These audio recordings are located for research purposes at the Colorado State Archives. It is necessary to make an appointment to use the audio listening devices. Appointments are made in one-half day blocks, 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. or 1:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, except holidays. We are closed Wednesdays. You may call (303)866-2390 to schedule an appointment time. No appointment is necessary to view written material.

We are unable to interpret legislative material, compile legislative histories, or offer legal advice; however, we will make every effort to supply the information necessary for you to do so.

Address all inquiries to the Colorado State Archives. We have fees associated with listening to the tapes, handling records, professional assistance and copy work. Please contact us for specific rates.

Brief descriptions of each record category are provided below for your convenience. Inclusive dates give a general indication of the range of materials serviced; however, due to gaps in some of the material, it is recommended that you inquire about years of particular interest so that we can provide specific information on the existence and type of record available.

Legislative Materials

• Proceedings of the Colorado Constitutional Convention (December 20, 1875 - March 15, 1876) Minute book of the Constitutional Convention of Colorado with records of the meetings and proceedings.
  
  
• Colorado State Constitution Includes the Jefferson and Colorado Territorial Constitutions of 1859, 1864, 1865 and 1875 as well as the State Constitution of 1876 and subsequent revisions. The 1876 Constitution  is available on this website in "pdf" format at: Constitutional History Documents.
  
  
• Colorado House and Senate Journals (1861- Present) Proceedings of the Colorado House of Representatives and Senate legislative sessions. Sample of Page from 1984 House Journal
  
  
• Colorado Session Laws (1861 - Present) Laws passed in each Colorado legislative session. Sample of a Page from the 1960 Session Laws
  
  
• Colorado Revised Statutes (1868 - Present) Compiled laws passed by the Colorado Legislature. Sample of a Page from the 1935 Colorado Statutes
  
  
• Colorado House and Senate Bills, Resolutions and Memorials (1867 - Present) Original bills as they were introduced; final bills as they were passed; "engrossed" bills which document the changes made by each house to the bills as they went through the legislative process; and resolutions and memorials. Sample of a 1977 Original Bill
  
  
• Legislative Status Sheets (1973 - Present) Arranged by bill number for each year, the status sheets show the dates on which action was taken by the Legislature for each bill. Information included is the date that the bill was introduced into each house, dates the bill was in committee and committee to which the bill was assigned, dates of 2nd and 3rd reading of each house, conference committee dates, and dates of final action on the bill (i.e., signed by governor, postponed indefinitely, etc.). Sample of a 1987 Status Sheet
  
  
• House and Senate Calendars (1973 - Present) The schedule of bills to be heard in committee and on the floor.
  
  
• Legislative Audio Tapes (1973 - Present) Audio recordings of the proceedings of all Colorado House and Senate committees of reference, and full House and Senate floor debates. Proceedings prior to 1973 are documented in the House and Senate journals mentioned above. Researchers interested in listening to these tapes must schedule an appointment by contacting the Colorado State Archives.
  
  
• Legislative Summaries (1973 - Present) These are brief written minutes prepared by Legislative Council staff of the business conducted at committee of reference meetings including information on date; time; place; committee members and others in attendance; bills considered; general nature of discussion; roll call votes; and attachments. The summaries are most useful as companion resources to the legislative tapes mentioned above. Sample of a 1997 Senate Judiciary Committee Summary
  
  
• Conference Committee Summaries (1973 - Present) These summaries of business conducted by Conference Committees are also prepared by the Legislative Council staff. A Conference Committee is called when the House and Senate cannot agree on an amendment to a bill. The Conference Committee discusses and resolves the differences.

Procedures for Researching Legislative Tapes

Please click here for important information about accessing legislative recordings.

Committees of Reference - Bills are assigned to a Committee of Reference in each house. Examples of Committees of Reference are the Committee on Judicial Affairs and the Committee on Health Environment Welfare and Institutions (HEWI). To obtain a tape for a committee hearing on a particular bill, locate the committee to which the bill was assigned and the dates the bill was in committee from the Legislative Status Sheet. The Legislative Summaries are arranged chronologically by committee. Research the summaries of the committee to which the bill was assigned in order to locate the hearings on the bill of interest. Once the summary (ies) for the bill is located, the following information is needed to listen to the tapes:

• Date the bill was discussed
• Time of the discussion
• Place (room number) where the meeting was held

Floor Debates - Obtain the dates that the bill was heard on 2nd and 3rd reading for each house from the Legislative Status Sheets. Locate those dates in the House and Senate Journals. Since the time of the floor discussion on a bill is not given, it is necessary to refer to the order in which the bills were discussed in the Journals in order to locate the floor discussion on the tape. Because of the detailed discussion given to a bill in committee, floor debates are usually shorter in length than the committee hearings.

Conference Committees - Locate the date, time and place of the Conference Committee in the Conference Committee Summaries. These summaries are arranged by bill number.