2025 Legislative Session – Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council

By: Kristina Ericson

The 2025 legislative session was a period of growth, successful advocacy, and community building for the Developmental Disabilities Council. We celebrated major wins for the disability community, worked with a growing number of legislators from across the State, and poured our time and effort into advocating for change for Coloradans, both here in the state and on the federal level. The Council’s Legislative and Public Policy Committee (LPP) monitored, supported, and provided educational support on more bills in 2025 than in any other year. As I celebrate one year working on behalf of this amazing organization and group of advocates, I could not be more excited for the work we’ve done together. You can learn more about our 2025 policy priorities here.

By the numbers, in 2025 LPP members:

Tracked 25 bills. We actively supported 16, and closely monitored and additional 9.
Provided written and in-person testimony on 12 bills
Created and distributed 3 new educational materials on issues currently imparting the IDD community in Colorado
Met with 10 state legislators to provide educational support on current issues
Wrote numerous letters and informational briefs to Colorado’s congressional delegation
Hosted a Council Day at the Capitol event, and participated in the state’s annual Disability Rights Advocacy Day. A few LPP members were even invited to the House floor as special guests of legislators!

Most excitingly, of the 16 bills we actively supported this legislative session 14 passed through the general assembly and have made their way to the governor’s desk. These bills, when signed by Governor Polis, will increase legal protections, break down barriers, and advance community inclusions for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Some of the bills we tirelessly advocated for this year include:

HB25 – 1017 – Also known as the Olmstead Bill, this bill will codify many of the protections set forth in the federal Olmstead Act on the state level. The federal Olmstead Act, passed in 1999, protects the rights of people with disabilities to live in the communities of their choice and not be forced into institutional care.
SB25 – 001 – The Colorado Voting Rights Act. This bill will codify the federal Voting Rights Act on the state level, and protect the rights of Colorado voters and make sure that civic engagement is accessible, inclusive, and understood. Specifically, this bill will improve election and voting notices and processes in facilities serving individuals with disabilities.
HB25-1239 – The Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act. The bill expands legal remedies for individuals with disabilities who experience discriminatory practices related to public accommodations.
HB25-1248 – Known as the Protect Students from Restraint & Seclusion Act, this bill provides new guidance for school districts on how to better protect students from acts of physical restraint and seclusion in schools.

While major strides for disability equity and inclusion came out of the 2025 session, it wasn’t all good news. This year the Developmental Disabilities Council testified, alongside community partners, in support of two particular bills that sadly did not pass. We believe that these bills would have expanded disability rights and protections across the State, and we are committed to continue to advocate for these issues.

Our losses were:

SB25-134, The Uniform Guardianship & Conservatorship Act, which sought to replace the Uniform Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Act (originally passed in 2001) and expand the rights of people living under guardianship or conservatorship. Colorado lags behind in updating its guardianship laws and advancing less restrictive alternatives like Supported Decision Making, a viable and possible option that many families do not know about and do not learn about from medical and legal professionals that still tend to offer guardianship first.

and

HB 25-117, Prohibit School Seclusion, which would have prohibited the use of seclusion on students in Colorado schools, required the state to amend current rules and policies on school seclusion, and required the State to maintain resources on the impacts of school seclusion on students. The Council has been working on eliminating the use of seclusion and restraints in Colorado schools for more than 10 years, and will continue to support advancing better policy solutions to allow students with disabilities to access education free of outdated seclusion practices. This year, the LPP Committee created and distributed a Student Seclusion Fact Sheet to continue these efforts.

In recent months the Council has also come together to strongly advocate for disability rights and protections on the federal level. I am incredibly proud of the advocacy and education work that Councilmembers have conducted to protect Medicaid, advocate for autistic communities, and let congress know how important federally funded disability offices and programs (like the DD Councils) are to our states and communities. Since January we have written letters, met with members and staff of Colorado’s congressional delegation, and shared educational resources and stories.

As we march forward through 2025 the Council will continue its efforts to educate, advocate, and work with our partners nationally to protect disability rights. There are many unknowns, and uncertainties, right now on the federal level. What we do know is that many disability rights and protections are under attack, and many federal offices and programs that work to support disabled Americans have been eliminated or are unsure of what the future holds. Threats to Medicaid, SNAP, veteran support, research funding, and programs under the Administration for Community Living will deeply harm people with disabilities in our country. We will be working closely with our community partners, legislators, and partner agencies to advocate for these critical supports and services throughout 2025, and for years to come.

Disability advocacy is community work, and the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council is a shining example of how powerful communities can be. I am excited to work alongside such powerful legislative advocates, and look forward to the work ahead!

In Community,

Kristina Ericson