Gov. Polis, Joined by Joint Budget Committee, Signs Bipartisan Budget to Save Coloradans Money, Improve Public Safety, Fiscal Prudence with Record Level Reserves to Ensure All Coloradans Can Thrive

Budget reflects Polis Administration and legislature’s commitment to put money back in the pockets of hardworking Coloradans, bring more good-paying jobs, and provide high-quality, accessible education to Colorado kids, Signs additional bills into law

DENVER, CO - Today, Governor Jared Polis signed the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Long Appropriations Bill, HB22-1329, into law while joined by bill Joint Budget Committee (JBC) Chair Julie McCluskie, Senator Chris Hansen, Joint Budget Committee Vice Chair, and members of the Joint Budget Committee Rep. Leslie Herod, Senator Rachel Zenzinger, and Senator Bob Rankin. The bipartisan budget reflects the Polis administration and the legislature’s shared commitment since day one to save Coloradans money, protect public safety and keep Coloradans safe, and ensure every Colorado kid has access to high-quality education.

“Colorado’s thriving economy is the reason we were able to put away record reserves for a rainy day, and make record investments in education to reduce class size and improve teacher pay.  We are bringing real relief to Coloradans with this bipartisan balanced budget, and ensuring we have a cleaner, healthier and safer Colorado for years to come,” said Governor Polis. 

“Our bipartisan state budget puts thousands of dollars more into classrooms to improve K-12 public schools and set up our students to thrive and increases funding for public safety to prevent and reduce crime,” said JBC Chair Representative Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “I’m proud that we are boosting funding for our public colleges and universities, which will save students money on higher education. With our economy growing and unemployment levels at the lowest they’ve been since the start of the pandemic, this budget directs significant savings to businesses, families, and hardworking Coloradans, improves our air quality and invests in our kids’ future to move Colorado forward.”

“This budget strikes an important balance between meeting the urgent needs of our state and prudently setting the state up for financial security for years to come,” said JBC Vice Chair Senator Chris Hansen, D-Denver. “We’re making critical investments to prepare Colorado’s students for success, clean up our air and create a healthier environment, and improve public safety - all while keeping us on solid financial footing this year and into the future. We’ve worked hard to create a balanced, thoughtful budget that will help ensure every Coloradan has what they need to thrive.”

“This year’s budget responds to urgent needs in Colorado and responsibly invests our precious state resources to boost our economy, save people money, improve our air quality, and prepare our students for success,” said JBC Member Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “I’m especially proud of our efforts to close health equity gaps, improve education outcomes for at-risk students and fund critical investments in higher education campuses in communities all across our state.”

“One of our top responsibilities as a legislature is to balance the state’s budget in the most reasonable and meticulous manner,” said JBC member Senator Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada. “This budget hits the mark. We’re delivering for Colorado families by making investments in K-12 education, reducing fees for businesses and professionals to save people money, and investing in health care for children and pregnant women. This budget will help support our families, provide for our communities, and move Colorado forward.”

The bipartisan budget signed into law today funds the State’s operations for Fiscal Year 2022-2023, which begins on July 1, 2022. The budget balances record reserves with robust investments in saving Coloradans money, putting money back into the pockets of hardworking Coloradans by reducing drivers license and vehicle registration fees, making it free to start a business.

Colorado’s budget includes bold investments in education to ensure Colorado kids can thrive with high-quality, accessible education. With an increase in per pupil funding by $511 and an additional $12,000-$13,000 per classroom, schools and districts will be empowered to increase teacher pay, create smaller class sizes, revitalize after school programs, or provide additional staff support for mental health or extracurriculars. 

The Polis Administration, in partnership with the legislature, continues to activate every tool possible to make Colorado one of the safest states in the nation. The bipartisan budget includes robust investments in proven strategies to prevent crime before it happens and reduce the likelihood someone will reoffend. The budget boosts local law enforcement initiatives to recruit, train and retain a high quality, diverse law enforcement workforce and supports community organizations working in crime prevention, and proven programs like the co-responder model.  

Governor Polis also signed the following bills today, including legislation to support Colorado’s direct care workers:

• HB22-1247 Additional Requirements Nursing Facility Funding  - Representatives L. Herod | J. McCluskie,  Senators C. Hansen | B. Rankin

• HB22-1165 Rule Review Bill - Representatives M. Snyder | M. Soper, Senators P. Lee | B. Gardner

• HB22-1208 Jail Data Collection Clean-up - Representatives M. Weissman | H. McKean, Senator P. Lee

• HB22-1264 Change Food And Drug Administration To FDA - Representatives D. Valdez | S. Woodrow, Senators D. Moreno | R. Woodward

• HB22-1276 Sunset Second Chance Scholarship Program - Representatives C. Kipp | T. Exum, Senator D. Moreno

• HB22-1331 Supplemental Funding For Facility Schools - Representatives L. Herod | K. Ransom, Senators R. Zenzinger | B. Rankin

• HB22-1332 Office of Economic Development and International Trade American Rescue Plan Act Funds For Rural Colorado - Representatives J. McCluskie | L. Herod, Senators C. Hansen | B. Rankin

• HB22-1333 Increase Minimum Wage For Nursing Home Workers - Representatives L. Herod | J. McCluskie, Senators R. Zenzinger | B. Rankin

• HB22-1334 Food Distribution Program Administrative Fee - Representative L. Herod, Senator R. Zenzinger

• HB22-1335 Transfer To The Judicial Department Information Technology Cash Fund - Representatives J. McCluskie | K. Ransom, Senators C. Hansen | B. Rankin

• HB22-1336 Streamline Processing Of Judicial Department Collections - Representatives J. McCluskie | K. Ransom, Senators C. Hansen | R. Zenzinger

• HB22-1337 State Personnel Director's Compensation Report - Representatives L. Herod | K. Ransom, Senators C. Hansen | B. Rankin

• HB22-1338 Modification Department Of Revenue Motor Vehicle-related Functions Funding - Representative L. Herod, Senator C. Hansen

• HB22-1339 Merge Department Of Revenue Division Of Motor Vehicles Cash Funds - Representatives L. Herod | J. McCluskie, Senators R. Zenzinger | B. Rankin

• HB22-1340 Capital-related Transfers Of Money - Representatives L. Herod | J. McCluskie, Senators C. Hansen | R. Zenzinger

• HB22-1341 Marijuana Tax Cash Fund - Representatives L. Herod | J. McCluskie, Senators R. Zenzinger | B. Rankin

• HB22-1342 State Emergency Reserve Cash Fund - Representatives L. Herod | K. Ransom, Senators C. Hansen | B. Rankin

• HB22-1343 General Fund Exempt Account And Excess State Revenues - Representatives J. McCluskie | K. Ransom, Senators C. Hansen | B. Rankin