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Jun 30, 2025

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Karly Kaufman serves as Communications Manager for CCLP. Staff page ›

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CCLP’s 2025 legislative wrap-up, part 3

by | Jun 30, 2025

Equity work, federal action, Health, Housing, Immigration, Income, Legal Advocacy, Legislative Updates, Research and Policy Analysis, Testimony

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Governor vetoes & bill losses

Governor vetoes

Governor Jared Polis vetoed a whopping 11 bills this session — his personal record — including four bills we supported. Undermining justice, affordability, and worker rights, the Governor continues to sacrifice Coloradans’ futures to special interests. Read our statement on Governor Polis’s veto streak here.

Under current law, workers in Colorado must win two elections to form a strong union. It is a barrier not faced in any other state. SB25-005, the Worker Protection Act, would have removed the requirement to hold a second election entirely, bringing Colorado’s labor laws in-line with other states’ laws. Brought by the Colorado Worker Rights United coalition, this bill was one of our priorities. Unfortunately, it was vetoed by Governor Polis who sided with corporate interests over Colorado’s workers. You can read our Press Release here in response to the veto.

Currently, municipal courts have separate practices than our state courts, causing severe disparities when it comes to incarceration. In fact, Coloradans face a possible 30 times longer sentence for the same conduct in the same location when charged in municipal rather than state court. HB25-1147, Fairness & Transparency in Municipal Court, brought by Colorado Freedom Fund, would have brought municipal court closer in alignment with basic legal standards in state court, including sentencing, access to counsel, and transparency parity.[1] Annie Martínez, CCLP’s Litigation Director, sent Governor Polis a letter urging him to sign HB25-1147.

We supported two other bills that Governor Polis vetoed. HB25-1004, No Pricing Coordination Between Landlords, would have made it illegal for a landlord to coordinate with other landlords in setting rent prices. As another bill that came back from last year’s session, we would have been the first state in the country to ban the use, sale, and distribution of software using algorithms to set rents. In Denver alone, algorithmic setting software inflates rent by $136 per month.[2] Unfortunately, Governor Polis vetoed this strong protection for and working families, in favor of corporate landlords.

The Governor’s most shocking veto of the session was HB25-1088, Costs for Ground Ambulance Services. This bill would have protected Coloradans from surprise bills after using an ambulance to get to a hospital. Governor Polis vetoed this bill despite unanimous bipartisan support from the Colorado legislature.

Bill losses

There were quite a few significant bill losses we felt should have passed this year. One of them being our priority bill, HB25-1264, Prohibit Surveillance Data to Set Prices and Wages. The bill would have provided crucial protections against discrimination caused by surveillance in an era when corporations increasingly collect extensive personal data — including browsing history, location information, political affiliations, and financial situations — to implement discriminatory pricing and wages. In response to the bill’s postponement, CCLP jointly-released a Press Release with the American Economic Liberties Project and Towards Justice. Charles Brennan provided testimony in support of the bill.

We were extremely hopeful HJR25-1023, Require General Assembly TABOR Constitutionality Lawsuit, would pass. The House Joint Resolution would have allowed the General Assembly to file a lawsuit to see if TABOR limitations on legislative authority violates the U.S. Constitution. Lawsuits against TABOR have happened before, but all arguments had the same outcome: the plaintiff did not have enough standing to make the argument. Advocates and legislators came together to argue that the legislature would be an entity with enough standing. Unfortunately, due to internal drama within the legislature, the bill was not heard in the Senate and was postponed indefinitely. Bethany Pray provided testimony in support of the Joint Resolution.

Federal advocacy

In addition to CCLP’s work throughout the legislative session, we also began advocating at the federal level following the new administration’s ever-growing catastrophic changes. CCLP wrote six blogs on various federal issues including Medicaid, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and executive orders coming from the president. We attended four rallies also in support of the CFPB and Medicaid in Greeley, Denver, and Northglenn. Charles Brennan spoke at one of the pro-CFPB rallies in Greeley, arguing the need for the Bureau to provide transparency and oversight for our country’s consumers. You can read his speech here. Bethany Pray also wrote an op-ed calling out Representative Gabe Evans about consumer protections and the CFPB prior to federal lawmakers voting on the CFPB rules.[3]

CCLP published five Issue Briefs, including three on Medicaid, one on the U.S. Supreme Court decision for Chevron, and one on the flawed Paragon Report. We signed on to 13 letters regarding a variety of anti-poverty policies: Medicaid, AI regulations, investments in workforce, support for the CFPB, protections for DACA individuals and immigrants, and executive orders (EOs). One such letter was sent directly to Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper about Medicaid cuts. You can read the letter and the letter addendum here.

As a result of the numerous EOs the president has made, CCLP created a webpage dedicated to providing updates and analyses about the EOs. It provided information on what an EO is, what it can and cannot do, as well as if it can be harmful. With each EO we analyzed, we included information on the responses and impacts it had on Colorado. We have since concluded this project, as there are plenty of other organizations and law firms tracking the presidential EOs with more intense scrutiny.

Alongside the EOs project, we created another webpage dedicated to immigrant resources and news in Colorado. The page includes legal information, community support, and policy advocacy among a variety of topics, including family safety, know your rights trainings, public charge impacts, and more. This page is updated every couple of weeks as new information arises, so you can stay informed here. CCLP also published two FAQ documents for child welfare in the case of family detention or deportation and child care facilities, due to rising concerns of ICE activity in Colorado. Both documents are available in English and Spanish. / Ambos documentos están disponibles en inglés y español.

Conclusion

This year’s session was, without a doubt, the busiest one CCLP has ever been a part of. Our work went well beyond the traditional legislative advocacy efforts this year, given the complexity of the political situation both in Colorado and across the country. Although there were some disappointments along the way, and TABOR-driven budget restrictions limited the scope of what could be accomplished in this session, we’re proud of the progress the state was able to make, and we’re grateful for our coalition partners who helped make good changes possible.  As it goes every year, we are already discussing what bills we want to bring forward for the 2026 legislative session.

For the bills that became law, we now look ahead to implementation. We will continue to have conversations with our coalition partners to ensure these policies work as they were intended. The work never truly ends, so onward and upward!

This wrap-up provides information on some of the bills we focused on, but you can see all our bill positions in our 2025 CCLP bill tracker.

 

Click here to read CCLP’s 2025 legislative wrap-up, part 1.

Click here to read CCLP’s 2025 legislative wrap-up part 2.

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[1] https://www.coloradofreedomfund.org/hb25-1147

[2] https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/cea/written-materials/2024/12/17/the-cost-of-anticompetitive-pricing-algorithms-in-rental-housing/

[3] Representative Gabe Evans voted in favor of the “Big Bad Bill”, cutting an estimated $800 billion in federal Medicaid spending, leaving vulnerable Coloradans at risk of death or serious harm.

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HEALTH:
HEALTH FIRST COLORADO (MEDICAID)

Health First Colorado is the name given to Colorado’s Medicaid program. Medicaid provides public, low-cost health insurance to qualifying adults and children. It is an entitlement program funded by the federal, state, and county governments and is administered by counties in Colorado. Those who are required to pay must pay a small co-pay when receiving certain health care services.

State Department: Department of Health Care Policy and Financing

Eligibility: Most adults 18 to 64 are eligible for Medicaid in Colorado if their household income is at or below 133% of the federal poverty limit (FPL). Pregnant women are eligible with incomes of up to 195% FPL, while children under 18 may be eligible if the live in a household with income at or below 142% FPL. Some adults over 65 may also be eligible for Medicaid.

Program Benefits: Through Medicaid, low-income Coloradans are eligible for a range of health care services at little to not cost. Services provided include doctors visits, prescription drugs, mental health services, and dental care. Co-pays for certain individuals may be needed for certain services.

Program Funding and Access: Colorado funds our Medicaid program through state and federal dollars. Medicaid is an entitlement program, which means that all who are eligible for Medicaid can access the program, regardless of the funding level in a given year. This does not mean that it is always easy to access Medicaid, even when eligible. And since the program is administered by counties, funding levels for county staff and other administrative roles can make it easier or harder for Coloradans to access the program. On top of this, not all medical providers accept Medicaid which limits the ability of Coloradans to seek health services even if enrolled, such as if the nearest provider is a 2+ hour drive away.

Note: This data is from before the pandemic and does not reflect changes in enrollment rules during the COVID-19 pandemic and public health emergency.

Statewide Program Access 2015-19: Over the study period of this report, an average of 89.0% of the population at or below 133% of FPL (i.e., the population who is likely to be eligible for Medicaid) were enrolled in Medicaid in Colorado.

FOOD SECURITY:
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP)

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP helps low-income Coloradans purchase food by providing individuals and families with a monthly cash benefit that can be used to buy certain foods. SNAP is an entitlement program that is funded by the federal and state governments and administered by counties in Colorado.

State Department: Department of Human Services

Eligibility: Currently, Coloradans qualify for SNAP if they have incomes below 200% FPL, are unemployed or work part-time or receive other forms of assistance such as TANF, among other eligibility criteria. Income eligibility for SNAP was different during the study period of this report than today—it was 130% FPL back in 2019 for example. The US Department of Agriculture uses the population at or below 125% FPL when calculating the Program Access Index (or PAI) for SNAP. We follow this practice in our analysis despite Colorado currently having a higher income eligibility threshold.

Program Benefits: SNAP participants receive a monthly SNAP benefit that is determined by the number of people in their household and their income. Benefit amounts decrease as income increases, helping households avoid a sudden loss of SNAP when their incomes increase, even by a minor amount. Benefits are provided to an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card that can be used to purchase eligible food items, such as fruits and vegetables; meat, poultry, and fish; dairy products; and breads and cereals. Other items, such as foods that are hot at their point of sale, are not allowable purchases under current SNAP rules.

Program Funding and Access: SNAP, like Medicaid, is a federal entitlement program. This means that Colorado must serve any Coloradan who is eligible for the program. As such, funding should not be a limit to how many Coloradans can be served by the program. However, funding for administration of SNAP at the state and county level can limit the ability of county human service departments to enroll those who are eligible. Other program rules and administrative barriers can make it difficult for Coloradans to receive the benefits they are legally entitled to receive.

Statewide Program Access 2015-19: Over the study period of this report, an average of 61.1% of the population at or below 125% of FPL (i.e., the population who is likely to be eligible for SNAP) were enrolled.

FOOD SECURITY:
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN (WIC)

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, also know as WIC, provides healthcare and nutritional support to low-income Coloradans who are pregnant, recently pregnant, breastfeeding, and to children under 5 who are nutritionally at risk based on a nutrition assessment.

State Department: Department of Public Health and Environment

Eligibility: To participate in WIC you must be pregnant, pregnant in the last six months, breastfeeding a baby under 1 year of age, or a child under the age of 5. Coloradans do not need to be U.S. citizens to be eligible for WIC. In terms of income, households cannot have incomes that exceed 185% FPL. Families who are enrolled in SNAP, TANF, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or Medicaid are automatically eligible for WIC. Regardless of gender, any parents, foster parents, or caregivers are able to apply for and use WIC services for eligible children.

Program Benefits: WIC provides a range of services to young children and their parents. These include funds to purchase healthy, fresh foods; breastfeeding support; personalized nutrition education and shopping tips; and referrals to health care and other services participants may be eligible for.

Program Funding and Access: WIC is funded by the US Department of Agriculture. The state uses these federal funds to contract with local providers, known as WIC Clinics. In most cases, these are county public health agencies, but that is not the case in all Colorado counties. Some WIC Clinics cover multiple counties, while others are served by multiple clinics. Private non-profit providers are also eligible to be selected as a WIC Clinic.

Statewide Program Access 2015-17: Between 2015 and 2017, an average of 52.2% of the population eligible for WIC were enrolled in the program in Colorado.

Financial Security:
Colorado Works

Colorado Works is the name given to Colorado’s program for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families or TANF. It is an employment program that supports families with dependent children on their path to self-sufficiency. Participants can receive cash assistance, schooling, workforce development and skills training depending on the services available in their county.

State Department: Department of Human Services

Eligibility: In general, Coloradans are eligible to enroll in TANF if they are a resident of Colorado, have one or more children under the age of 18 or pregnant, and have very low or no income. For example, to be eligible to receive a basic cash assistance grant through TANF, a single-parent of one child could not earn more than $331 per month, with some exclusions—and would only receive $440 per month (as of 2022). That said, there are other services provided by counties through TANF that those with incomes as high as $75,000 may be eligible for. In addition to these, participants in TANF are required to work or be pursuing an eligible “work activity” or work-related activity. Any eligible individual can only receive assistance if they have not previously been enrolled in TANF for a cumulative amount of time of more than 60 months—this is a lifetime limit that does not reset. Counties may have additional requirements and offer benefits that are not available in other counties in Colorado.

Program Benefits:  While the exact benefits that one is eligible for under TANF can vary, all qualified participants are eligible to receive a monthly cash payment, call basic cash assistance. Other than cash assistance, counties are have a lot of choice in how to use their TANF funding; generally a use of TANF funds is appropriate so long as it advances one or more of the four purposes of the program: (1) provide assistance to needy families so that children can be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of their relatives; (2) end the dependence of needy families on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage; (3) prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies; and (4) encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.

It is important to note that those eligible for TANF are also eligible for many of the other programs we’ve included in this report, such as SNAP, Medicaid, and CCCAP.

Program Funding and Access: Colorado funds its TANF program through funds received from the federal government through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant. Most of the federal funds are allocated by the state to counties, which are required to provide a 20% match of state funding. Federal and state rules allow the state and counties to retain a portion of unspent funds in a TANF reserve.

Statewide Program Access 2015-19: Over the study period of this report, an average of 50.7% of the population at or below 100% of FPL (i.e., the population who is likely to be eligible for TANF) were enrolled in TANF in Colorado.

EARLY LEARNING:
COLORADO CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CCCAP)

The Colorado Child Care Assistance Program provides child care assistance to low-income families and caregivers living in Colorado in the form of reduced payments for child care. It is a program funded by the federal, state, and county governments and is administered by counties in Colorado. The share owed by parents/caregivers is determined on a sliding scale based on the family’s income.

State Department: Department of Early Childhood Education

Eligibility: Counties set eligibility for families separately, but must serve families with incomes at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Limit. Families accepted to the program are no longer eligible once their income exceeds 85% of the state median income. Parents or caregivers must be employed, searching for work, or engaged in another approved activity to be eligible for CCCAP. Parents and caregivers enrolled in Colorado Works (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families or TANF) or in the child welfare system are also eligible to participate in CCCAP. Generally, CCCAP serves families with children under 13, although children as old as 19 may be eligible under certain circumstances.

Program Benefits: If a family is eligible for CCCAP and has income, they may likely have to pay a portion of their child’s or children’s child care costs each month. The amount that families owe is based on their gross income, number of household members, and the number of children in child care in the household. As such, households tend not to experience a benefit cliff with CCCAP when they see their incomes increase

Program Funding and Access: Colorado funds the CCCAP program using federal dollars it receives from the Child Care and Development Block Grant program. The state allocates federal and state funds to counties using a formula that takes into account factors like current caseloads and the number of eligible residents. Assistance is available until the county’s funds are spent, so the number of families that can be served is often a function of how much funding is available and the income and composition of the household that applies. It is not uncommon for counties to overspend or underspend their allocations of funds. The state reallocates unspent funds from counties who underspent to those who overspent. While underspending could indicate a problem with the way a county administers its CCCAP program, it could just as likely be a sign that there are few providers in the county who participate in CCCAP—or a lack of providers generally.

Statewide Program Access 2015-19: Over the study period of this report, an average of 10.8% of the population at or below 165% of FPL and younger than age 13 (i.e., the population who is likely to be eligible for CCCAP) were enrolled in CCCAP.

Housing:
HUD rental assistance programs

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has three housing assistance programs that we look at together: Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), Project-based Section 8, and Public Housing. In Colorado, these programs provided assistance to over 90% of the households who received federal housing assistance from all HUD programs. Through federally funded, local or regional public housing agencies (PHAs) are the agencies that administer these programs, through not all are available in all counties. These are not the only programs available in Colorado that assist households afford the cost of housing, such as units funded through federal and state tax credit programs.

State Department: Department of Local Affairs

Eligibility: Generally, households with incomes under 50% of the area median income (AMI) of the county they live in are eligible for these rental assistance programs, although PHAs have discretion to select households with incomes at higher percentages of AMI. That said, HUD requires that 75% of new vouchers issued through the Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8 program in a given year are targeted to households with incomes at or below 30% of AMI. PHAs are also able to create criteria that give priority to certain types of households who are on waiting lists for these programs.

Program Benefits: These rental assistance programs help households afford the cost of housing by reducing their housing costs to around 30% of their household income. In the case of the Housing Choice Voucher program, the PHA pays the voucher holder’s landlord the remaining portion of the rent.

Program Funding and Access: Funding and access are both challenges for these rental assistance programs. In addition to limitations on the number of public housing units or housing vouchers a PHA can manage or issue, lack of funding compared to the need constrains the ability of PHAs to assist low-income households. In 2020, Coloradans were on waitlists for Housing Choice Vouchers for an average of 17 months. Waitlists also exist for the other rental assistance programs.

Statewide Program Access 2015-19: Over the study period of this report, an average of 21.1% of renter households with incomes at or below 50% AMI (i.e., the population who is likely to be eligible for HUD rental assistance programs) were living in subsidized housing.