HB 22-1338

House Bill 22-1338, which has been signed into law, changes how certain functions related to vehicle licensing and hearings in Colorado are funded. Specifically, it stops transferring money from marijuana taxes to these departments and instead directs a portion of the highways users tax fund (HUTF) to cover some costs previously paid by marijuana tax funds. This bill reduces funding for hearing services and driver's license maintenance by about $1 million combined but ensures that these functions remain adequately funded through different sources. The change affects how money from marijuana taxes is used within the Department of Revenue, impacting both the hearings division and the motor vehicles division.

Official Summary

The act modifies the manner in which specified motor vehicle-related functions of the department of revenue (department) are funded by: Repealing annual statutory transfers from the marijuana tax cash fund to the licensing services cash fund for use by the hearings division and the division of motor vehicles in the department; Reducing the total amount appropriated to the hearing division and the division of motor vehicles that previously would have been funded with the marijuana tax cash fund transfers to the licensing services cash fund by 10%, and requiring such funding to be provided from "off the top" highways users tax fund (HUTF) appropriations rather than by licensing services cash fund appropriations through a statutory authorization for that use of "off the top" HUTF money and the following appropriations: A decrease of $713,000 in the 2022-23 long bill cash funds appropriation from the licensing services cash fund for personal services in the hearings division; A decrease of $548,000 in the 2022-23 long bill cash funds appropriation from the licensing services cash fund for Colorado driver's license, record, identification, and vehicle enterprise solution (DRIVES) maintenance and support in the division of motor vehicles; and A 2022-23 state fiscal year "off the top" HUTF appropriation of $1,261,000 to the department, which may use $713,000 of the appropriation for personal services in the hearings division and $548,000 of the appropriation for DRIVES maintenance and support in the division of motor vehicles.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Votes