WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 25-096

Judicial Department Supplemental

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Judy Amabile and 15 co-sponsors

SB 25-096 provides supplemental FY 2024–25 funding for the Colorado Judicial Department, updating appropriations across courts, IT, employee benefits, and victim/restorative progra

Governor Signed
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 25-096

SB 25-096 — Judicial Department Supplemental (Governor Signed)

Status: Governor Signed (Feb 27, 2025)
Introduced: Feb 3, 2025 — Fiscal year covered: beginning July 1, 2024
Primary sponsors: Sen. Jeff Bridges; Rep. Shannon Bird (with multiple cosponsors)

Purpose

SB 25-096 provides supplemental appropriations to the Colorado Judicial Department for the 2024–25 fiscal year by amending Part IX (Section 2) of HB 24-1430. The bill adjusts funding across the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, courts administration (including technology and central appropriations), and centrally administered programs (victim services, restitution, problem-solving courts, etc.).

Key provisions and notable line items

  • Amends the Judicial Department appropriation schedule in Session Laws of Colorado 2024 (HB 24-1430), Part IX.
  • Adds or reclassifies funding across divisions, including:
    • Appellate Court Programs: $18,445,576 total (includes $72,000 cash funds).
    • Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel: $14,905,701 (informational fees continuously appropriated).
    • Law Library: $1,143,979 (includes $250,941 informational cash funds).
    • Courts Administration — Information Technology infrastructure and operations: examples include line items totaling tens of millions (e.g., IT infrastructure $28,577,845; IT cost recoveries and Judicial Department IT Cash Fund used for major shares).
    • Central appropriations for employee benefits and statewide adjustments:
    • Health, Life, and Dental: $55,050,832 (General Fund $50,315,185; GF-exempt $4,735,647).
    • Unfunded liability and salary adjustments: multiple line items (e.g., Unfunded Liability AED payments $33,892,475; Salary survey $13,202,550; Step pay $13,831,529).
    • Centrally-administered programs:
    • Victim Assistance: $16,375,000 (informational federal/cash as noted).
    • Victim Compensation: $13,400,000 (informational).
    • Office of Restitution Services: $8,474,252 (with FTE noted).
    • Problem‑solving Courts: $4,237,268.
  • Identifies funding sources: General Fund, General Fund Exempt, various cash funds (e.g., Judicial Department Information Technology Cash Fund, Court Security Cash Fund, Treatment Cash Fund), reappropriated funds, and some informational continuously appropriated fee amounts.

Who is affected

  • Colorado Judicial Department operations, including the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, trial courts, court staff (FTE counts are specified in the bill for multiple line items), and centrally administered programs.
  • Recipients of victim services, restitution services, problem-solving courts, and language interpreting services.
  • State budget: the bill reallocates General Fund, GF-exempt, and various cash and reappropriated funds for FY 2024–25.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • The bill is a supplemental appropriation for FY 2024–25 and modifies the previously enacted budget (HB 24-1430).
  • Many fee-supported amounts are marked informational because they are continuously appropriated under the Judicial Department’s constitutional authority.
  • Legislative actions: passed both chambers without amendments; House and Senate leadership signed Feb 21, 2025; delivered to and signed by the Governor (Feb 27, 2025).

Conclusion

SB 25-096 formally adjusts and supplements the Judicial Department’s FY 2024–25 appropriations to fund court operations, technology, employee benefit and salary-related central appropriations, and several victim and restorative justice programs, drawing on a mix of General Fund, cash funds, and reappropriated resources.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.