1. (1) The annual appropriations for student financial assistance under this article shall increase by at least the same percentage as the aggregate percentage increase of all general fund appropriations to institutions of higher education. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or impair the authority of the Colorado commission on higher education under section 23-1-105.
2. (1.5) An appropriation that is less than two million dollars made to an institution of higher education in an act that is not the general appropriation act nor a supplemental appropriation act is exempt from the provisions of subsection (1) of this section.
3. (2) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section concerning appropriations for student financial assistance under this article shall not apply to said appropriations for the 2010-11 fiscal year.
4. (3) and (4) Repealed.
5. (5) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section concerning appropriations for student financial assistance under this article 3.3 shall not apply to appropriations made to the forest restoration and wildfire risk mitigation grant program cash fund created in section 23-31-301 (8.5)(a) or the healthy forests and vibrant communities fund created in section 23-31-313 (10).
6. (6) Repealed.
7. (7) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section concerning appropriations for student financial assistance under this article do not apply to appropriations made pursuant to sections 23-18-308 (1)(f) and 23-60-202.7 to the state board for community colleges and occupational education to provide services to maximize concurrent enrollment across the community college system.
8. (8) to (10) Repealed.

9. (11)

   1. (a) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section concerning appropriations for student financial assistance under this article 3.3 do not apply to appropriations made pursuant to sections 23-18-308 (1)(i) and 23-20-142 for the educator well-being and mental health program.
   2. (b) This subsection (11) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
10. (12) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section concerning appropriations for student financial assistance under this article 3.3 shall not apply to appropriations made for the timber, forest health, and wildfire mitigation industries workforce development program pursuant to section 23-31-320.

11. (13)

    1. (a) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section concerning appropriations for student financial assistance under this article 3.3 shall not apply to appropriations made for the expansion of forestry and wildfire mitigation degree and certificate programs pursuant to section 23-1-142.
    2. (b) This subsection (13) is repealed, effective July 1, 2027.
12. (14) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section concerning appropriations for student financial assistance under this article 3.3 shall not apply to appropriations made for the recruitment of wildland fire prevention and mitigation educators program pursuant to section 23-81-102.

13. (15)

    1. (a) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section concerning appropriations for student financial assistance under this article 3.3 do not apply to appropriations made pursuant to section 23-60-1201 for the in-demand short-term credentials program.
    2. (b) This subsection (15) is repealed, effective July 1, 2027.
14. (16) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section concerning appropriations for student financial assistance pursuant to this article 3.3 do not apply to appropriations made pursuant to part 11 of article 21 of this title 23 for the Colorado multidisciplinary health-care provider access training program.

15. (17)

    1. (a) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section concerning appropriations for student financial assistance under this article 3.3 do not apply to appropriations made for the purpose of the Colorado food systems advisory council pursuant to part 11 of article 31 of this title 23.
    2. (b) This subsection (17) is repealed , effective September 1, 2026.

16. (18)

    1. (a) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section concerning appropriations for student financial assistance under this article 3.3 do not apply to appropriations made pursuant to section 23-31-319 to fund improvements to the Colorado state forest service seedling tree nursery.
    2. (b) This subsection (18) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.

17. (19)

    1. (a) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section concerning appropriations for student financial assistance under this article 3.3 do not apply to appropriations made for the purpose of conducting a Republican river groundwater economic impact study pursuant to section 23-31-804.
    2. (b) This subsection (19) is repealed, effective July 1, 2027.
18. (20) Repealed.

19. (21)

    1. (a) Subsection (1) of this section concerning appropriations for student financial assistance pursuant to this article 3.3 does not apply to increased appropriations from the general fund for the 2024-25 or 2025-26 state fiscal years made pursuant to section 23-18-304 that result from the phase-out of increased reimbursements and payments pursuant to the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Pub.L. 116-127.
    2. (b) This subsection (21) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.

20. (22)

    1. (a) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section concerning appropriations for student financial assistance pursuant to this article 3.3 do not apply to appropriations made for allocation to public institutions of higher education to support eligible students described in section 23-3.3-1006.
    2. (b) This subsection (22) is repealed, effective July 1, 2027.

21. (23)

    1. (a) Subsection (1) of this section, concerning appropriations for student financial assistance described in this article 3.3, does not apply to supplemental appropriations for student financial aid enacted during the 2025 legislative session for the 2024-25 state fiscal year.
    2. (b) This subsection (23) is repealed, effective July 1, 2028.

Source: L. 89: Entire section added, p. 976, § 2, effective July 1, 1990. L. 2010: Entire section amended, (HB 10-1383), ch. 361, p. 1714, § 2, effective June 7. L. 2016: (3) added, (SB 16-196), ch. 226, p. 865, § 2, effective June 6. L. 2019: (4) added, (HB 19-1294), ch. 318, p. 2962, § 2, effective May 28; (5) added, (HB 19-1006), ch. 398, p. 3538, § 2, effective May 31; (6) added, (HB 19-1202), ch. 403, p. 3573, § 3, effective May 31; (8) added, (HB 19-1264), ch. 420, p. 3680, § 9, effective June 30; (7) added, (SB 19-176), ch. 244, p. 2390, § 11, effective August 2. L. 2021: (9) added, (SB 21-083), ch. 13, p. 85, § 1, effective March 21; (10) added, (HB 21-1268), ch. 258, p. 1518, § 4, effective June 18; (11) added, (SB 21-185), ch. 246, p. 1340, § 26, effective September 7. L. 2022: (3) repealed, (SB 22-212), ch. 421, p. 2974, § 47, effective August 10. L. 2023: (5) amended and (12), (13), and (14) added, (SB 23-005), ch. 172, p. 849, § 7, effective May 12; (15) added, (HB 23-1246), ch. 199, p. 1018, § 5, effective May 16; (19) added, (HB 23-1220), ch. 342, p. 2052, § 2, effective June 3; (16) added, (SB 23-031), ch. 344, p. 2066, § 2, effective June 5; (17) added, (SB 23-159), ch. 328, p. 1965, § 7, effective August 7; (18) added, (HB 23-1060), ch. 185, p. 905, § 2, effective August 7; (20) added, (HB 23-1244), ch. 436, p. 2570, § 4, effective August 7. L. 2024: (1.5) added, (HB 24-1404), ch. 79, p. 268, § 1, effective April 18; (21) added, (HB 24-1405), ch. 80, p. 269, § 2, effective April 18; (22) added, (HB 24-1465), ch. 257, p. 1684, § 5, effective May 24. L. 2025: (23) added, (SB 25-234), ch. 138, p. 526, § 1, effective April 28.

Editor's note: (1) Subsections (4)(b), (6)(b), and (8) provided for the repeal of subsections (4), (6), and (8), respectively, effective July 1, 2020. (See L. 2019, pp. 2962, 3573, 3680.)

(2) Subsection (10)(b) provided for the repeal of subsection (10), effective July 1, 2023. (See L. 2021, p. 1518.)

(3) Subsection (20)(b) provided for the repeal of subsection (20), effective July 1, 2024. (See L. 2023, p. 2570.)

(4) Subsection (9)(c) provided for the repeal of subsection (9), effective July 1, 2025. (See L. 2021, p. 85.)

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in HB 21-1268, see section 1 of chapter 258, Session Laws of Colorado 2021. For the legislative declaration in HB 23-1246, see section 1 of chapter 199, Session Laws of Colorado 2023. For the legislative declaration in HB 23-1244, see section 1 of chapter 436, Session Laws of Colorado 2023.