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< Back March 21, 2022 GOV. POLIS SIGNS ROBERTS’ FUNERAL HOME INSPECTION BILL INTO LAW DENVER, CO – Governor Jared Polis signed into law today a bipartisan bill that will expand the authority of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) to inspect and investigate funeral homes and crematories for malpractice based on complaints. "This law is for my constituents, some of whom were terribly harmed, by making sure DORA has the power to investigate and prevent funeral home malpractice and atrocities,” said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon. “I wish we did not have to pass bills like this but I am thankful we got this done and passed in a bipartisan way. The horrendous incidents in Gypsum, Leadville, Montrose and elsewhere made this necessary. This law will make it easier for state agencies to identify negligence in funeral homes and crematories so no more families in Colorado will have to endure the heartbreak caused by the Kent Funeral Homes and others in our state.” HB22-1073 , sponsored by Representatives Dylan Roberts and Matt Soper, will allow DORA to conduct inspections and investigations of funeral homes and crematories. Prior to this law, DORA had no authority to inspect funeral homes or crematories without the consent of the business owner and other high legal thresholds. This law is a direct response to instances of funeral home malpractice in multiple Western Slope funeral homes, including Kent Funeral Homes in Leadville and Gypsum , and will go into effect in August 2022. Previous Next

Legislation would improve the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s ability to address illegal transfers, ghost guns, and investigations on tip line requests < Back April 10, 2024 Bill to Improve Investigations of Illegal Firearm Activity Passes Committee Legislation would improve the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s ability to address illegal transfers, ghost guns, and investigations on tip line requests DENVER, CO - The House Judiciary Committee today passed gun violence prevention legislation sponsored by Majority Leader Monica Duran and Representative Meg Froelich that would improve investigations of illegal firearm activity. SB24-003 passed by a vote of 8-3, with all Republicans on the committee voting against more resources to crack down on illegal activity. “Colorado Democrats should be proud of what we have accomplished on Gun Violence Prevention, including magazine limits, safe storage, and prohibitions on unregistered “ghost” guns,” said Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “But we must ensure that our law enforcement officials are able to investigate illegal firearm crimes. This bill gives CBI the authority and the resources to act on the investigations with local law enforcement.” “One of my top priorities as a legislator is making our communities safer, which is why I’m proud to carry this bill to help the Colorado Bureau of Investigations prevent gun crimes,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “This bill creates a framework for CBI to identify and prevent illegal firearm transfers and ghost guns, as well as investigations from a tip line, to give them more tools to improve safety in every corner of Colorado.” SB24-003 would give the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) the ability to investigate illegal activity involving firearms. It would appropriate $1.7 million to the Department of Public Safety to create a team that investigates individuals convicted of felonies who are attempting to illegally purchase a firearm, and other illegal firearm crimes such as possession of a ghost gun. Previous Next

< Back February 7, 2020 EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS APPROVED IN COMMITTEE DENVER, CO — The House Committee on Education today passed Representative Barbara McLachlan and Tony Exum’s bill to create the Higher Ed Student Emergency Assistance Grant program by a vote of 8-5. The program would offer emergency grants to help students at state institutions of higher education stay in school and graduate. “Students who are forced to decide between dropping out of college and paying for a financial emergency deserve our support,” said Education Committee Chair Rep. McLachlan (D-Durango). “This grant program will pick up, with just a small amount of financial investment, where student financial aid leaves off. This grant program will ensure that determined and hard-working students can finish their degree and fill the many job vacancies that require a post-secondary degree.” “A financial emergency like a flat tire or family crisis shouldn’t be what stops a great student from obtaining their degree,” said Rep. Exum, Sr. (D-Colorado Springs). “I was very pleased to see the House Ed Committee advance our bill today and get us one step closer to creating this grant program. Low income students face a much steeper climb towards graduation, and I’m proud to say we have their back.” HB20-1110 would create the Emergency Completion and Retention Grant Program within the department of higher education. This grant program seeks to improve our state institution’s retention and completion rates by providing emergency financial assistance, capped at $500 while enrolled at an institution of higher education, to students who are experiencing qualifying financial emergencies. The bill recognizes that, while student financial aid programs exist to reduce the overall cost of a student’s attendance at a college or university, there are certain financial emergencies that force students to choose between continuing their education or paying for the emergency. The grant program outlined in this bill would remedy these types of situations. In order to qualify for one of these grants, students must qualify for in-state tuition, meet state financial aid eligibility criteria and be more than 60% done with their required coursework, among other requirements. State higher education Institutions must prioritize eligible low-income students, first generation students, and students who lack other financial resources. ### Previous Next

< Back April 29, 2022 SAFER STREETS ACT PASSES HOUSE DENVER, CO – The House today passed the Safer Streets Act, a bill that would utilize $10.3 million to assist local governments in making critical improvements that will prevent crime and improve public safety in Colorado. SB22-001 passed the House by a vote of 40 to 22. “With proven crime prevention and reduction strategies, we can create safer Colorado neighborhoods,” said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora. “Our bill will give local governments the resources they need to maintain and improve public spaces so everyone can enjoy a safer community. I’m proud to champion this evidence-based legislation that will cut down on crime and create more beautiful neighborhoods in the process.” “No matter your zip code, you deserve to feel safe,” said Rep. Kerry Tipper, D-Lakewood “The Safer Streets Act is an evidence-based bill that will foster the development of safer neighborhoods so we can reduce crime and boost community pride. Thanks to important community input and smart investments in crime prevention tactics such as good lighting and well-maintained public spaces, we can create a safer Colorado for everyone. ” The Safer Streets Act , sponsored by Representatives Naquetta Ricks and Kerry Tipper, creates a $10.3 million grant program for local governments to make critical, evidence-based improvements that will cut down on crime. Local governments and community non-profit organizations partnering with local governments can apply for grants that make physical improvements to the built environment that increase visibility through improved lighting, direct foot traffic and improve aesthetics through graffiti and trash removal. The bill utilizes Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles, an effective tool for reducing crime. Research and case studies have proven that the safe design of the physical environment can result in a lower incidence of crime, increased safety, and an overall increase in quality of life. Previous Next

< Back February 27, 2020 HOUSE PASSES SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION CONTRIBUTION LIMITS Legislation would limit contributions to $2,500 per individual donor DENVER, CO– The House today voted to pass Representative Emily Sirota’s bill to limit campaign contributions to $2,500 per individual donor. HB20-1066 would also limit contributions from political committees. The bill was approved by a vote of 40-24. “With money from wealthy special interests and out-of-state millionaires pouring into our school board races, it’s time to put common sense limits on how much individuals and political committees can contribute,” said Rep. Sirota, D-Denver. “I’m pleased to see the House move forward with this important legislation that will reduce the influence of high-dollar donors in our democracy and put our students first.” Unlike federal elections, Colorado House and Senate elections and county elections, there are currently no limits on campaign contributions in school board races. Spending in school board races in Colorado is growing rapidly, and donors, sometimes from out of state, are contributing tens of thousands of dollars to individual candidates, amounts substantially above federal and state contribution limits in other races. HB20-1066 would set contribution limits in school director elections at $2,500 per individual donor. These limits would be adjusted for inflation. Additionally, the bill subjects school board candidates to existing disclosure laws, including requiring school board candidates to file contribution reports in a similar manner to state House and Senate candidates. Previous Next

< Back April 13, 2022 HOUSE COMMITTEE APPROVES BILL TO SUPPORT NONPROFITS Legislation would distribute $35 million from the transformative Economic Recovery and Relief Funds to support nonprofits serving communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic DENVER, CO – The House Transportation & Local Government Committee today passed a bill that would boost funding for community-based nonprofit social service organizations, specifically those that provide critical support to communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. “During the pandemic, our nonprofits went above and beyond to provide necessary resources and services to their communities, it’s time they receive extra support,” said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. “This bill directs $35 million in pandemic recovery funds to our nonprofits so they can continue to positively impact our neighbors and build stronger communities. We’re thankful for our nonprofits and we’re proud to provide them with support to keep their doors open and serve our communities in need.” “Nonprofits are at the heart of nearly every community, but many of them are struggling to stay afloat,” said Rep. Edie Hooton, D-Boulder. “Our legislation invests in local nonprofits, many of which stepped up to provide food service, youth resources and COVID emergency information, during the pandemic. When the world came to a halt, Colorado’s nonprofits worked tirelessly to meet the needs of their community and I’m proud to sponsor legislation that supports their efforts.” HB22-1356 , sponsored by Representatives Leslie Herod and Edie Hooton, will provide $35 million in federal pandemic relief funds to nonprofit social service organizations that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Small community-based nonprofits have played an important role in delivering critical services to families and communities that were directly impacted by the pandemic. These organizations continue to fill critical gaps, but face significant challenges as they respond to longstanding community needs that were only exacerbated by the pandemic. HB22-1356 passed committee by a vote of 10-3. Financial constraints often limit these organizations’ ability to serve additional Coloradans and those constraints are more challenging under recent economic conditions. The grants are designed to support small community-based nonprofits that largely serve individuals who were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and experienced significant financial pressures. Eligible entities will be able to apply for grants as large as $100,000 to expand program capacity, foster professional development for employees or engage in strategic planning to grow their organization and maximize the use of funds. During the 2021 legislative session, the General Assembly set aside $700 million in federal pandemic relief funds to use for economic recovery and relief initiatives in the years ahead. This legislation uses $35 million of this funding to support essential organizations that are doing critical work in Colorado communities to help families recover from the pandemic. Previous Next

< Back March 18, 2019 KENNEDY’S BIPARTISAN HOSPITAL TRANSPARENCY BILL HEADED TO GOVERNOR’S DESK (Mar. 18) – Rep. Chris Kennedy’s bill to increase transparency for health care costs in Colorado’s hospitals is headed to Governor Jared Polis’ desk. “The high cost of health care is harming both Colorado consumers and businesses. Hardworking people are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of health care, particularly in rural Colorado where we’re seeing some of the highest premiums in the country,” said Rep. Kennedy, D-Lakewood. “By requiring hospitals to be transparent about their spending, we can increase competition in a way that will reduce costs for all.” The bill passed with bipartisan support in the House with a vote of 39-22 on Jan. 31. HB19-1001 passed with bipartisan support in the Senate with a vote of 34-1 on Mar. 14. It was brought back to the House to approve an amendment added in the Senate, which was concurred. With the new amendments added, the bill passed in the House with a bipartisan final vote of 43-21 today. “I am happy to see this bill passed with such strong bipartisan support in the House and the Senate. By identifying inefficiencies and wasteful spending, businesses and payers will be able to choose more efficient options and lower hospital costs,” continued Rep. Kennedy. According to data collected by the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), hospital costs account for 39 percent of health care spending nationwide. Physician and clinical services account for 26 percent, and prescription drugs and other non-durable medical products account for 11 percent. HB19-1001 will require hospitals to disclose more information about spending on patient care, administration, capital construction, and acquisitions of physician groups; and will require hospitals to show how they’re shifting costs onto the backs of families and businesses. In addition, the data provided to the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) will inform the supplemental payments made to hospitals through the Colorado Healthcare Affordability and Sustainability Enterprise (CHASE) to incentivize value, not volume. Previous Next

SB25-290 will support medical providers that serve low-income communities, protecting access to essential health care for thousands of Coloradans < Back May 29, 2025 Signed! Legislation to Protect Access to Health Care, Stabilize Health Care Safety Net LAFAYETTE, CO – Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, and Representatives Kyle Brown, D-Louisville, and Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, to protect access to essential health care for thousands of Coloradans was signed into law today. SB25-290, also sponsored by Senator Barb Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, will provide immediate financial support to a broad cross-section of safety net health providers, including rural hospitals, community health centers, and behavioral health clinics. “In every corner of Colorado, our health care safety net is in crisis. Senate Bill 290 is a much-needed lifeline to ensure the most vulnerable people in our state continue to have access to health care,” said Mullica. “Between higher costs and workforce shortages, our safety net providers are facing unprecedented pressures, with more than half reporting operating in the negative. This new law fills an immediate need to ensure these safety net providers can keep their doors open and the people of Colorado can still receive the care they need.” “Our health care safety net providers that take care of our low-income, older, and vulnerable community members are in crisis,” said Brown. “Our law fills an immediate funding need to prevent our safety net providers from closing their doors and leaving hundreds of Coloradans without the health care they need. These dollars will help protect essential health care for so many low-income and working Coloradans now.” “Without our safety net providers, many Coloradans won’t have access to the preventive and primary care that helps them lead healthier lives,” said Bird. “Higher costs and workforce shortages mean our safety net providers are shouldering enormous financial pressures just to keep the doors open. This law provides immediate, short-term support to our safety net providers so our community members can receive the health care they need.” Safety net providers include primary care and family clinics that provide critical health care to communities across Colorado, like seniors, hardworking families, and rural Coloradans. These safety net providers have been under an enormous financial strain as demand and costs increase. SB25-290 will create the Provider Stabilization Fund within the Department of the Treasury to distribute stabilization payments to safety net providers who provide care to Medicaid recipients and low-income, uninsured individuals on a sliding scale or for free. The new law will transfer interest earnings and, if necessary, principal from the Unclaimed Property Trust Fund to the Provider Stabilization Fund as an interest-free loan to be repaid by 2045. Payments will be distributed based on the proportion of low-income and uninsured individuals that the provider serves. Congressional Republicans’ proposed budget reconciliation bill would further strain safety net providers, especially rural hospitals that depend on Medicaid funds. Without access to preventive and primary care services, Coloradans are more likely to seek emergency care , increasing costs in the health care system as a whole and leading to worse health outcomes. Previous Next

< Back May 7, 2022 ESGAR’S MONUMENTAL COLLECTIVE BARGAINING EXPANSION BILL MOVES FORWARD Legislation would expand collective bargaining rights to more than 36,000 public service workers and builds upon the 2020 state workers bill DENVER, CO – The House today on a preliminary vote passed Majority Leader Daneya Esgar’s monumental collective bargaining bill. SB22-230 would expand collective bargaining rights to more than 36,000 county workers, more than doubling the number of public workers in Colorado entitled to negotiate for better pay, benefits and working conditions. SB22-230 ensures that county workers would receive recognized collective bargaining rights that private-sector and state employees in Colorado already have. “This bill stands up for the thousands of county workers who carried us through the pandemic by providing critical services that kept our communities safe,” said Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo. “Extending collective bargaining rights to nearly 40,000 public service workers across the state means hardworking Coloradans will have the right to join together to improve their workplace conditions, negotiate for better benefits and have the choice to form a union. This bill is about making sure the workers who serve the public have a seat at the table to discuss decisions that directly impact their lives and the lives of their families.” SB22-230 builds upon the state workers bill from 2020 , also sponsored by Majority Leader Esgar. This bill extends collective bargaining rights to county workers, more than doubling the current number of public workers with recognized collective bargaining rights in Colorado. The Collective Bargaining by County Employees Act would give public service workers who choose to form a union a seat at the table to collectively bargain on issues like working conditions, job safety, pay and benefits, and to collaborate with management to address shared challenges like staff shortages, high turnover, and improving public services. This bill is a historic step forward in Colorado’s labor and workers’ rights movement. Right now, only four out of Colorado’s 64 counties recognize their workers’ right to collectively bargain. The Collective Bargaining by County Employees Act would guarantee Colorado statutory county workers in counties with over 5,000 residents the ability to organize and form a union to advocate for safer workplaces and better public services if they so choose. Additionally, the Collective Bargaining by County Employees Act would extend protections to workers who are currently vulnerable to retaliation, discrimination, and coercion for exercising basic union rights. Previous Next

< Back April 19, 2019 REP. FROELICH’S BILL TO INCREASE VOTING ACCESS FOR COLORADANS WITH DISABILITIES UNANIMOUSLY PASSES HOUSE COMMITTEE Democrats working to increase access to ballot box (Apr. 18) – Rep. Meg Froelich’s bill to increase voting access for people with disabilities unanimously passed out of the House State, Veterans, and Military Affairs committee. This important legislation would give voters with disabilities greater access to the ballot box in order to fit their specific needs. “It’s critically important that we improve access to the ballot box for all Coloradans,” said Rep. Froelich, D-Englewood. “We should never disqualify individuals from voting and participating in our democratic process based on a disability. This bill will do more to ensure we aren’t disenfranchising voters.” If signed into law, this bill would require the Secretary of State to establish a process to enable voters with disabilities to mark a paper ballot using nonvisual access or low vision access technology whether the voter is voting in a mail ballot election or voting at a polling location. SB19-202 passed unanimously. It now heads to the House Appropriations committee. Previous Next

< Back May 27, 2020 SULLIVAN BILL IMPROVES CO’S NATION-LEADING UNIVERSAL VOTE BY MAIL SYSTEM DENVER, CO — Legislation sponsored by Representative Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial, to improve Colorado’s universal mail system today passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 37-24. “Colorado leads the way when it comes to universal vote by mail. Other states are following us because we’ve shown it is the most secure way to vote and greatly increases participation. Vote by mail strengthens our democracy and the voice of the people,” said Rep. Sullivan, D-Centennial. “No one should have to choose between risking their lives and their constitutional right to participate in our elections. This bill would ensure that all registered voters have the opportunity to vote by mail when unexpected issues come up with their ballots.” Colorado is one of only a handful of states that allows all voters to cast their ballot by mail. It has been recognized across the country as one of the most secure and successful ballot administration systems in the nation. The state’s universal mail ballot system means Colorado is uniquely positioned to safely administer upcoming elections and ensure that Coloradans can vote without risk to their health. HB20-1313 would improve the process for updating registration applications and records to ensure that new ballots are sent within an appropriate timeline. It would also permit a voter to obtain a replacement ballot if their ballot was destroyed, spoiled or not received for any reason. It requires counties to mail replacement ballots to eligible voters who update their address or register to vote after ballots have been mailed. Furthermore, the bill requires counties to mail ballots by First Class Mail if they are sent within 11 days of an election, ensuring they will be delivered on-time. Previous Next

In special session, Dems eliminated corporate tax loopholes and protected access to services to responsibly close budget deficit caused by GOP’s corporate tax cuts < Back August 26, 2025 Dems Pick Up the Pieces from Trump’s Big Ugly Budget Hole In special session, Dems eliminated corporate tax loopholes and protected access to services to responsibly close budget deficit caused by GOP’s corporate tax cuts DENVER, CO – After Republicans in Congress blasted a billion dollar hole in Colorado’s state budget, Democrats responsibly picked up the pieces with a balanced approach that closed corporate tax loopholes and established a framework to cut spending where possible and use some of the state’s budget reserve to protect the core services people rely on. “Colorado Democrats have responsibly picked up the pieces from Trump and Washington Republicans’ big ugly budget, which any one of the GOP members of our Congressional delegation could have stopped,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “Their bill gave corporations massive tax cuts that blew a billion dollar hole in our budget. We took a balanced approach that closed corporate tax loopholes, established a process to cut some spending, and used some of our rainy-day savings to protect funding for health care, roads and education. I’m especially proud that we were able to blunt some of the massive health care premium increases we expect to see on the Western Slope as a result of the Congress’s failure to act.” “The GOP’s federal budget handed out a billion dollars of corporate tax breaks while making life more expensive for everyone else through higher health costs, energy costs, and grocery costs,” said Senate President James Coleman, D-Denver. “That’s why we returned to the Capitol: to stand up for Colorado families, listen to those on the frontlines of providing services, and work to maximize every dollar. I’m proud that we're leaving this special session having achieved a balanced, responsible response to the budget shortfall that closes corporate tax loopholes and protects services that Coloradans rely on rather than the interests of corporations.” “Trump’s budget bill handed out massive tax cuts to corporations at the expense of working people while raising costs on everyone, which is why it’s only fair that we closed corporate tax loopholes and preserved funding for education, health care and public safety,” said House Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “Coloradans shouldn't lose out to protect corporations who just got $1 billion in tax cuts from Trump and the GOP Congress. In the special session we cracked down on offshore tax havens, eliminated special interest tax breaks, and protected the core services Coloradans rely on to get ahead and thrive.” “Trump and the Congressional Republicans’ big tax bill let corporations dodge nearly $1 billion in taxes that they owe Colorado to help pay for essentials like health care, schools, and roads,” said Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, D-Denver. “While they put corporations and the wealthiest Americans first, we chose the hardworking people of Colorado by closing corporate tax loopholes and protecting essential services.” Closing Corporate Tax Loopholes HB25B-1003 repeals special corporate tax breaks for insurance companies with a “Regional Home Office”: Under current law, insurance companies with a headquarters/regional home office (RHO) in Colorado can take a special tax break that allows them to pay a lower tax rate. To qualify, 2.5 percent of an insurer’s domestic workforce must be located in Colorado. While intended to incentivize job creation in the insurance industry in Colorado, the State Auditor found in March 2025 that the tax credit is not achieving this goal, and most insurance companies have actually eliminated jobs while claiming this special interest tax break that only exists for them. The bill repealed this corporate tax break. HB25B-1002 cracks down on foreign tax havens, offshore bank accounts, and tax loopholes for US companies that dodge Colorado taxes with foreign assets: Expand the list of foreign tax havens: Colorado applies extra scrutiny to companies incorporated in common tax havens like the Cayman Islands and Panama, requiring these companies to still pay Colorado taxes unless they can prove they are legitimately operating in the foreign country (see HB21-1311 ). Updated information about international tax avoidance has indicated additional countries used for this purpose, and the bill applies the extra scrutiny to these countries. No Colorado tax breaks for companies investing in other states: Trump’s 2017 tax cuts for the wealthy created a special tax break for multinational businesses that keep their intangible assets in the US, including patents, software, and trademarks. As a federal credit, the majority of claims are from corporations whose assets aren’t even located in Colorado. If the state allows the changes to apply to Colorado taxes as well, it would give a larger Colorado tax break to corporations for investments in other states. The bill decoupled the state from this federal credit entirely. HB25B-1004 allows companies to pre-pay taxes at a discount: This bill allows an auction of a limited amount of future tax credits. Companies that buy the tax credits can effectively pre-pay a portion of their future taxes now, at a small discount, creating savings and flexibility for them while helping to fill the revenue hole created by H.R. 1 for the state. This was done in HB20-1413 to raise money for CLIMBER small business loans. Several of the tax giveaways in H.R. 1, such as the changes to business depreciation rules, are retroactive or front-loaded to have a much bigger impact in the current fiscal year (2025-26) than future years; allowing companies to pre-pay future taxes now partially offsets this effect. HB25B-1001 limits tax breaks for higher-earning business owners: Trump’s 2017 tax cuts for the wealthy allowed certain business owners to deduct (not pay taxes on) 20 percent of “qualified business income” (QBI) through 2025. The QBI deduction applies to pass-through businesses, such as partnerships, S corporations, and real estate investment trusts. H.R. 1 made this deduction permanent and made some modifications. In 2020, Colorado decoupled from this federal tax change for business owners with incomes over $500,000 per year (or $1 million per year for joint filers), maintaining that they still needed to pay taxes on all of their business income ( HB20-1420 and HB21-1311 ). The bill for the special session makes Colorado’s decoupling permanent; without taking action, the decoupling is currently scheduled to expire after 2025. HB25B-1005 ends subsidies for collecting sales taxes by modernizing sales tax collection: Retailers and other companies that collect sales tax are currently allowed to retain a portion of that state sales tax, which was originally intended to cover the costs of collecting and remitting the tax. Currently, vendors can retain 4 percent of the sales tax they collect. Nowadays, electronic point-of-sale technology is ubiquitous even for small vendors, and it cheaply and easily automates the collection and payment of state sales tax. Since this burden has gone away, the bill repeals this subsidy – about one cent on every $10 of sales. Preserving Access to Services HB25B-1006 blunts large health insurance premium increases: With Congressional Republicans failing to extend the enhanced premium tax credits for people who purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace, average statewide premiums are projected to increase by 28 percent. In the Eastern Plains, premiums are expected to rise more than 33 percent. The Western Slope will see premium increases of about 38 percent. This bill invests in reinsurance to keep premium increases to a statewide average of 20 percent. SB25B-002 restores access to health care for Medicaid recipients at Planned Parenthood : H.R. 1 immediately removed Planned Parenthood from the federal Medicaid program, forcing PPRM providers to cancel thousands of appointments. Weeks later, a Temporary Restraining Order reversed this federal prohibition, though the issue is still working its way through the courts. This bill authorizes state-funded reimbursement to Planned Parenthood for certain services, including cancer screenings, birth control consultations, and STI checks. SB25B-003 preserves SNAP funding by adjusting Healthy School Meals for All ballot question: The GOP budget cuts the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and hundreds of thousands of recipients may now lose access to food. This bill amends the language of a ballot measure ( HB25-1274 ) that will be put before the voters this November. If it passes, it will allow funds raised for the Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA) program to be used to support SNAP, so long as the HSMA program is fully funded first. Making Responsible Decisions for Colorado’s Fiscal Future SB25B-001 updates spending reduction processes during revenue shortfalls: Under current law, the Governor has broad unilateral authority to suspend programs and services during a revenue shortfall via executive order. The bill requires the Governor to notify the Joint Budget Committee (JBC) of executive orders to reduce spending and requires the JBC to promptly meet to discuss the plan. The bill balances the authority between the Governor and the General Assembly by ensuring the JBC is involved in decision-making processes early on and by adding guardrails to the executive branch’s existing authority to help ensure that they continue to meet and implement legislative directives. The bill also updates the triggers requiring spending reductions to more accurately reflect economic pressures and the current status of the reserve, which Democrats have worked to build up to 15 percent since the COVID pandemic when it fell below four percent. In addition to the triggers in existing law, the bill adds that if a revenue estimate indicates that the state is on track to use an amount of the reserve equal to three percent of the general fund appropriations for that fiscal year (e.g. around $490 million for FY26), the Governor must take action to reduce spending. Previous Next