These statutes are updated annually, based upon changes to the laws adopted by the Colorado legislature. These are statutes that regulate individuals, businesses, and the government. In addition, the Constitutions of the United States and Colorado embody a number of fundamental rights of citizens, as well as the framework for federal and state government. Regulations created by state administrative agencies are a second source of Colorado law. These agencies are empowered by statute to create regulations.
Regulations also govern conduct by individuals, businesses, and government.
Regulations are adopted after certain minimum procedures are followed, including notice and a hearing on the proposed regulation. In Colorado, the Department of Regulatory Agencies supervises several state regulatory boards, such as the Board of Medical Examiners and the Real Estate Commission. Other Executive Branch departments which create regulations, the Agriculture, Natural Resources, Social Services, and the Health Departments and the executive directors of the department, report directly to the Governor. The third source of law in Colorado is the published Opinions of the Colorado appellate courts. These decisions are published in the Pacific Journal , The Colorado Lawyer , and the Colorado Reporter .