SB 17-288

Senate Bill 17-288, which has been signed into law, changes how Colorado state legislators are paid. Instead of their salary being tied to judges' salaries starting in 2019, the bill sets a fixed salary for lawmakers at $38,116 per year from 2019 until 2025. After that, the salary will be adjusted for inflation every two years by an appointed official. This affects all members of the general assembly and ensures they have stable compensation without yearly fluctuations based on judges' salaries.

Official Summary

Members of the general assembly currently receive an annual salary of $30,000. For terms commencing on or after 2019, current law provides that the salary will be an amount equal to 25% of the total annual salary paid to the judges of the county court in a Class B county. For terms commencing on or after 2019 but prior to 2025, the bill establishes the salary for members of the general assembly at 25% of the amount of the total annual salary paid to judges of the county court in a Class B county as established in the 2016 long bill. (The 2016 long bill established the judges' salary at $152,466. Twenty-five percent of this amount would be $38,116.) Starting in 2025, the director of research of the legislative council would adjust this salary amount for inflation from 2019 through 2025, and then adjust the amount again every 2 years thereafter. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Votes