volume 7 of the Child Welfare code, Colorado law requires county human services departments to provide regular, meaningful, and developmentally appropriate visitation between children in out-of-home care and their parents, unless such contact is not in the child’s best interest.

Key requirements include:

• Family time must be arranged promptly after removal—typically within 72 hours.
• Visitation must be frequent, consistent, and supervised if necessary to promote reunification.
• Visits must be documented, evaluated, and adjusted based on the child's and parent's progress.
• Efforts to increase visitation (in length and frequency) are expected unless there are documented safety concerns.

Administrative impact:

This is a state-mandated responsibility that significantly increases the workload of caseworkers, support staff, and contracted providers.

It involves:

• Scheduling, supervising, and transporting children and parents.
• Coordinating with providers and foster families.
• And reporting to the court on visitation progress.

While essential to family preservation, this requirement is largely unfunded, making it a substantial operational burden on county child welfare systems.

Estimated fiscal impact $60,000.00.

Read more about the Volume 7 Child Welfare code website or this C.R.S. on the LexisNexis law website.

Under C.R.S. section 19-3-208 and Volume 7 of the Child Welfare code, Colorado child welfare caseworkers are required to maintain regular contact with parents of children involved in open dependency and neglect (D&N) cases. These contacts are essential for assessing safety, progress toward reunification, and compliance with the family services plan.

Key responsibilities include:

• Monthly in-person or virtual contact with each parent, when appropriate.
• Documenting interactions, parenting progress, barriers, and service referrals.
• Adjusting service plans and providing engagement support to promote reunification.
• Coordinating with legal teams, providers, and other involved professionals.

Administrative impact:

These parent contact requirements are mandated by state statute and CDHS policy, but are not specifically funded. They add to already high caseworker caseloads and administrative burden—especially in rural counties where travel and scheduling challenges increase time and cost. This is a clear example of an unfunded mandate in the child welfare system.

Estimated fiscal impact $80,000.00.

Read more about the Volume 7 Child Welfare code website or this C.R.S. on the LexisNexis law website.

Effective July 1, 2026, House Bill 25‑1097 requires county child welfare caseworkers to develop an individualized transition plan whenever a child is moved between out‑of‑home placements—whether foster, kinship foster, non‑certified kinship placements, or back home 

The plan must include:

• Pre-transition logistics (e.g., preparing the child with visits, notifying stakeholders).
• A child-focused communication framework (including parents, providers, attorneys, CASA, the child greater than 12 years, and service providers).
• A timeline, allowing at least 7 days notice before a move, unless safety or court orders dictate otherwise.
• A physical move plan, ensuring continuity and safe transport.
• Post-transition communications within one week to update previous providers.

Additional requirements:

The Colorado Department of Human Services must develop a statewide training program, which caseworkers must complete within their first year and every three years thereafter.

Administrative impact:

This creates a new county-level requirement involving significant case planning, coordination, documentation, training, and system updates (e.g., in TRAILS). Though intended to protect child well-being, it adds unfunded administrative burden starting mid-2026.

Estimated fiscal impact $115,000.00.

Read the bill language on the Colorado legislative website.

C.R.S. section 19-7-204 mandates that county human services departments facilitate and maintain regular visitation and contact between siblings who are placed in out-of-home care (e.g., foster care, group homes), unless such contact is deemed contrary to a child's safety or well-being.

Key requirements include:

• Efforts to place siblings together when possible.
• If placed separately, caseworkers must arrange and document regular visitation, communication, and sibling engagement.
• Sibling contact must be included in the family services plan and reviewed by the court.
• Any limitations must be clearly justified and reassessed regularly.

Administrative impact:

This is a state-mandated duty that adds to the case planning, transportation coordination, documentation, and supervision workload of caseworkers. While vital to child well-being, no direct or dedicated funding is provided to support the additional time, logistics, and oversight required—making it another unfunded mandate in Colorado's child welfare system.

Estimated fiscal impact $40,000.00.

Read more about this C.R.S. on the LexisNexis law website.

Under C.R.S. section 28-5-801, each county is mandated to establish and maintain a Veterans Service Office and employ at least one Veterans Service Officer (VSO).

Key requirements include:

• The county must appoint and compensate a qualified VSO.
• The VSO’s duties include assisting veterans and their families with claims, benefits, and services related to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
• VSOs must be certified by the Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs and complete required training.
• Counties are also responsible for providing sufficient facilities, equipment, and administrative support.

Administrative impact:

This is a state-mandated, ongoing obligation for counties. While some state reimbursement may be available for VSO salaries or training, counties typically bear the majority of costs related to staffing, infrastructure, and operational support.

Estimated fiscal impact $100,000.00.

Read more about this C.R.S. on the Colorado Department of Military and Veteran Affairs website.

Under C.R.S. sections 24-37.5-401 through 406, counties that access state IT systems (e.g., CBMS, TRAILS, PEAK, and election systems) must comply with cybersecurity standards set by the Colorado Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT). These standards are designed to protect sensitive state and county data from cyber threats and apply to all systems interfacing with state networks.

Key county responsibilities include:

• User access controls (e.g., multi-factor authentication, password protocols, least-privilege access).
• Annual security awareness training for all staff accessing state systems.
• Incident detection and response, including timely breach reporting to OIT.
• System hardening and data encryption for devices accessing state-managed systems.
• Participation in periodic audits or assessments conducted or required by OIT.

Administrative impact:

Counties must dedicate IT, HR, and program staff to implement, monitor, and document compliance.

Often requires software, training, infrastructure upgrades, and staff time.

These requirements are typically unfunded mandates, with no guaranteed state reimbursement—placing financial pressure on local governments.

Bottom line:

Cybersecurity compliance with OIT policy is mandatory for any county that uses or accesses state systems, with failure to comply risking loss of access, data breaches, or liability exposure.

Estimated fiscal impact $250,000.00.

Read more about this C.R.S. on the LexisNexis law website.

Under House Bill 21-1110, Colorado law requires all state and local government digital services to meet accessibility standards for individuals with disabilities. This includes websites, applications, documents, and public-facing content.

Technology Accessibility Cleanup refers to the review, remediation, and ongoing compliance efforts counties must undertake to bring existing digital content up to standards.

Key county responsibilities:

• Audit and remediate public websites, documents (PDFs, Word, Excel), and digital tools for compliance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards.
• Ensure all new digital content meets accessibility requirements going forward.
• Develop and publish a Digital Accessibility Plan by July 1, 2024, and ensure full compliance by July 1, 2025.
• Provide accessible alternatives and complaint processes for users.

Financial and administrative impact:

• Staffing or contracting for remediation (web developers, accessibility consultants, legal and ADA specialists).
• Software tools for automated scans and manual testing (e.g., Siteimprove).
• Training for content creators across departments to ensure future compliance.
• Ongoing monitoring, updates, and system integration costs.

Counties are mandated to comply, but the law is largely unfunded, leaving local governments responsible for absorbing the full cost of implementation and long-term maintenance.

Estimated fiscal impact $1,000,000.00.

Read the bill language on the Colorado legislative website.

Senate Bill 18-167 significantly strengthened Colorado's excavation safety and utility location laws under the “One Call” system (Colorado 811), aiming to reduce utility strikes and improve coordination between excavators and facility owners.

Key provisions impacting counties:

• Mandatory participation in Colorado 811 by all utility owners, including counties with underground infrastructure (e.g., water, sewer, traffic, communications).
• Counties must respond to locate requests within prescribed timelines and mark facilities accurately.
• Must implement and maintain a damage prevention program, including training, record-keeping, and reporting of utility strikes.
• Required to comply with audits and enforcement conducted by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) through its Damage Prevention Safety Commission.

Administrative and fiscal impact:

• Counties must dedicate public works staff or contracted locators to respond to tickets.
• Implement GIS mapping and data management to track and update underground assets.
• May require new equipment, software, and staff training to meet compliance.
• Failure to comply can result in civil penalties, liability for damages, and loss of cost recovery in damage disputes.

This is a state-mandated requirement with a fixed enforcement deadline (October 22, 2024). While intended to improve safety, it is unfunded, requiring counties to absorb the cost of compliance infrastructure and labor.

Estimated fiscal impact $200,000.00.

Read the bill language on the Colorado legislative website.

Under Senate Bill 20-217, all Colorado law enforcement agencies are required to outfit patrol officers and, as clarified in later implementation guidance, detention officers with body-worn cameras (BWCs) by July 1, 2023.

Key requirements for patrol and detention:

• Patrol Officers must wear and activate BWCs for all public interactions, traffic stops, enforcement actions, and during response to calls for service.
• Detention Officers must wear BWCs while performing duties in county jails, especially when interacting with inmates, conducting searches, transports, or managing uses of force.
• All footage must be retained for at least 90 days, or longer if tied to a complaint, investigation, or use-of-force incident.
• Footage related to misconduct allegations must be released publicly within 21 days, unless an exception applies.

Financial and administrative impact:

• Equipment costs: purchase and maintenance of BWCs for all patrol and jail staff.
• Data storage: cloud or on-premises systems (e.g., Axon Evidence.com) with long-term retention needs.
• Staffing: additional personnel (e.g., multimedia specialists) for footage review, redaction, and legal discovery.
• Training and policy development to ensure compliance and proper use.
• Applies to both field operations and detention environments, significantly expanding scope and cost.

This is a state-mandated program with limited or one-time grant funding, but the ongoing costs of equipment, storage, staffing, and training remain a substantial and unfunded burden on counties.

Estimated fiscal impact $321,358.00.

Read the bill language on the Colorado legislative website.

Under the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), C.R.S. section 24-72-101, plus the those following it, and the Colorado State Archives Retention Schedules, 8 CCR 1507-1, all Colorado counties are legally required to retain, manage, and store government records in accordance with state-approved retention schedules issued by the Colorado State Archives.

This applies to paper and electronic records across all departments, including law enforcement, human services, elections, finance, and more.

Key requirements:

• Adopt and follow approved retention schedules, which dictate how long specific types of documents must be kept (e.g., 3 years for some financial records, permanent for certain court or land use documents).
• Ensure records are secure, accessible, and protected from loss or unauthorized access, including backups for digital systems.
• Maintain proper destruction protocols after retention periods expire, with documented chain of custody and destruction logs.
• Comply with public records requests (CORA), which often depend on well-organized, retrievable files.

Financial and administrative impact:

• Storage costs (physical file rooms, off-site records storage, or secure cloud-based solutions).
• Staff time for filing, indexing, digitizing, and responding to records requests.
• System investments for digital records management (e.g., document management software, secure servers).
• Training and compliance monitoring to prevent legal exposure or loss of critical public data.

Document retention is a state-mandated operational requirement with no consistent dedicated funding, making it an unfunded mandate that requires counties to continuously invest in staffing, technology, and secure storage solutions to maintain legal compliance.

Estimated fiscal impact $23,000.00.

Read more about the C.R.S. on the LexisNexis law website or the retention schedule on the State Archives website.

Rule 28 of the Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board requires all certified peace officers in the state to complete annual in-service training to maintain their certification and ensure ongoing competency.

Key requirements:

• Minimum of 24 hours of annual training for all peace officers, which must include:
• 12 hours in perishable skills (e.g., arrest control, driving, firearms).
• Training in anti-bias policing, de-escalation techniques, and community engagement as required by law.
• Additional elective or agency-specific training based on local priorities or POST guidance.
• Documentation and verification must be submitted to POST annually.
• Agencies are required to track, record, and retain training records for audit purposes.
• Applies to all law enforcement officers, including those in detention, patrol, and investigations.

Financial and administrative impact:

• Increased personnel and scheduling needs to rotate staff through mandatory training.
• Costs for training materials, certified instructors, simulation tools, and facility use.
• Administrative burden of tracking and reporting compliance to POST.
• Smaller or rural agencies may struggle to meet requirements without state training grants or partnerships.

Rule 28 establishes a mandatory, recurring training requirement for all peace officers in Colorado. While crucial for public safety and professional standards, it is a partially or unfunded mandate that places an ongoing financial and administrative burden on counties and local law enforcement agencies.

Estimated fiscal impact $200,000.00.

Read more about the rule on the Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training website or the C.R.S. language for section 24-31-303 on the LexisNexis law website.

House Bill 21-1250 expands and clarifies state-level law enforcement requirements related to use of force, arrests, transparency, and data reporting, building upon previous reforms under Senate Bill 20-217. 

Key requirements:

• Expanded reporting of use of force and stops
  • Law enforcement agencies must report additional data to the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, including:
    • All contacts that do not result in arrests or citations
    • Use of force incidents with more specific demographic breakdowns
    • Reason for stop, search, and whether force was used or injuries occurred

• In-custody death notification
  • Agencies must notify the District Attorney and the state Division of Criminal Justice of any in-custody death within 24 hours.

• Restrictive use of force standards
  • Officers must intervene and report when excessive force is used
  • Clarifies prohibited holds and tactics
  • Codifies duty to render medical aid

• Decertification and employment tracking
  • Agencies must report to Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) any resignations during investigation, decertifications, or terminations
  • Prevents rehiring of officers under investigation for serious misconduct

• Expanded body-worn camera provisions
  • Requires footage retention and public availability in certain critical incidents
  • Failure to activate a camera may result in presumptions against the officer in proceedings

• Pretrial jail holds and Miranda Rights
  • Restricts arrest authority for low-level offenses
  • Requires that individuals in custody receive Miranda warnings before custodial interrogation begins

Administrative and fiscal impact on counties:

• Data collection and reporting: local agencies must develop or expand internal systems to track all stops and uses of force
• Policy revisions and training: departments must revise use-of-force policies and retrain officers accordingly
• Body camera oversight: requires evidence systems, redaction capability, storage, and public access protocols
• Compliance monitoring: agencies must allocate internal staff or contractors for compliance and reporting

Estimated annual cost impact:

• Staffing for data compliance: 1 FTE for reporting and records – $80,000
• Body-worn camera storage: cloud storage plus license – $40,000–$60,000
• Legal and policy implementation: attorney and command staff time – $20,000 or more
• Estimated fiscal impact $140,000–$180,000 per year

HB21-1250 imposes multiple state-mandated reforms on law enforcement agencies in Colorado, including expanded data reporting, use-of-force limits, employment tracking, and custody procedures. These changes result in significant administrative, training, and technology costs, with no dedicated state funding to support compliance at the county level.

Read the bill language on the Colorado legislative website.

Under C.R.S. section 17-1-113.8 and federal best practices, county jails are required or strongly encouraged to provide Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) while in detention.

Key program requirements in detention:

• Screening upon intake to identify individuals with substance use disorders (especially OUD).
• Continuation of existing MAT regimens, including medications like buprenorphine (Suboxone), methadone, or naltrexone.
• Initiation of MAT for individuals who meet clinical criteria while in custody.
• Coordination with community providers to ensure post-release treatment continuity.
• Clinical oversight, documentation, and secure medication storage are required to meet jail safety standards.

Financial and administrative impact:

• Medical staffing: Requires licensed prescribers, nurses, and mental health professionals.
• Medication costs: Particularly for high-cost MAT options (may be grant-supported, but not guaranteed).
• Security and transport protocols for controlled substances within detention settings.
• Training for detention officers and clinical staff on MAT administration, patient rights, and safety.
• Data tracking and reporting for compliance, outcomes, and recidivism evaluation.

While supported by state and federal grant programs (e.g., through OBH or opioid settlement funds), MAT in detention is an evolving best practice and, in some cases, a mandated standard of care. Counties bear significant ongoing operational and liability costs, often without sustainable long-term funding.

Estimated fiscal impact $724,139.68.

Read more about this C.R.S. on the LexisNexis law website.  

Effective August 1, 2026, Senate Bill  25‑003 makes it unlawful in Colorado to manufacture, sell, transfer, or purchase “specified semiautomatic firearms”—including semiautomatic rifles and shotguns with detachable magazines, and gas-operated semiautomatic handguns with detachable magazines.

Devices that increase a firearm’s rate of fire (e.g., bump stocks) are now classified as dangerous weapons. 

Key provisions:

• Violations are treated as a Class 2 misdemeanor, escalating to a Class 6 felony for subsequent offense.
• Owners of currently possessed firearms are grandfathered and may keep them, but future transactions are prohibited.
• A new permit-to-purchase system is established: individuals must obtain a firearms course eligibility card, complete 4–12 hours of in-person training, pass a test, and receive sheriff approval before buying these firearms.
• Sheriffs must conduct background checks, issue or deny cards, and verify firearms instructors.
• Funding includes $100,000 appropriated to the Governor's Office of Information Technology in fiscal year 2025–2026 from the new firearms training and safety course cash fund.

Impact on counties and sheriffs:

Sheriff’s offices are tasked with administering the permit system, training oversight, and background checks—estimated to cost $300K–$350K annually per office.

The law introduces a new fee-based revenue stream (approximately $2 million statewide at $5 per permit), but much of the administrative burden remains locally unfunded.

Staffing and training requirements are significant, with sheriffs raising concerns about resource strain and staffing shortages.

Legal exposure is possible given ongoing constitutional challenges led by county sheriffs and other stakeholders 

SB 25‑003 establishes one of Colorado’s most comprehensive firearm sale and transfer restrictions, paired with a new permit-to-purchase and training mandate. It places new operational obligations on county sheriff’s offices, who must administer the program and absorb substantial costs—while state funding only partially addresses the burden.

Estimated fiscal impact $353,352.00.

Read the bill language on the Colorado legislative website.

House Bill 19-1287 is a Colorado law aimed at expanding access to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, particularly Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), across various systems including criminal justice, primary care, and rural areas.

A key portion of the bill requires that:

• County jails and correctional facilities provide access to all FDA-approved MAT options (methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone) to individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD).
• Individuals must be screened for MAT eligibility, and treatment must be initiated or continued while in custody.
• MAT cannot be denied based on funding constraints or institutional preference for abstinence-only approaches.
• Counties must ensure access without a waitlist, as established under later interpretation and case law.

Legal and operational mandates:

• Jails must comply with the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) and Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) implementation guidance.
• MAT in correctional settings must be medically supervised and tied to reentry planning for continued treatment after release.
• HB19-1287 supports state grant funding but does not fully cover long-term implementation costs at the county level.

Financial and administrative impact:

• Startup costs: provider contracts, pharmacy agreements, secure medication storage, and Electronic Medical Record (EMR) updates.
• Ongoing costs: medical staffing, training, daily medication dispensing, and case management.
• Unfunded mandate risk: while some initial funding is available, counties must sustain programs long-term, often at local taxpayer expense.
• Legal liability: failure to provide MAT could result in lawsuits under ADA, 8th Amendment, or state constitutional law.

HB19-1287 makes access to evidence-based MAT in detention facilities a legal and clinical standard, removing prior barriers and requiring equitable, medically appropriate access. Counties must deliver services without delay, and ongoing funding gaps make it a significant unfunded or underfunded mandate.

Estimated fiscal impact $356,177.76.

Read the bill language on the Colorado legislative website.

Under House Bill 23-1151, counties are required to ensure that individuals arrested and held in jail receive a timely first appearance or bond hearing, including on weekends and holidays, to comply with constitutional due process and pretrial detention limits.

Key elements of weekend court:

• Bond hearings must be held within 48 hours of arrest (per constitutional standards and local rules).
• Courts operate weekend or holiday dockets, requiring staffing from:
  • Judges
  • District Attorneys
  • Public Defenders
  • Court clerks
  • Law enforcement or detention officers
• Counties must support courtroom space, security, transport, and technology to conduct proceedings.

Financial and administrative impact:

• Increased personnel costs: overtime or weekend pay for district attorney staff, detention officers, and clerks.
• Scheduling and staffing logistics for on-call or rotating shifts.

While the state funds limited DA and public defender weekend appearance costs, counties often bear the full burden for court operations, security, and facility readiness.

Weekend court is a judicially required function rooted in constitutional and statutory due process, but it remains a partially funded or unfunded mandate for counties, particularly impacting smaller jurisdictions with limited staff.

Estimated fiscal impact $10,143.00.

Read the bill language on the Colorado legislative website.