SB 25-116 — Spousal Maintenance Guidelines
Status: Governor signed (May 19, 2025)
Introduced: February 4, 2025
Primary sponsors: Marc Snyder; Monica Duran; Ryan Armagost; Lisa Frizell
Additional cosponsors: C. Kipp, M. Lindsay, A. Boesenecker, D. Michaelson Jenet, T. Exum, T. Story, M. Ball, J. Bacon, N. Hinrichsen, I. Jodeh, L. Cutter, J. Amabile, J. Gonzales, M. Froelich, S. Lieder, M. Weissman, T. Sullivan, J. Coleman, C. Clifford, K. Wallace
Note on bill text: The document content was not provided. The summary below gives the available procedural details and—where noted—general, clearly labeled descriptions of the kinds of changes a bill with this title generally contains. For the exact statutory language, effective date, and any numerical worksheets or formulas, consult the enrolled bill on the Colorado General Assembly website or the Office of the Secretary of State.
Purpose / Intent
- Based on the bill title, SB 25-116 is intended to establish or revise guidelines for spousal maintenance (commonly called alimony) in family law proceedings.
- Typical legislative goals for such bills are to increase predictability, promote uniformity in awards, and provide judges, parties, and attorneys with a standard framework or formula for calculating maintenance amounts and durations.
Legislative timeline / procedural history
- 2025-02-04: Introduced in the Senate; assigned to Judiciary
- 2025-04-09: Senate Judiciary referred amended; placed on Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
- 2025-04-11: Senate Second Reading — Passed with amendments (committee)
- 2025-04-14: Senate Third Reading — Passed (no amendments)
- 2025-04-14: Introduced in House; assigned to Judiciary
- 2025-04-22: House Judiciary referred unamended to House Committee of the Whole
- 2025-04-23: House Second Reading Special Order — Passed (no amendments)
- 2025-04-25: House Third Reading — Passed (no amendments)
- 2025-05-02: Signed by President of the Senate and Speaker of the House; Sent to Governor
- 2025-05-19: Governor signed the bill (enacted)
Note: The enrolled bill should be checked for the official effective date—many Colorado bills specify an effective date (e.g., August 5 following adjournment, or a specified date).
Likely key provisions (inferred/general — verify against enacted text)
Because the bill text is not included here, the following are typical elements found in "spousal maintenance guidelines" legislation. These are presented as possible, not definitive, provisions of SB 25-116:
- Establishment of a presumptive guideline or formula to calculate maintenance amount, commonly based on parties’ incomes (gross or net), income shares, or a percentage of the difference between incomes.
- Treatment of duration: presumptive length of maintenance tied to marriage duration (e.g., short, medium, long-term marriages).
- Factors for deviation: explicit list of circumstances allowing judicial deviation from the guideline (e.g., age, health, earning capacity, child custody arrangements, education/training needs).
- Standardized worksheet and form: adoption of a uniform calculation worksheet to be filed with pleadings and provided to parties.
- Modification and termination rules: conditions under which maintenance may be modified (change in income, cohabitation, remarriage) and whether guidelines apply to modifications.
- Caps or floors: potential limits on maintenance amounts or minimum awards.
- Retroactivity and transition: whether guidelines apply to new orders only, or also to existing orders via modification petitions.
- Reporting, training, or administrative tasks: creation of materials for courts, or administrative responsibilities for the judicial branch to implement the guidelines.
Who would be affected
- Parties in dissolution of marriage or legal separation proceedings where spousal maintenance is sought or adjudicated.
- Family law judges and magistrates who will apply the guidelines.
- Family law attorneys and mediators advising clients on settlement and litigation strategies.
- Court administrators if new worksheets, forms, or reporting requirements are introduced.
- Potential downstream effects on public benefits, taxation, and enforcement systems.
Potential impacts
- Increased predictability and uniformity in maintenance awards statewide.
- Faster settlements when parties can use a clear formula or worksheet.
- Possible shifts in amounts/durations awarded compared to prior discretionary practice—some payors may pay more or less depending on the guideline.
- Administrative burden up-front for courts and practitioners to implement new forms, training, and software updates.
- Effects on low-income recipients or payors depending on how income and deviations are treated.
Next steps / where to read the law
- Consult the enrolled version of SB 25-116 on the Colorado General Assembly website or the Office of the Secretary of State to read the enacted statutory text and confirm:
- Exact formula or worksheet language (if any)
- Specific definitions (income definitions, marriage duration categories)
- Effective date and whether changes apply retroactively
- Any appropriation or implementation provisions
- For practical implications, review court rule changes and any guidance from the Colorado Judicial Branch after the bill’s effective date.
If you would like, I can locate and summarize the enrolled bill text and any accompanying worksheets or rule updates once you confirm you want me to fetch the full enacted language.
