Stewart Laws to Provide Free State Park Entry to CO Ute Tribes, Increase Access to Medical Equipment Take Effect

DENVER, CO - On August 6, two laws sponsored by Representative Katie Stewart to waive Colorado's state park entry fees for enrolled members of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and expand access to durable medical equipment go into effect.

“Long before Colorado was a state, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe were stewards of the land now known as our state parks,” said Rep. Katie Stewart, D-Durango. “This law ensures that enrolled members of the Colorado Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe can receive free entry to Colorado's state parks. From Mancos State Park in Southwest Colorado, to Golden Gate State Park in the foothills, this law is one part of the state’s continued commitment to honor and support the ancestral land reconnection for the longest continuous residents of our state.”

HB25-1163 waives the entrance fee to all of Colorado’s state parks for enrolled members of the Colorado Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. There are 43 state parks in Colorado located in communities across the state.

This law aims to formally recognize the profound cultural and spiritual connections Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe members have with the land. HB25-1163 will reduce barriers to accessing sacred outdoor space by modifying governmental systems that have historically excluded Indigenous people. 

The law is supported by leaders of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Department of Natural Resources.

HB25-1016 allows occupational therapists to prescribe durable medical equipment, like ventilators and wheelchairs, without requiring a prescription from a licensed physician, leading to increased access to medical care and treatment.

“Occupational therapists know what care their patients need, and this new law allows them to prescribe critical medical equipment to their patients,” continued Stewart. “When it comes to equipment like wheelchairs, oxygen tanks, and monitors, lack of access impacts the health of Coloradans, especially for rural Coloradans with more limited access to health care providers. This law removes barriers to care by allowing occupational therapists to prescribe durable medical equipment to address their patients' needs, streamlining access to care so Coloradans can receive the care needed to keep them safe and healthy.”