Bill > SB173

This bill clarifies the definitions of "damage awards" and "property sales" for the purpose of calculating state fiscal year spending under Section 20 of Article X of the Colorado State Constitution. Specifically, the bill expands these definitions to exclude certain monetary penalties and sales from being counted towards the state's fiscal year spending limit. For "damage awards", the bill adds specific civil monetary penalties from various state departments, including healthcare, public health, energy management, and labor standards, to be exempt from fiscal year spending calculations starting July 1, 2024. For "property sales", the bill broadens the definition to include specific types of sales such as merchandise sales at history museums, agricultural and wildfire-related supply sales, correctional education program sales, state fair non-concession sales, and wine promotional sales. The bill aims to ensure that these types of revenue collections are not incorrectly counted against the state's constitutional spending limit, while maintaining that previously classified revenues will continue to be treated the same way. The legislative declaration emphasizes that the current statutory definitions were inconsistent with the constitutional exemptions for damage awards and property sales.

Budget and Finance

https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-173