Colorado 2025 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 19 D · 3 R cosponsors

SB 25-180 — Population Growth Calculation

Last action — Governor Signed

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 24, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Jared Polis (Democratic) on March 31, 2025.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 98% · high confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 26 sponsors

    4 primary, 22 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (19 D · 3 R) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Section 20 of article X of the state constitution (TABOR) requires the maximum annual percentage change in state fiscal year spending to equal inflation plus the percentage change in state population in the prior calendar year adjusted for revenue changes approved by voters. Although TABOR does not specify how the state shall determine the percentage change in state population (population growth), the TABOR implementing statutes do. For years in which there is not a decennial census, the TABOR implementing statutes required the state to calculate population growth by determining the percentage change between: The federal census bureau's estimate of state population (census estimate) for the previous calendar year, as of December in the current calendar year; and The census estimate for the current calendar year, as of December in the current calendar year. This method for calculating population growth can lead to either double-counting or under-counting of population changes in census estimates. If the federal census bureau revises a census estimate upward for a given year, population growth will be understated and the fiscal year spending limit will be lower. The opposite is true if the federal census bureau revises a census estimate downward. In either case, under this method for calculating population growth, population growth would be measured inaccurately. The act adjusts the method of calculating population growth. Under the act, population growth is calculated by determining the percentage change between: The census estimate, as of December in the previous calendar year, for the previous calendar year; and The census estimate, as of December in the current calendar year, for the current calendar year. This approach prevents double-counting or under-counting population changes as a result of revised census estimates and results in a more accurate measurement of population growth. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

24 added · 19 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of Bill SB 25-180 modifies how Colorado calculates state population growth, which directly impacts the amount the state can spend each fiscal year. The changes clarify certain measures and introduce new definitions regarding population growth metrics based on federal data. This is significant because accurate population counts are essential for determining funding for public services, affecting everything from education to infrastructure. By improving these calculations, the bill aims to ensure that state spending better reflects the actual needs of Colorado residents.

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Previous
Latest
First Regular Session Seventy-fifth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO ENGROSSED This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted on Second Reading in the House of Introduction LLS NO.
First Regular Session Seventy-fifth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO REENGROSSED This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted in the House of Introduction LLS NO.
25-0866.01 Pierce Lively x2059 SENATE BILL 25-180 SENATE SPONSORSHIP Kirkmeyer and Amabile, Bridges HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Taggart and Sirota, Bird Senate Committees House Committees Appropriations A BILL FOR AN ACT CONCERNING THE METHOD OF CALCULATING STATE POPULATION GROWTH FOR PURPOSES OF CALCULATING STATE FISCAL YEAR SPENDING PURSUANT TO SECTION 20 OF ARTICLE X OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION .
25-0866.01 Pierce Lively x2059 SENATE BILL 25-180 SENATE SPONSORSHIP Kirkmeyer and Amabile, Bridges, Ball, Coleman, Cutter, Gonzales J., Jodeh, Kipp, Michaelson Jenet, Pelton B., Snyder, Winter F.
Bill Summary (Note:
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Taggart and Sirota, Bird Senate Committees House Committees Appropriations A BILL FOR AN ACT C ONCERNING THE METHOD OF CALCULATING STATE POPULATION GROWTH FOR PURPOSES OF CALCULATING STATE FISCAL YEAR SPENDING PURSUANT TO SECTION 20 OF ARTICLE X OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION .
This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does notreflectanyamendmentsthatmaybesubsequentlyadopted.Ifthisbill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov/.) Joint Budget Committee.
Bill Summary e n 5 (Note:
Section 20 of article X of the state constitution (TABOR) requires the maximum annual percentage change e n instatefiscalyearspendingtoequalinflationplusthepercentagechange m 2 Tn 2 Ng 3 Shading denotes HOUSE amendment.
This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does m 0 T n , notreflectanyamendmentsthatmaybesubsequentlyadopted.Ifthisbill N g 4 passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that E d r S e a applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at R M http://leg.colorado.gov/.) 3 Joint Budget Committee.
Section 20 of article X of the state d constitution (TABOR) requires the maximum annual percentage change d instatefiscalyearspendingtoequalinflationplusthepercentagechange e 5 E a 0 A U , N n h Shading denotes HOUSE amendment.
Ed r Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
S d r Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.e M Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
d instatepopulationinthepriorcalendaryearadjustedforrevenuechanges approved by voters.
d M instatepopulationinthepriorcalendaryearadjustedforrevenuechanges approved by voters.
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Amendments

1 amendment

Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.

Action History

  1. Governor Signed

  2. Signed by the President of the Senate

  3. Signed by the Speaker of the House

  4. Sent to the Governor

  5. House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  6. House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments

  7. House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

  8. House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole

  9. Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  10. Introduced In House - Assigned to Appropriations

  11. Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments

  12. Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole

  13. Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Appropriations

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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4 sponsors · 22 co-sponsors · 75 not signed on · 13 voted No

Sponsors (4)

Co-sponsors (22)

Not signed on (75)

75 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 75 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

BILL

Passed 51 Yea · 13 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 3100
Democrat 41001
Republican 71200
Total 511301
% of votes cast 78%20%0%2%
How each member voted (65)
Member Party Vote
Armagost — Yea
Bird — Yea
Pugliese — Yea
Garcia Sander — Nay
Alex Valdez Democrat Yea
Amy Paschal Democrat Yea
Andrew Boesenecker Democrat Yea
Bob Marshall Democrat Yea
Brianna Titone Democrat Yea
Cecelia Espenoza Democrat Yea
Chad Clifford Democrat Yea
Eliza Hamrick Democrat Yea
Elizabeth Velasco Democrat Yea
Emily Sirota Democrat Yea
Gretchen Rydin Democrat Yea
Jacque Phillips Democrat Yea
Jamie Jackson Democrat Yea
Javier Mabrey Democrat Yea
Jennifer Bacon Democrat Yea
Jenny Willford Democrat Yea
Julie McCluskie Democrat Yea
Junie Joseph Democrat Yea
Karen McCormick Democrat Yea
Katie Stewart Democrat Yea
Kyle Brown Democrat Yea
Lesley Smith Democrat Yea
Lindsay Gilchrist Democrat Yea
Lisa Feret Democrat Yea
Lorena Garcia Democrat Yea
Mandy Lindsay Democrat Yea
Manny Rutinel Democrat Yea
Matthew Martinez Democrat Yea
Meg Froelich Democrat Yea
Meghan Lukens Democrat Yea
Michael Carter Democrat Yea
Monica Duran Democrat Yea
Naquetta Ricks Democrat Yea
Rebekah Stewart Democrat Yea
Regina English Democrat Yea
Sean Camacho Democrat Yea
Sheila Lieder Democrat Yea
Steven Woodrow Democrat Yea
Tammy Story Democrat Yea
Tisha Mauro Democrat Not Voting
William Lindstedt Democrat Yea
Yara Zokaie Democrat Yea
Anthony Hartsook Republican Yea
Brandi Bradley Republican Nay
Carlos Barron Republican Yea
Chris Richardson Republican Nay
Dan Woog Republican Nay
Dusty Johnson Republican Nay
Jarvis Caldwell Republican Yea
Ken DeGraaf Republican Nay
Larry Don Suckla Republican Nay
Mary Bradfield Republican Yea
Matt Soper Republican Yea
Max Brooks Republican Nay
Rebecca Keltie Republican Nay
Rick Taggart Republican Yea
Ron Weinberg Republican Nay
Ryan Gonzalez Republican Nay
Scott Bottoms Republican Nay
Stephanie Luck Republican Nay
Ty Winter Republican Yea

Official roll call →

BILL

Passed 33 Yea · 0 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 20001
Republican 11000
Unaffiliated 2000
Total 33001
% of votes cast 97%0%0%3%
How each member voted (34)
Member Party Vote
Lundeen — Yea
Winter F. — Yea
Cathy Kipp Democrat Yea
Chris Kolker Democrat Yea
Dafna Michaelson Jenet Democrat Yea
Dylan Roberts Democrat Yea
Iman Jodeh Democrat Yea
James Coleman Democrat Yea
Janice Marchman Democrat Yea
Jeff Bridges Democrat Yea
Jessie Danielson Democrat Yea
Judy Amabile Democrat Yea
Julie Gonzales Democrat Yea
Kyle Mullica Democrat Yea
Lindsey Daugherty Democrat Yea
Lisa Cutter Democrat Yea
Marc Snyder Democrat Yea
Matt Ball Democrat Yea
Mike Weissman Democrat Yea
Nick Hinrichsen Democrat Yea
Robert Rodriguez Democrat Yea
Tom Sullivan Democrat Yea
Tony Exum Democrat Not Voting
Barbara Kirkmeyer Republican Yea
Byron Pelton Republican Yea
Cleave Simpson Republican Yea
Janice Rich Republican Yea
John Carson Republican Yea
Larry Liston Republican Yea
Lisa Frizell Republican Yea
Marc Catlin Republican Yea
Mark Baisley Republican Yea
Rod Pelton Republican Yea
Scott Bright Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

elections
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 25-180 do?
Section 20 of article X of the state constitution (TABOR) requires the maximum annual percentage change in state fiscal year spending to equal inflation plus the percentage change in state population in the prior calendar year adjusted for revenue changes approved by voters. Although TABOR does not specify how the state shall determine the percentage change in state population (population growth), the TABOR implementing statutes do. For years in which there is not a decennial census, the TABOR implementing statutes required the state to calculate population growth by determining the percentage change between: The federal census bureau's estimate of state population (census estimate) for the previous calendar year, as of December in the current calendar year; and The census estimate for the current calendar year, as of December in the current calendar year. This method for calculating population growth can lead to either double-counting or under-counting of population changes in census estimates. If the federal census bureau revises a census estimate upward for a given year, population growth will be understated and the fiscal year spending limit will be lower. The opposite is true if the federal census bureau revises a census estimate downward. In either case, under this method for calculating population growth, population growth would be measured inaccurately. The act adjusts the method of calculating population growth. Under the act, population growth is calculated by determining the percentage change between: The census estimate, as of December in the previous calendar year, for the previous calendar year; and The census estimate, as of December in the current calendar year, for the current calendar year. This approach prevents double-counting or under-counting population changes as a result of revised census estimates and results in a more accurate measurement of population growth. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Who sponsors SB 25-180?
SB 25-180 is sponsored by Yara Zokaie (Democrat), Brianna Titone (Democrat), Naquetta Ricks (Democrat), Jacque Phillips (Democrat), Mandy Lindsay (Democrat), L. García, Cecelia Espenoza (Democrat), Chad Clifford (Democrat), Andrew Boesenecker (Democrat), Jennifer Bacon (Democrat), F. Winter, Marc Snyder (Democrat), Byron Pelton (Republican), Cathy Kipp (Democrat), Iman Jodeh (Democrat), Julie Gonzales (Democrat), Lisa Cutter (Democrat), James Coleman (Democrat), Matt Ball (Democrat), S. Bird, Jeff Bridges (Democrat), Emily Sirota (Democrat), Rick Taggart (Republican), Judy Amabile (Democrat), Barbara Kirkmeyer (Republican), and Michaelson Jenet.
What is the current status of SB 25-180?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 24, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 25-180?
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