Broomfield staff and contract lobbyists brief council on 2025 Colorado legislative session, flagging local funding risks

City and County of Broomfield officials and the city's contract lobbyists reported to the council on May 20 about major outcomes from the 2025 Colorado General Assembly and potential local impacts.

Danae Billier, director of Strategic Initiatives and Governmental Affairs, and Bowditch Castle Public Affairs summarized that the session ended with a $1.1 billion general-fund shortfall on roughly a $17 billion base and that the governor has until June 7 to sign or veto bills. The lobbyists said the budget deficit led the legislature and the Joint Budget Committee to use alternative sources, such as severance tax funds, for items like a digital trunked radio system, and that reductions to state passthroughs mean local governments face roughly $139 million in reduced funding statewide.

Edward (Ed) of BCPA told the council that local governments may see permanent reductions to the state shareback of retail marijuana revenues and cuts to multimodal or transportation funds (referred to in session discussion as MMOF/MMOF-like funds), while some severance fund commitments were repurposed. “The local government associations estimate local governments lost approximately $139 million this session,” he said.

Staff and the lobbyists reviewed bills of special interest to Broomfield: the construction-defect reform bill (House Bill 1227) was a notable passage they supported; a governor-backed land-use bill (“Yes in God’s Backyard” / YIGBY) did not pass the Senate; transit and mode-choice bills (Senate Bill 25-161 and a mode choice measure referred to as SB30 in staff materials) advanced with amendments to limit unfunded mandates to local governments; and the Colorado Voting Rights Act passed amid concerns about local compliance obligations. The lobbyists said they secured amendments or mitigations on several measures that would have imposed tighter timelines or software mandates on local permitting for things such as solar permitting and wireless facilities.

Council members asked staff for follow-up on the long-term implications, including which Broomfield-specific projects could be at risk if severance or multimodal fund flows are reduced. Director Billier said a fuller debrief and a deeper return-on-investment review of lobbying and state engagement would come at a July 29 study session. Council also directed staff to include projected impacts of severance and multimodal reductions on Broomfield in that July report.

Public commenters praised the use of professional lobbyists and urged staff to continue aggressive engagement at the Capitol. The presentation closed with staff noting a likely quiet interim period before 2026 and the potential for a special session if federal actions affect Medicaid funding, which could prompt additional state fiscal pressures.