< Back December 21, 2020 HOUSE DEMOCRATS APPLAUD FAMILY LEAVE FOR STATE EMPLOYEES DENVER, CO– Majority Leader Daneya Esgar and House JBC Democrats released the following statements after Governor Polis announced that state employees will be eligible for a paid family medical leave program effective January 2021. “State employees always go the extra mile to care for our state, and that’s never been more true than during this pandemic,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo , “I’m proud to say that we’ll be returning the favor by ensuring that these public servants have access to paid family and medical leave as soon as possible. State employees look out for our safety, tend to our public lands, keep our roads and bridges working and care for some of the state’s most vulnerable populations. They’re my friends and neighbors here in Southern Colorado and I’m proud that we’ll be able to deliver for them.” “This fall, I was heartened and excited to see voters approve a robust paid family leave program that will allow all Coloradans the time they need to care for loved ones and themselves,” said JBC Vice Chair Rep. Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon . “The Governor’s announcement today means that hardworking state employees will be able to access these crucial benefits even sooner. I look forward to working in the Joint Budget Committee to making sure this becomes a reality. State employees always have our backs, and I’m proud to say that we have theirs too.” “State employees have been on the frontlines of our state’s fight against COVID-19,” said JBC Member Leslie Herod, D-Denver . “From taking on crucial public health work to serving our veterans, keeping our roads plowed during winter storms and protecting our air and water, these public servants are always there for us when we need them. This family and medical leave program will allow them to be there for their loved ones when they need it most. I’m ready to get to work finding ways to fund this important program. State Employees deserve our support, and I’m glad to work with the governor to make this much discussed policy initiative a reality.’ Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed bipartisan legislation to save Coloradans money on health care. < Back March 20, 2025 SIGNED! Legislation to Save Coloradans Money on Mental Health Care DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed bipartisan legislation to save Coloradans money on health care. The new law will reduce health care costs for families by standardizing insurance coverage determinations to ensure that mental health care is based on clinical evidence, not profit margins. “Health care coverage decisions should be made using the best evidence based recommendations of health care professionals, not on profit margins,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville. “Right now, too many Coloradans struggle to receive the care they need while insurance companies continue to deny coverage for behavioral health care. This new law helps standardize insurance coverage decisions so Coloradans can actually access the behavioral health services they pay for.” “Access to mental health care and substance abuse treatment is crucial to the health and well-being of Colorado families,” said Sen. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “Far too often, insurance companies deny medically necessary mental health claims with little to no justification, and Coloradans who are already struggling end up with huge costs or no care at all. This legislation will help Coloradans get the care they need at a price they can afford.” “Health insurance companies should cover services for mental health care at the same level they do for all other care, but far too often they deny claims when the care is necessary,” said Rep. Lindsay Gilchrist, D-Denver. “When insurance doesn’t cover claims, that drives up costs for families, and it makes it harder for Coloradans, especially young people, to receive critical care, as too many still don’t receive care at all. Colorado has made major strides in recent years to invest in behavioral health care, and this law carries on this work by ensuring providers can’t deny insurance coverage for medically necessary health care. We’re saving Coloradans money on health care and improving access to the care people need.” HB25-1002 , also sponsored by Senator Bryon Pelton, R-Sterling, will ensure that insurance companies use transparent, evidence-based criteria and programming when deciding whether mental health care should be covered under an insurance plan. This law also codifies the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act into state law, requiring insurance companies to provide the same level of coverage for mental health services as they do for physical health services. The goal of HB24-1002 is to ensure that insurance providers are covering mental health care and to limit gaps in insurance coverage for Coloradans. The law also clarifies state law around mental health parity and requires the use of clinical standards from select national organizations to ensure parity. Previous Next

< Back May 7, 2023 Daugherty Bill to Lower Health Care Costs Passes House DENVER, CO - The House today passed a bipartisan bill sponsored by Representative Lindsey Daugherty to increase price transparency for health care services to save Colorado patients money. “A report released last month found that roughly half of hospitals across the state do not comply with a federal hospital transparency law that provides patients with expected prices for the medical care they are seeking,” said Rep. Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada. “This transparency law allows patients to budget for inpatient, outpatient, surgery, and prescription drug costs so they can receive the care they need without being blindsided by an unmanageable hospital bill. We’re building the federal transparency requirement into Colorado law and that will save patients money on health care.” SB23-252 , also sponsored by Representative Anthony Hartsook, passed the House by a vote of 61-3. In 2022, the General Assembly passed legislation to prohibit hospitals from pursuing debt collection action against a patient if the hospital failed to comply with federal hospital price transparency laws during the patient’s treatment. Under the federal Hospital Price Transparency Rule, hospitals must publicly post standard charges and provide an out-of-pocket cost estimator tool for patients. This bill would build on the federal transparency requirements by having hospitals post their Medicare reimbursement rates and requiring the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to conduct performance assessments on Colorado hospitals to check for compliance. Violations of SB23-252 would be a deceptive trade practice under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act . ### Previous Next

SB26-009 would allow Colorado nonprofits that have had their federal tax-exempt status revoked for political reasons to maintain their exemption from state sales tax < Back April 2, 2026 Bill to Protect Colorado Nonprofits from Federal Threats Passes SB26-009 would allow Colorado nonprofits that have had their federal tax-exempt status revoked for political reasons to maintain their exemption from state sales tax DENVER, CO – The House today passed a bill, sponsored by Speaker Julie McCluskie and Representative Rebekah Stewart, to protect Colorado nonprofits from hostile federal actions. SB26-009 passed by a vote of 43-21. “We’re protecting Colorado nonprofits that have helped deliver affordable housing, protect Colorado’s open spaces and provide food assistance for working families,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Trump has already targeted Colorado. If he continues to attack community-driven support that goes against his agenda, like Planned Parenthood, family resource centers and immigration advocates, Colorado’s most vulnerable will suffer. Colorado nonprofits have been a lifeline to our communities, and our bill ensures that nonprofits can still qualify for state tax exemptions if they face political attacks from the White House.” “Trump’s H.R. 1 slashed our budget to fund corporate tax breaks, meaning that our communities will soon rely more on support from nonprofits,” said Rep. Rebekah Stewart, D-Lakewood. “The federal government has threatened to revoke nonprofit status for reasons completely unrelated to compliance with tax law because the White House does not agree with the missions of certain organizations. By defending nonprofits from politically-motivated threats, we will protect over $60 billion a year in support for hardworking Coloradans.” SB26-009 would ensure that valid 501(c)(3) organizations maintain their state tax exemption, even if the federal government removes their federal tax-exempt status for political reasons. It would also ensure that the state maintains its authority to deny tax exemption for organizations that have lost their federal nonprofit status for legitimate reasons. Over the past year, Colorado nonprofits have increasingly struggled to navigate frenzied federal actions so they can continue to serve their communities. SB26-009 is another step Colorado Democrats have taken to protect Coloradans’ way of life amid federal threats. In 2021, Colorado nonprofits generated over $62 billion in total economic output and supported over 262,000 jobs, including 182,000 jobs through direct employment. Previous Next

The House State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Elizabeth Velasco and Junie Joseph that would implement a statewide assessment to improve language access within certain state departments. HB25-1153 passed by a vote of 8-3. < Back February 10, 2025 Velasco, Joseph Bill to Improve Language Access Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House State, Civic, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Elizabeth Velasco and Junie Joseph that would implement a statewide assessment to improve language access within certain state departments. HB25-1153 passed by a vote of 8-3. “Language access is transformative: the ability to have agency in decisions about your own life, your own body, your children’s lives, your home, your job, your government. Language barriers are also a roadblock to accessing life saving information about health and safety,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “Improving language access is crucial to strong communities throughout our state, and ensuring equity in access to government services. This bill works to identify areas of improvement so we can support our state departments as they comply with language access standards, allowing us to better connect with over 300,000 Coloradans who primarily speak languages other than English.” “From job training opportunities to rental assistance and understanding legal rights, our state departments provide essential services that help Coloradans save money, build successful careers, and access critical resources. But when this information is only available in English, those who need support the most—Coloradans whose primary language is not English—may not even know these services exist,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder. “I’m proud to sponsor this legislation to improve language access in government programs, ensuring that all Coloradans, no matter what language they speak, can fully benefit from these vital resources.” HB25-1153 would require a statewide language access assessment to be conducted in certain state departments. This assessment would help identify departments’ needs for compliance with language access standards, identify existing language services, and recommend improvements to ensure Coloradans can access government services, regardless of English fluency. The bill would require the findings from the assessment to be included in a report by December 31, 2026. The report would include findings and recommendations including: Improving efficiency, increasing quality of service, reducing costs, avoiding duplicative work, utilizing existing best practices, and minimizing administrative burden when implementing linguistically accessible government services and programs, Addressing gaps in language access and improving meaningful services, Identifying potential technological advancements to increase language access, and Determining what infrastructure is needed to fully implement the standards in the language access universal policy. Rep. Velasco has been a champion for language access at the capitol, including boosting translation accuracy in insurance policy information and policy documents and creating a study to identify how municipalities, public safety departments, counties, and local 911 agencies can best provide emergency alerts in a non-English language and implement live interpretation during a 911 call. A December 2024 report from the Office of New Americans found that language access in Colorado state agencies varied and lacked coordination, but nearly all state agencies expressed interest in receiving additional support from the state to address language access needs. Previous Next

SB26-040 would modernize the Prop 123 Affordable Homeownership Program to better meet the needs of hardworking Coloradans < Back April 14, 2026 Legislation to Create More Affordable Home Ownership Opportunities Passes Committee SB26-040 would modernize the Prop 123 Affordable Homeownership Program to better meet the needs of hardworking Coloradans DENVER, CO – The House Transportation, Housing and Local Government Committee today passed legislation to update the Affordable Homeownership Program that was created by voter-approved Proposition 123 . SB26-040, sponsored by Representatives Katie Stewart and Lesley Smith, passed by a vote of 10-3. “This bipartisan bill makes the Prop 123 Affordable Homeownership Program more responsive to the needs of our communities, especially in Colorado mountain towns like mine, where working people struggle to find affordable housing,” said Rep. Katie Stewart, D-Durango. “When Colorado voters approved Prop 123, it created the Affordable Home Ownership Program to help first-time homebuyers with down payments and other financial assistance. This bill would make crucial updates to the program to help more low- and middle-income Coloradans in rural areas qualify for homebuying assistance.” “We’re expanding eligibility and flexibility for this Prop 123 program to deliver more housing assistance for hardworking Coloradans,” said Rep. Lesley Smith, D-Boulder. “The Affordable Homeownership Program was created to help first-time homebuyers, especially to secure down payments. Unfortunately, interest rates and construction costs are higher than they were when the program was created. Our bill would make necessary adjustments to the program so it can support Coloradans as intended and make homeownership a reality for more hardworking people.” SB26-040 would expand eligibility for qualified buyers and make practical updates to better serve every Colorado community and meet the reality of the 2026 housing market. The bill would increase the allowable income threshold to qualify for the program to less than or equal to 120 percent of either the statewide Area Median Income (AMI) or the local AMI. This would allow more people to qualify for the program, particularly in rural communities. Rising interest rates and insurance costs have also made it harder for Coloradans to meet the requirement that combined housing costs cannot exceed 35 percent of their income. This bill would create a process to allow some homeowners to spend more than 35 percent of their income on housing when a qualified buyer is not found after six months of advertising, further expanding the availability of the program for Colorado families. Additionally, the bill would allow eligible organizations to temporarily rent units if they cannot be sold in a timely manner and create more flexibility in the program rules. These updates would provide the flexibility for the Affordable Home Ownership Program to adapt to the needs of communities across Colorado, and help ensure that the program is working as intended and serving as many Coloradans as possible. Previous Next

< Back February 15, 2022 BIPARTISAN BILL TO ADDRESS RETAIL CRIME AND THEFT ADVANCES DENVER, CO – A bill to address the rise in retail crime and protect Coloradans from fraudulent online marketplace sellers advanced today in the House on Second Reading. HB22-1099, sponsored by Representative Dylan Roberts, would require online marketplaces to verify personal seller information and allow buyers to report suspicious activity. “This is a smart-on-crime bill that will make it harder for thieves to resell stolen goods online and it will reduce theft from Colorado businesses,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts D-Avon . “This bill attacks the root cause of large-scale retail theft requiring online marketplaces to verify personal seller information which would knock down suspicious online sellers. This common-sense bill works to build a safer Colorado for everyone by protecting businesses from theft and consumers from purchasing stolen or counterfeit goods.” If passed HB22-1099 would require online marketplaces to verify the bank account information, tax identification number, and contact information from high-volume third-party sellers. This bill would also require sellers to disclose personal contact information to buyers, such as their name and address to assist in the authentication process for purchasing goods online. Previous Next

Legislation would limit insurer-required prior authorization, improve health care transparency and remove barriers to accessing care < Back March 11, 2024 Bipartisan Bill to Streamline Health Care Access Passes House DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to streamline access to health care. HB24-1149, sponsored by Representative Shannon Bird, would modify requirements for prior authorization of certain procedures and prescription drugs so Coloradans can receive the care they need. “Insurance companies’ prior authorization requirements often delay care and cause health conditions to worsen or completely discourage Coloradans from seeking the health care they need,” said Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “Our bipartisan bill eases some of the current prior authorization requirements and keeps healthcare decisions between patients and providers. We’re also focused on improving health insurer transparency so patients will know what procedures, medications and prescriptions are covered.” HB24-1149 , also sponsored by Representative Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock, passed by a vote of 55-6. It would improve Colorado’s prior authorization requirements to streamline health care services, and procedures, and increase access to prescription drugs for patients. Due to health care insurer requirements surrounding prior authorization, 94-percent of physicians report care delays because of prior authorizations. This also leads to an overall increase in treatment abandonment by patients. This bill would help improve access to care by eliminating repeated prior authorizations for some patients, extending prior authorizations up to one year or the course of treatment and protecting patients from denials for approved care. To help improve consumer transparency, the bill also requires carriers, private utilization review organizations, and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to: Publicly disclose information online about current prior authorization requirements including data on request determinations, exemptions, approvals, denials and prescription drug formularies Annually review and eliminate prior authorization requirements for services and drugs that are commonly approved Adopt a standard template to help patients understand their benefits Additionally, this bill would also streamline care by alerting prescribers about what preferred medications are covered, including the specific prior authorization criteria. The goal of HB24-1149 is to reduce barriers to accessing health care by reducing the prior authorization requirements, especially for patients seeking medication or treatment they have already been prescribed. Previous Next

< Back December 20, 2019 CONTINUED, BUT SLOWER GROWTH EXPECTED, DIFFICULT BUDGET CHOICES LIE AHEAD DENVER, CO — The Joint Budget Committee today received economic and state revenue forecasts, which predict continued expansion, low unemployment, and wage growth above the national average throughout the forecast period. The forecasts from Legislative Council Staff and the Office of State Planning and Budget both indicate the state will issue TABOR refunds in upcoming years and exceed the Referendum C revenue caps, which limit the state’s ability to invest in critical priorities, such as education and transportation. “The forecasts confirm that this year’s budget will be much tighter than before and will require difficult decisions on how to balance our state’s important priorities,” said JBC Chair Rep. Daneya Esgar (D-Pueblo). “Every dollar is precious, and I will be working with my House and Senate colleagues and the governor to responsibly allocate our limited resources in a way that invests in our state’s future and helps build an economy that works for all Coloradans in all parts of our state.” “Both revenue forecasts anticipate growth, which is welcome news for the services that Coloradans depend on. But the real story behind both forecasts is how TABOR hamstrings essential spending for critical priorities like education, health care and transportation. As cash fund revenues increase, so do TABOR refunds. It’s important to continue looking for solutions to problems posed by TABOR in order to preserve the most basic services government provides,” said JBC Vice Chair Sen. Dominick Moreno (D-Denver).” “Both forecasts show continued growth, which is good news for our state,” said JBC member Rep. Chris Hansen (D-Denver). “Still, we will have to evaluate our budget carefully to ensure we are investing state funds as best we can and for the greatest impact. Despite increased revenue forecasts, we won’t be able to invest those additional resources in transportation, k-12 education, or higher education because of TABOR. The budget is tight, and we know it will be a challenge to continue this progress.” “We’re seeing healthy projections for the upcoming year that will allow us to continue prioritizing investments in crucial areas like transportation and education, but due to TABOR caps, we’re limited in our ability,” said JBC member Sen. Rachel Zenzinger (D-Arvada) . “Risks of recession have eased, but as our economy grows, we must ensure that we continue to practice fiscal responsibility amid expected budgetary pressures.” The forecasts from economists in the Governor’s Office and General Assembly show that growth will continue at a slower rate due to an increasingly tight labor market. The tight labor market, however, will lead to accelerated wage growth, and recessionary risk for 2020 has eased. The state’s trade-dependent industries, such as food and agriculture, are still facing pressures from ongoing trade tensions. The OSPB forecast shows that General Fund revenue is expected to grow 3.5 percent in FY 2019-20, which was revised down from September by $101.2 million due to lower collections from individual income tax withholding. General Fund revenues are projected to grow by 4 percent in FY 2020-21. The LCS forecasts that General Fund revenue will grow by 3 percent in FY 2019-2020 and 4 percent in FY 2020-2021. The LCS forecast shows that the state will issue TABOR refunds totaling above $1 billion over the next three years, estimates that were revised upward from September. Revenue above the Ref C cap is expected to be $304.3 million in FY 2019-20, $367.3 million in FY 2020-21, and $453.4 million in FY 2021-22. Previous Next

< Back February 21, 2019 COLORADO TO JOIN NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE INTERSTATE COMPACT (Feb. 21) — A bill sponsored by Rep. Jeni Arndt and Rep. Emily Sirota to enter Colorado into the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact was approved by the House this morning. “We shouldn’t let partisan politics get in the way of progress. This bill and this change are a modernization that our founders provided for our country,” said Rep. Arndt, D-Fort Collins. “Twelve battleground states already receive more federal disaster aid, more revenue for education and more presidential campaign visits than Colorado and other states.” Once enough states totaling 270 electoral votes join the popular vote compact, the bill would ensure all of Colorado’s electors are awarded to the presidential winner of the National Popular Vote. Each state has the power to allocate their electors however they choose under Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution. “This bill has the potential to help Americans believe that their vote matters whether you’re a rural, urban or suburban voter – through this bill every vote counts equally,” said Rep. Sirota, D-Denver. “ Coloradans shouldn’t allow a few battleground states like Florida or Ohio to be the deciders for our entire country when electing the next President of the United States.” This bipartisan movement enhances democratic values and ensures that every person’s vote has equal value. States that are considered battleground states will no longer possess that title if this compact is adopted. Rather, SB19-042 would ensure each voter has an equal voice in a presidential election. The bill does not get rid of the electoral college. The Colorado legislature approved the compact through one chamber in 2006. The National Popular Vote Compact is an agreement, supported by Americans on both sides of the aisle, and entered into already by eleven states including Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, California, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington and the District of Columbia. Compact states award all of their electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote. Rural states are not traditional battleground states in presidential elections. The current winner-take-all method of awarding electoral votes diminishes the influence of rural states. States and entities who have joined the compact have done so through their respective legislatures. Five out of our country’s forty-five presidents have finished in second place in the popular vote but assumed the presidency. Supporters from across the country, including two former Republican presidential candidates – Tom Tancredo and Newt Gingrich – have endorsed the change to the popular vote. Our state has led the nation on efforts to restore faith in our democracy. Colorado just supported Amendments Y and Z to protect against partisan gerrymandering. Democrats at the legislature are stepping up efforts to fix our broken campaign finance system and to get mystery money out of politics to ensure every citizen’s voice is truly heard and isn’t drowned out by powerful special interests. The Colorado Secretary of State’s office and the members of the League of Women Voters testified at a House hearing in support of the bill. The bill is also sponsored in the Senate by Senator Mike Foote, D-Lafayette. SB19-042 was passed by a 34-29 vote and now heads to the Governor’s desk. ### Previous Next

< Back January 26, 2023 Bill to Save Educators Money, Address Teacher Shortage Passes Committee DENVER, CO – The House Education Committee today passed legislation to save teachers money through loan forgiveness and stipends by expanding the pool of student educators who qualify for these state programs. “Colorado’s teacher shortage is dire and eliminating financial barriers to entering the profession is one of the proven ways to get more qualified teachers in classrooms,” said Rep. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins . “Under this new bill, more educators than before will be able to take advantage of loan forgiveness programs and student educator stipends. Our bill saves educators money and sets students across the state up for success.” “Addressing our teacher shortage means breaking down financial barriers to entering the profession,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “Just this week, teachers voiced once again that they are facing critical challenges in the classroom and are feeling considerable burnout as a result. Building upon the work of last year, our bill expands the applicant pool of new teachers who can apply for loan forgiveness and stipends. Investing in our teachers creates stronger schools, more workforce retention and better prepared students.” HB23-1001 passed committee unanimously and is part of the Colorado House Democrats' first five bills. HB23-1001 builds upon last year’s work to save student educators money by expanding eligibility for financial assistance and offering loan forgiveness to a larger pool of educators who qualify for these state programs. This includes more than $52 million in federal pandemic relief funds for the student educator stipend program, the educator test stipend program, and the temporary educator loan forgiveness programs made possible through HB22-1220 . Previous Next

< Back April 29, 2022 HOUSE PASSES BILLS TO SAVE COLORADANS MONEY ON HOUSING, CHILD CARE, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES DENVER, CO – The House today passed SB22-146, which will save middle-income Coloradans money on housing; HB22-1006, which will save families money on child care; and SB11-148, which will fund the construction of behavioral health facilities for Colorado’s land-based tribes, increasing access and reducing the cost of behavioral health care for Colorado tribes. “SB22-146 bill will save middle-income Coloradans money on housing by financing the construction of affordable housing,” said Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs, sponsor of SB22-146. “More middle-income housing will help businesses attract employees and fill jobs in communities where workers simply can’t find an affordable place to live or face costly commutes.” Saving Coloradans Money on Housing: SB22-146, sponsored by Representatives Marc Snyder and Marc Catlin, passed by a vote of 46-16. The bill will expand critical middle-income housing so that more Coloradans and communities have access to affordable housing where it’s needed most. The legislation provides $25 million for the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority’s Middle-Income Access Program, which serves middle income families and individuals with incomes too high to qualify for low income housing tax credits. Typically, the missing middle is made up of renters whose income is between 80 percent and 120 percent of area median income. To date, the Middle Income Access Program has leveraged $14 million in CHFA-invested funds to support five developments comprising over 600 units. This program has leveraged the original $14 million investment into $140 million for affordable housing. Developments leverage significant private sector investment and have brought much needed housing to communities such as Estes Park, Keystone, Steamboat Springs, Gypsum and Denver. “We know that child care is exceedingly expensive and scarce in our state — particularly in our rural and mountain communities — and the cost and lack of services hurts working families,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D- Avon, sponsor of HB22-1006. “By passing this bipartisan bill into law, we will give significant tax relief to child care centers which will allow them to hire more employees, open up more spots for children, and save families money on child care.” Saving Coloradans Money on Child Care: HB22-1006, sponsored by Representatives Dylan Roberts and Kevin Van Winkle, passed by a vote of 59-3. The bill will increase child care affordability by incentivizing additional property owners through a property tax exemption to lease space to nonprofit child care centers. The legislation will boost the number of available rental spaces for non-profit child care centers that often serve children, families, rural communities, and communities furthest from opportunity. Right now, infant child care costs nearly 10% more than the average rent in Colorado. Increasing the amount of affordable, accessible child care providers gives hardworking families more options for quality care while saving Coloradans money on child care. “Using once-in-a-generation federal funding, we are prioritizing the behavioral health needs of Colorado’s land-based tribes who often experience disproportionately higher rates of mental health distress without access to the proper resources,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, sponsor of SB22-148. “This $5 million investment of federal funds will go directly toward the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe for the purpose of creating or revamping a behavioral health facility to improve mental health outcomes and save Coloradans money on behavioral health care.” Colorado Land-based Tribe Behavioral Health Services Grant Program: SB22-148, sponsored by Representatives McLachlan and Marc Catlin, passed the House by a vote of 56-6. This bill is part of the legislature’s ongoing commitment to addressing Colorado’s behavioral health crisis using $450 million in federal pandemic relief funds secured in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). To further Colorado Tribes’ ability to provide culturally responsive behavioral health care in specialized facilities, this bill will provide a one-time $5 million grant to Colorado land-based Tribes to support building or renovating a tribal behavioral health facility for inpatient services and transitional housing. Previous Next