Each year, the Colorado Legislature meets for a 120-day session to revise and create laws and to develop and adopt an annual budget for the state. Monday, March 16 marked the 60th day of the 2026 legislative session.
In this issue of The Policy Perspective, I want to share with you some of the current policy developments that are happening in our state legislature. Below you will find several mid-session highlights on several key issues that impact Colorado’s disability community.
2026-2027 Budget
Colorado faces a significant budget shortfall of nearly $1 billion for 2026-2027. Because of requirements in Colorado’s constitution, the legislature must approve a balanced budget and may not raise taxes without voter approval. As a result, the legislature will be making cuts this year and is severely limiting new spending.
Currently, the most significant proposed cuts to the state’s budget are directed at Medicaid.
Several disability community-serving organizations have released a Community Guide that contains recommendations for Medicaid spending in Colorado for 2026-2027. The Guide provides discussion of how budget changes will impact people with disabilities, families, and providers.
As budget discussions move forward in the legislature, ADVOCACYDENVER encourages you to make sure that your voice is heard in the budget process by writing or calling your state senators and representatives. Tell your story of how budget decisions will impact your life. To find the names and contact information for your state legislators, look here.
Senate and House Bills
ADVOCACYDENVER has been following and is in strong support of the following bills:
HB 26-1040 The Sterilization Rights of a Person with Intellectual and Developmental Disibilities
Colorado is one of only two states that allows forced sterilization of people with disabilities. This legislation would end this practice except in cases where there is an imminent threat to the individual’s life and health. This bill has passed the House and the Senate and should be sent to the Governor for signature in the near future.
HB26-1141 Discriminatory Practices in Public Schools
HB26-1141 institutes Title IV and Title VI of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 into state law. In doing so, the law creates mechanisms for enforcement of civil rights protections at the state level.
This bill has been passed by the House Education Committee and is waiting to be heard by the House Finance Committee before consideration by the entire House.
HB26-1043 Transportation Network Company Discriminatory Practices
This bill would strengthen accountability and reporting for consumers’ complaints of discrimination when using transportation network companies, such as Uber and Lyft. These companies would be required to include on their apps a place where consumers can report complaints when they are denied a pickup by a driver. Companies then must provide monthly reports of these complaints to the state, with all personal information removed. The state may also fine companies should they discriminate against people with disabilities or fail to submit monthly reports.
This bill has passed committee and is waiting to be brought to the floor for consideration by the House.
HB26-1045 Disability Housing Protections
HB26-1045 would put protections into state law for renters who have service animals, including both assistance animals and emotional support animals. While such protections have previously existed at the federal level, this law would permit the state to enforce these protections.
This bill has passed the House and is waiting to be heard by the Senate Committee on Local Government & Housing.
HB26-1147 Host Home for People with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
HB26-1147 requires the state to create a database containing information about host homes and their service agencies. The database must be made available and accessible by host home providers, service agencies, and those looking for host homes. The bill requires HCPF to allow for submission of complaints on its website and to establish a process for tracking each complaint and its resolution.
This bill was passed by the House Health & Human Services Committee and is waiting to be heard by the House Appropriations Committee before moving to the full House.
SB26-125 Disability Rights Protections in Public Schools
SB26-125 puts federal laws relating to disability rights protections into state law. Specifically, SB26-125 incorporates Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act. In doing so, the law requires mediation efforts at the local level prior to enforcement by the State Department of Education.
This bill has been passed by the Senate Education Committee and is waiting to be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee before consideration by the full Senate.
As these and other bills move forward, a key part of committee hearings is public testimony. We encourage you to provide testimony for bills that are important to you. Look here to sign up to testify in person, remotely, or in writing.
Since joining ADVOCACYDENVER last September, I have spent much of my time tracking national, state, and local policy developments, especially those that are important to the disability community. I am thrilled to get do this work every day and see my role with ADVOCACYDENVER as a natural “next step” in my 30+ year career in education and state policy. As a parent of a child with a disability, I also have a personal commitment to the work that extends well beyond that of a “job.”
Policy Perspective is a publication of ADVOCACYDENVER. If you have any questions, please contact Paul Baumann, Policy Outreach Specialist, at pbaumann@advocacydenver.org or 303.974.2535.