This amendment would temporarily lower the amount of money Colorado must keep in its general fund reserve for specific years, but only if a separate bill moves $27.8 million from an unclaimed property trust to the state budget.
Colorado2026Enacted
HB26-1363
Temporary Reduction of the General Fund Reserve Requirement
Last scannedAug 24, 2026, 8:22 AM
In one sentence
This law temporarily lowers Colorado's required general fund reserve rate from 15% to 13% for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 before raising it back to 15% starting in fiscal year 2027-28.
What it does
- Lowers the required state budget reserve rate to 13 percent for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27.
- Raises the required reserve rate back to 15 percent starting in fiscal year 2027-28.
- Allows a deduction of $41,250,000 from the reserve calculation for fiscal years 2027-28 and later if escrow money related to the University of Northern Colorado's College of Osteopathic Medicine has not been released.
Who it affects
- The State Treasurer, who calculates specific amounts used in determining the required reserve.
- State agencies that manage general fund appropriations and expenditures.
Limits and unknowns
- The $41,250,000 deduction for escrow money only applies starting in fiscal year 2027-28 and later.
- Whether the State Treasurer must calculate amounts related to insurance premium sales depends on a specific condition occurring by January 1, 2026.
Plain language
Terms to know
- General Fund Reserve
- Money the state must keep as a savings balance instead of spending, calculated based on its total budget for the year.
- Escrow Money
- Funds held in an account connected to the University of Northern Colorado's College of Osteopathic Medicine that may be released or kept depending on specific conditions.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Under current law, the general fund reserve requirement is equal to 15% of the amount appropriated for expenditure from the general fund for that fiscal year minus: The difference between $100,000,000 and the proceeds of the sale of insurance premium and corporate tax credits that are credited to the health insurance affordability cash fund; and Unless money held in an escrow account in connection with the university of northern Colorado's college of osteopathic medicine is released, an additional $41,250,000. The act lowers the reserve requirement to 13% for state fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 and then raises it back to 15% for state fiscal years 2027-28 and later. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Official activity
Bill history
- Governor SignedGovernor
- Sent to the GovernorGovernor
- Signed by the President of the SenateSenate
- Signed by the Speaker of the HouseHouse
- House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - RepassHouse
- House Consideration of First Conference Committee Report result was to Recede - CCR not producedHouse
- House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Not Concur - Request Conference CommitteeHouse
- Senate Third Reading Passed - No AmendmentsSenate
- Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - FloorSenate
- Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the WholeSenate
- Introduced In Senate - Assigned to AppropriationsSenate
- House Third Reading Passed - No AmendmentsHouse
- House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No AmendmentsHouse
- House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No AmendmentsHouse
- House Second Reading Special Order - Laid Over Daily - No AmendmentsHouse
- House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the WholeHouse
- Introduced In House - Assigned to AppropriationsHouse
Changes
Amendments
2 stored
This amendment changes the wording of a bill to specify that a rule applies to multiple fiscal years instead of just one.