Election day in Colorado changed the balance of power at the State Capitol, but voters rejected a majority of statewide ballot issues, leaving many of the state’s fiscal challenges without a clear resolution.

Democrats will hold all five statewide elected positions, as voters elected new faces for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer and Attorney General. Democrats also took over leadership in both chambers of the State Legislature by electing a new majority of Senators and maintaining a majority in the House.

Voters rejected several statewide ballot questions, including tax increases that would have gone to schools and transportation projects. But while some of those who were elected have spoken of support for additional funding for roads and improving teacher pay, there are no clear paths for where that funding might come from.

Nationally, health care and employee benefit experts are thinking about how a divided Congress – with Republicans keeping a Senate majority and Democrats taking the majority in the House – will impact health care policy and the workplace for both employees and employers. One possible result? Gridlock with split chambers may force the states to become more active on these issues.

The Colorado General Assembly will get to work on these and other issues on Friday, January 4, 2019, nearly a week before the legislative session typically starts. Why so soon? The Constitution requires that the governor is sworn in on the second Tuesday of January. The General Assembly can start its session no later than the second Wednesday of January. In 2019, the second Tuesday will be January 8 and the second Wednesday is January 9, when the session would typically start.

However, an additional constitutional requirement makes this schedule unworkable. According to the Office of Legislative Legal Sources, which recently posted an explanation on its Legisource blog, the Constitution further requires the General Assembly to declare the winners of the top statewide offices. The Legislature has to be in session to do that and therefore, will satisfy these requirements by convening on January 4.

As always, PERA staff will be monitoring developments at the Capitol for impacts that could affect PERA or its members and retirees. Make PERA on the Issues your go-to source for up-to-date information on all things legislative.