Signed by Governor Jared Polis

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that appropriates $4 million to the governor's office to cover legal costs of defending Colorado against the Trump administration's efforts to withhold funding.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the office of the governor to utilize the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act cash fund for the following purposes (Sec. 1):

• Hiring personnel related to federal government actions that impact federal disbursements, grants, contracts, or money received by the state;

• Reimbursing the Department of Law for costs associated with:

• Providing legal services to state officers or employees for proceedings, inquiries, hearings, or investigations by the federal government; or

• Providing legal services for the criminal defense of state officers or employees in legal actions arising from official acts; or

• Other relevant expenditures determined by the governor include expenditures to preserve state sovereignty or federal funding streams that benefit the state.

• Appropriates $4 million to the fund for the 2025-26 state fiscal year, and specifies that any funds not expended before July 1, 2026, will apply to the 2026-27 state fiscal year for the same purpose (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that appropriates $4 million to the governor's office to cover legal costs of defending Colorado against the Trump administration's efforts to withhold funding.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the office of the governor to utilize the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act cash fund for the following purposes (Sec. 1):

• Hiring personnel related to federal government actions that impact federal disbursements, grants, contracts, or money received by the state;

• Reimbursing the Department of Law for costs associated with:

• Providing legal services to state officers or employees for proceedings, inquiries, hearings, or investigations by the federal government; or

• Providing legal services for the criminal defense of state officers or employees in legal actions arising from official acts; or

• Other relevant expenditures determined by the governor include expenditures to preserve state sovereignty or federal funding streams that benefit the state.

• Appropriates $4 million to the fund for the 2025-26 state fiscal year, and specifies that any funds not expended before July 1, 2026, will apply to the 2026-27 state fiscal year for the same purpose (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text