April 2026 Newsletter

12 Days Left in The Legislative Session!

April was one of the busiest months of the legislative session, with much of my time focused on finalizing Colorado’s state budget and working through key policy decisions that will impact communities across the state. I spent long days at the Capitol balancing priorities, addressing rising costs in programs like Medicaid, and making difficult but necessary decisions to balance the states budget.

At the same time, I continued advancing legislation focused on workforce development, health care access, and long-term fiscal responsibility.

The Long Bill Has Been Sent to The Governor ✅

After long days, hard discussions, and emotional decisions, we, as the JBC have finalized Colorado’s state budget, and have sent it to the Governor to sign. This was a challenging budget year as we faced a significant shortfall. The proposed budget totals roughly $46.8 billion, with major dollars coming from rising Medicaid costs. We had to make difficult, heartbreaking decisions, including reducing spending in certain areas to maintain fiscal responsibility and protect core services.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtSbye-7BBk

Medicaid & Healthcare

Medicaid continues to be one of the largest drivers of state spending, increasing by billions and impacting nearly every part of the budget. We, as the JBC, have worked to rein in costs while maintaining access to care.

We also addressed concerns around long-term sustainability, oversight, and efficiency within the program.

With the hard decisions made within this Department, my priorities remained around supporting the IDD community, our providers, and Pediatric Behavioral Therapy (PBT) through minimizing the budget reductions within these areas.

Cover All Coloradans Program

This session, we made important adjustments to the Cover All Coloradans program to address rising costs and to ensure the program remains fiscally responsible.

• To better manage growth, the bill allows the state to cap enrollment for eligible children at 25,000 participants in the 2026–27 fiscal year if costs exceed projections.

• The legislation places new limits on benefits for certain populations, including a $1,100 annual cap on dental services beginning July 2026 and changes to how behavioral health services are delivered starting in 2027.

• It also caps enrollment for certain higher-cost services, such as long-term care.

While these changes were difficult, they were necessary to balance the budget while continuing to provide access to care.

Other Legislation…

HB26-1317 – Postsecondary & Workforce Alignment

• HB26-1317 works to better align higher education with workforce needs.

• This bill creates a transition committee to streamline workforce and education programs under one system.

• The goal is to better connect students to real career opportunities and strengthen Colorado’s workforce pipeline.

SB26-141 Wildlife Collision Prevention

• Expands the Bridge and Tunnel Enterprise (CDOT) to include wildlife crossing and safe passage projects

• Focuses on reducing vehicle collisions with wildlife, which are a safety and cost issue across Colorado

• Allows funding for infrastructure like:

  • Wildlife overpasses and underpasses

  • Fencing and corridor improvements

HB26-1014 Extend Colorado Job Growth Incentive Tax Credit

• Extends the existing job growth tax credit through 2034

• Provides performance-based tax credits to businesses that create new, higher-wage jobs

• Aims to support business expansion and job creation while limiting upfront state risk

Looking Ahead

With the Long Bill moving through the legislature, we are now shifting focus to final debates and remaining legislation. I remain committed to responsible budgeting, transparency, and making sure Western Colorado is represented in every decision we make.