Written by Kristina Ericson, MSW, Director of Policy and Partnerships
The Colorado State Legislature has officially wrapped up the Second Regular Session of the Seventy-fifth General Assembly. Regular sessions of the general assembly take place between the months of January and May each year, and are the period of time when state-level bills are turned into laws (or not).
It was an incredibly tough session. This was mainly due to huge budget constraints and deficits in Colorado (approximately $1 billion). Because of cuts in federal funding, state restraints from policies like TABOR, and other financial impacts, the state legislature made cuts to critical state programs and resources that will impact people with disabilities. The legislature’s Joint Budget Committee had to make difficult decisions about which programs needed to be downsized and what budgets had to be cut in order to balance the state budget. Many of the budget cuts that were made this year were to Medicaid programs and resources, which thousands of Coloradans with disabilities and their families rely on to live supported, meaningful, healthy lives. We’ll dive into this more below.
Despite these constraints, the Developmental Disabilities Council was a force at the Capitol this year. The Council’s Legislative and Public Policy Committee (LPP) members and staff worked exceptionally hard to educate legislators and state agencies on issues currently impacting Coloradans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), and we had some BIG wins!
Some of our LPP Committee successes this session include:
- Actively tracking and monitoring 15 bills, 12 of which passed into law!
- Meeting with more than 13 state legislators throughout the session
- Playing a key role in organizing Colorado’s annual Disability Rights Advocacy Day
- Providing testimony on 15 bills (which each have multiple committee hearings where testimony is provided – this is a lot!)
- Hosting our second-annual LPP Day at the Capitol where we met with more than 10 legislators and guided new Council members through the testimony process
- Providing education and testimony to the state’s Board of Education on new proposed rules to restraint and seclusion policy
- Educating staff members from Sen. Bennett and Sen. Hickenlooper’s offices about pending federal legislation
- And more!
Council members and staff meet with Senator Marchman about legislation we supported this year.
The Council’s Legislative and Public Policy committee democratically chooses which bills and policies to support, monitor, oppose, and interact with each legislative session. LPP is made up of 9 council members, and is staffed by CDDC’s Policy Director.
We don’t believe in working in silos. We work closely with state legislators (representatives and senators), legislative staff, state agencies, and community organizations from around the state throughout the year to educate and advocate for a better Colorado for all. During the legislative session, LPP meets every other week to discuss new bills that have been introduced, talk about what legislation impacts (or could impact) people with I/DD and their families, and vote on what bills to support, monitor or oppose. The bills that we track each session are chosen with deliberation, care, and an understanding that there are so many access barriers to personal care, education, housing, employment, transportation, and much more.
This session was incredibly difficult. The biggest battles we faced this session were the threatened, and actual, cuts to Medicaid programs. Multiple programs and services funded by Colorado’s Medicaid program had to be downsized, defunded, or cut. This is a big deal. As of March 2026, 1,234,627 Coloradans are enrolled in Health First Colorado, the state’s Medicaid program. This means that nearly 20% of the state’s population, or about one in five Coloradans, relies on Medicaid for care. The cost of providing these services has grown faster than the funding available. Simply put, there is a limited amount of money to support a very large and growing need. Because of this, state leaders are making adjustments to how Medicaid services are structured, reviewed, and funded in order to keep the program sustainable over time. Some changes are already in effect, and more changes will take place this July and throughout the next year.
Beginning in 2026, Colorado’s Medicaid program is expected to make a series of updates to long-term services and supports. These potential changes affect services provided through several waivers (including CES, SLS, DD, CHRP, and others), as well as the Community First Choice (CFC) program. 1 in 5 Coloradans will be impacted by cuts to dental services, provider rates, long term services and supports (LTSS), and more. Family caregivers, who overwhelmingly support people with I/DD, may experience pay cuts and limits on reimbursable hours per caregiver.
You can learn more about these changes in greater detail by going to the Department of Healthcare Policy and Financing (HCPF) website, or by reaching out to Council staff. We know how difficult this is, and we’re here for you.
Council staff members Kristina, Vanessa, and Sarah pose for a picture at Disability Rights Advocacy Day 2026
Where do we go from here? This summer, the LPP committee will continue to advocate for Coloradans with I/DD through advocacy and education. We will work closely with members, community and other disability advocacy organizations to bring new legislation to life for the 2027 legislative session next January, and to make sure that people with I/DD are being listened to, supported, and centered in this fight.
Council members and staff will also be monitoring and responding to rulemaking processes in the coming months. Rulemaking is the official, legally mandated process where government agencies create, modify, or repeal regulations. After the state legislature passes new laws, state agencies then use the rulemaking process to figure out specific details, requirements, staffing, and more. We will be tracking proposed rule changes to supported employment, early intervention, and other critical programs in the coming weeks to ensure that I/DD communities have their voices heard in these processes.
Next year we will face yet another devastating budget deficit in the State of Colorado. There will be more cuts, more loss, and more barriers ahead. The Council is here, and we’re ready for the fight. Please join us!
Want to get involved? LPP meetings take place once a month during the summer and fall, and twice a month during the legislative session. These virtual meetings are open to the public, and community members are welcome to join the committee even if they are not voting members of the Council.
If you’re interested in getting involved with the Council’s legislative work, please reach out to me at any time. I’m happy to answer any questions, and get you in the loop!
Here’s to a restful summer, and an impactful next session. Let’s take care of each other.
In community,
Kristina Ericson, MSW
Director of Policy and Partnerships
