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DENVER, CO – The Colorado House today advanced the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 supplemental budget package on a preliminary vote. The package of bills includes measures to support Colorado families, workers and students, bolster behavioral and health care services, and build safer communities.
“From supporting the community services Coloradans rely on to boosting public safety initiatives, our supplemental package delivers on our promise to Coloradans,” said JBC Vice Chair Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “These budget adjustments allow us to pivot mid-year to drive funding to the programs and services that make our communities whole. We’re committed to budgeting responsibly and responding in real-time to the needs of our state. This supplemental package supports all of Colorado including our neighbors, hardworking families and students.”
“Through this supplemental package we’re investing in critical community support, including behavioral and health care services,” said JBC Member Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “Mid-year adjustments to our state budget allow us to invest responsibility and smartly in the community services Coloradans rely on, including support for those living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and health care for middle-and-low-income children. We’re focused on budgeting responsibly while still investing in the critical community services that Coloradans need to not only get by, but thrive.”
Each year, the legislature adopts a supplemental budget package to make mid-year adjustments to the current fiscal year’s budget based on changes to caseload, pupil counts, urgent developments, and other considerations..
Supporting Colorado Families, Workers, and Students
SB25-112 would assist individuals with disabilities in finding and keeping employment, as well as living independently.
SB25-095 would help secure permanent, caring homes for children that meet federal eligibility criteria for income or child medical needs that present a barrier to adoption or legal guardianship.
SB25-093 would draw down federal funding to support school districts and ensure Medicaid-eligible Colorado students receive quality care from school nurses, speech therapists and other health care provided in schools.
SB25-113 would invest $64.1 million more toward Colorado’s public K-12 schools to support our students.
Funding Behavioral and Health Care Services
SB25-093 would:
Utilize federal funds already received for Medicaid-eligible Coloradans to operate Mental Health Transitional Living Homes, which are a step-down from the state hospitals and a step-up from home and community-based services.
Provide $43.5 million for home-and-community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Allocate $7.5 million for physical, dental, and behavioral health services through the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) and $13.9 million for benefits that mirror Medicaid and the CHP+ for children who would otherwise qualify, except for their immigration status.
SB25-112 would support equitable access to health, behavioral health and social health services for all Coloradans by extending appropriations for ongoing rural connectivity projects.
SB25-111 would support necessary renovations to the Fort Lyon Supportive Residential Community, an essential safety-net provider specializing in mental and behavioral health care as well as transitional housing in Bent County, Colorado.
Building Safer Communities
SB25-105 would utilize $1.1 million of funding to better support community-based, multidisciplinary approaches to crime prevention and crisis intervention strategies, specifically in areas where crime is disproportionately high.
SB25-115 would continue support for the Colorado State Forest Service nursery to create stronger, healthier forests to fight back against destructive wildfires. The nursery helps provide native tree seedlings that contribute to restoration, forest hardiness and wildfire recovery efforts.