HB 1019 — Prohibit Certain Cash Fund Use Against Federal Action

Summary

The bill repeals the authority granted to the office of the governor by House Bill 25-1321 to expend money in the "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act" cash fund (cash fund) to support the state in defending against adverse federal action, which includes specific authority to:Accept gifts, grants, and donations for that purpose;Hire and employ personnel or retain contractors for purposes related to federal government actions that impact federal disbursements, grants, contracts, or money received by or transferred to the state;Reimburse the department of law for costs associated with special assistant attorneys general contracted with for the purposes of:Providing legal services to state officers or employees related to legal actions initiated, pursued, or threatened by the federal government; orProviding legal services for the criminal defense of state officers or employees in legal actions arising out of official acts or decisions; orMake other expenditures consistent with the purpose of supporting the state in defending against adverse federal action, as determined by the governor, including expenditures to preserve and protect state sovereignty or federal funding streams that benefit the state.The bill also eliminates the funding and spending authority provided to support the state in defending against adverse federal action by requiring the state treasurer to transfer $4 million from the cash fund to the general fund and repealing a state fiscal year 2025-26 appropriation, with rollover authority through state fiscal year 2026-27, of $4 million from the cash fund to the office of the governor.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Bill Text

• Introduced View text Current pdf August 21, 2025

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill repeals the authority for the governor to use funds from the 'Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act' cash fund for legal actions against federal government actions, while transferring $4 million from that fund to the general fund.

• 24-75-232

  The office may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources for the purposes of subsection (5)(e) of this section.

  The bill removes the authority for the office to accept and spend gifts or grants for certain legal purposes.

• 24-75-232

  In addition to the uses set forth in subsections (5)(a) and (5)(b) of this section, and notwithstanding subsection (1)(e) of this section, the office may expend the money in the fund at the governor's discretion for the following purposes: (I) Hiring and employing personnel or retaining contractors for purposes related to federal government actions that impact federal disbursements, grants, contracts, or money received by or transferred to the state; (II) Reimbursing the department of law for costs associated with special assistant attorneys general, pursuant to sections 24-31-101 and 24-31-111 (5), contracted with for the purposes of: (A) Providing legal services to state officers or employees related to legal proceedings, inquiries, hearings, or investigations initiated, pursued, or threatened by the federal government, including congressional inquiries and investigations; (B) Providing legal services for the criminal defense of state officers or employees in legal actions arising out of official acts or decisions; (III) Other expenditures consistent with the purposes of this section, as determined by the governor, including expenditures to preserve and protect state sovereignty or federal funding streams that benefit the state.

  The bill eliminates the governor's discretionary spending authority related to federal actions and legal services for state employees.

• Session Laws of Colorado 2025, section 2

  $4,000,000 is appropriated to the office of the governor. This appropriation is from the "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act" cash fund created in section 24-75-232 (3), C.R.S. To implement this act, the office may use this appropriation for administration of governor's office and residence. Any money appropriated in this section not expended prior to July 1, 2026, is further appropriated to the office for the 2026-27 state fiscal year for the same purpose.

  The bill repeals the specific appropriation of $4 million to the governor's office for the designated purposes for the fiscal year 2025-26.

• 24-75-232

  THREE DAYS FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBSECTION (4)(a.5), THE STATE TREASURER SHALL TRANSFER FOUR MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE FUND TO THE GENERAL FUND.

  The bill mandates the transfer of $4 million from the 'Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act' cash fund to the general fund.

Action History

1. August 21, 2025

   Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs

2. August 21, 2025

   House Committee on State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Postpone Indefinitely

Sponsors

• R. Pelton · Primary
• Ty Winter · Primary

Votes

Subjects