Every year, the Colorado Fiscal Institute (CFI) takes a moment to look back at the 120 days of legislative work accomplished by our Colorado Legislature. For the 2023 legislative session, we put together the 2023 Colorado Legislative Session Report Card, an assessment of the legislature’s work on four key subject areas – fiscal policy, worker justice, housing, and environment. In particular, CFI evaluated these areas based on their effectiveness in passing policies that 1) centered the needs of workers and working families, 2) aligned with CFI’s tax principles, and 3) moved the needle forward on true fiscal reform.   

Hot topics this session, including the rising cost of housing, the possibility of a looming recession, and the whopping $2.47 billion expected to be returned to taxpayers, dominated the conversations within the Capitol halls. But even with big topics to address, CFI was hopeful that legislators would advance policies that uplifted working families and our economy.  

Midway through the session, it was clear that CFI’s legislative policies were going to face a tough battle. With popular big-monied business groups stealing the show and community and stakeholder voices being left out of important decision-making conversations, many CFI and partner bills were taking the back burner.                     

Ultimately, the legislative class of 2023 failed to meet expectations. There were individual legislative champions who stood out and centered Colorado families, stood up for workers, and fought for a fair tax code, but in the end, CFI had to give this legislature an incomplete for their work during the legislative session.

Read the full report: CFI’s 2023 Legislative Session Report Card