This publication is designed to provide taxpayers with general information about Colorado income tax credits for business activity and investments in enterprise zones.
Some U.S. cities have adopted legislation to limit or restrict the use of natural gas systems in new construction, instead requiring building systems or appliances to be powered by electricity. In response to these natural gas prohibitions, some states have enacted legislation prohibiting cities from restricting natural gas systems in new construction. This issue brief provides background on the issue and how it applies to Colorado.
Colorado has a behavioral health system that works for some people, but not all. The Behavioral Health Task Force heard from hundreds of Coloradans who are continuing to struggle to access the care they need for themselves or a loved one. Tragically, many of these stories ended up in the death of a loved one. In 2018, Colorado had the seventh-highest suicide rate in the nation. Additionally, 15.3% of Coloradans reported poor mental health in 2019, up from 11.8% in 2017. Many Coloradans report they are not able to access timely care because the services they need are not available in their communities, wait times are too long, or providers can't accommodate their disabilities. The data affirms these concerns: Colorado ranked 29th worst among states by Mental Health America in terms of the prevalence of mental illness and access to care, and close to 95,000 Coloradans with substance use disorder went without treatment in 2019.
Achieving universal access to health care in Colorado is vital and a goal shared by policymakers, hospitals, providers, advocates, insurance carriers, business groups and, most importantly, Coloradans. Historically, one driver of high costs was that health care providers had to recoup losses from uncompensated care and underpayment by public programs, like Medicaid, by charging other people higher prices. They did that by cost shifting: increasing costs for people who were insured in the private marketplace to cover shortfalls from public payers. The mechanisms put in place in 2009 to course correct rising health care costs surpassed initial hospital projected savings. Yet, since these changes have been implemented, we have not seen cost-shifting decrease.
This memorandum provides an executive summary of the various Executive Orders issued during the declared disaster emergency related to the presence of COVID-19 in Colorado.
In response to taxpayer inquiries, this publication addresses how recent retroactive federal tax provisions interact with Colorado income taxation. In particular, Public Law 116-136, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) modified numerous parts of the Internal Revenue Code, including provisions for net operating loss deductions, business interest expense limitations, excess loss limitations for taxpayers other than corporations, and cost recovery for qualified improvement property.
This issue brief outlines home rule governance for municipalities and counties, including the process for adopting a home rule charter and the powers that a home rule charter provides to local governments.
