Part 2 of CCLP’s 2026 legislative wrap-up, including defending public programs, strengthening consumer rights, and looking to the future.
Anthony Lux serves as CCLP's director of communications. His areas of expertise include institutional communications strategies, constituency growth and network activation for cause-driven organizations. Staff page ›
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2026 Legislative wrap-up, part 1
Part 1 of CCLP's 2026 legislative wrap-up, including advocacy work, policy priorities, and advancing economic justice.
CCLP testifies in support of Colorado families
Charles Brennan provided testimony in support of House Bill 26-1221, which would have scaled back two corporate tax breaks to go to a new tax credit to help families with kids. This bill was one of four bills a part of Colorado Fiscal Institute’s fiscal policy package, and one of CCLP’s priorities. Unfortunately, the bill was postponed indefinitely.
CCLP testifies against bill that could harm low-wage workers
Katherine Wallat, Legal Director at CCLP, provided testimony against House Bill 26-1327, which aimed to address the problem of large corporations relying on the state to provide health insurance by paying their workers low enough wages to enroll in Medicaid. CCLP agrees corporations should pay their fair share, but ultimately opposed the bill because of the harm it could cause workers perceived to use Medicaid due to their age, disability, or income level.
Press release: Advocacy organizations urge Colorado’s Medicaid agency to reject federal data request
Directive from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services threatens the safety of Colorado’s immigrant communities and the privacy rights of patients
DENVER, CO, June 18, 2025 — Colorado Center on Law and Policy, Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights, The Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, The Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, and The Colorado Children’s Campaign are sounding the alarm over an unprecedented federal request endangering the privacy, health, and safety of Colorado’s immigrant communities. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has directed Colorado’s Medicaid program to hand over detailed personal and health data on undocumented immigrants who are eligible and enrolled in the federal Emergency Medicaid program.
This request comes on the heels of news reports (AP News, PBS) that CMS turned over similar data from California, Washington, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. to deportation officials in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The requested data includes personally identifiable information (PII) and protected health information (PHI), raising grave concerns about potential misuse by federal enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
According to a Denver Post report this morning, the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) is “reviewing the federal data request and developing a plan,” without clarifying whether that plan includes full or partial compliance. Advocacy organizations warn, however, that compliance with this directive may be in violation of constitutional and statutory obligations to safeguard resident data against federal overreach. Because CMS has reportedly shared California data with deportation officials, people in Colorado have good reason to be concerned about the end goal of the request to HCPF.
“This data request is a giant step toward authoritarian surveillance,” said CCLP Litigation Director Annie Martínez, Esq. “Public health data must never be used to criminalize sickness, poverty, or immigration status.”
Emergency Medicaid exists to ensure access to critical care, in particular childbirth and life-saving interventions, for people who are otherwise excluded from health coverage.
Bethany Pray, Esq., CCLP Chief Legal and Policy Officer, warned of the harms this data sharing would create: “Turning private health data over to federal law enforcement will erode trust in public systems, deter families from seeking care, and directly undermine Colorado’s laws and values.”
“Colorado’s Medicaid program must not be transformed into a tool for surveillance,” continued Pray. “It is a safety net, and we must keep it that way.”
“Immigrant communities have fought for decades to access basic healthcare in Colorado,” stated Nicole Cervera Loy, Policy and Campaign Manager at the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition. “We will not allow our communities to be punished for using care they are entitled to under Colorado law. State leaders and institutions must reject this request and protect our communities from surveillance and harm.”
“We are deeply concerned about the potential implications of having personal identifying health information turned over to an agency that has no authority over CMS or Medicaid. Coloradans with disabilities expect that both the state and federal government will judiciously guard their personal information, including sensitive health information,” said Hillary Jogensen, Co-Executive Director of the Colorado Cross Disability Coalition.
The assembled organizations call on state agencies and leaders to:
- Refuse to share data that enables surveillance or violates individual privacy;
- Ensure full transparency and public oversight over any data-sharing with federal agencies;
- Publicly affirm the state’s non-cooperation with immigration enforcement through healthcare systems;
- Hold public hearings and issue clear guidance to reassure communities that their information is safe.
“The goal of Medicaid is better health for individuals and communities — not to fuel fear and punishment,” said Martínez. “We demand action to protect the privacy, dignity, and care that every Coloradan deserves.”
More information on the organizations represented
- Colorado Center on Law and Policy (CCLP): copolicy.org
- Colorado Consumer Health Initiative (CCHI): cohealthinitiative.org
- Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR): colorlatina.org
- Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition (CCDC): ccdconline.org
- Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC): coloradoimmigrant.org
- Colorado Children’s Campaign: coloradokids.org
Recent articles
2026 Legislative wrap-up, part 2
Part 2 of CCLP’s 2026 legislative wrap-up, including defending public programs, strengthening consumer rights, and looking to the future.
2026 Legislative wrap-up, part 1
Part 1 of CCLP's 2026 legislative wrap-up, including advocacy work, policy priorities, and advancing economic justice.
CCLP testifies in support of Colorado families
Charles Brennan provided testimony in support of House Bill 26-1221, which would have scaled back two corporate tax breaks to go to a new tax credit to help families with kids. This bill was one of four bills a part of Colorado Fiscal Institute’s fiscal policy package, and one of CCLP’s priorities. Unfortunately, the bill was postponed indefinitely.
CCLP testifies against bill that could harm low-wage workers
Katherine Wallat, Legal Director at CCLP, provided testimony against House Bill 26-1327, which aimed to address the problem of large corporations relying on the state to provide health insurance by paying their workers low enough wages to enroll in Medicaid. CCLP agrees corporations should pay their fair share, but ultimately opposed the bill because of the harm it could cause workers perceived to use Medicaid due to their age, disability, or income level.