HB26-1229 • 2026

Supporting the Human-Animal Bond

The bill amends the definition of 'social determinants of health' to acknowledge acknowledges the human-animal bond as a life-enhancing resource that impacts the length and quality of human life. The

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Rep. L. Feret, Rep. R. Taggart, Sen. J. Amabile, Sen. J. Rich, Rep. S. Camacho, Rep. M. Carter, Rep. C. Clifford, Rep. M. Duran, Rep. L. García, Rep. R. Gonzalez, Rep. E. Hamrick, Rep. J. Jackson, Rep. M. Lindsay, Rep. K. Nguyen, Rep. A. Paschal, Rep. M. Rutinel, Rep. A. Valdez, Rep. S. Woodrow, Sen. A. Benavidez, Sen. J. Carson, Sen. J. Coleman, Sen. L. Cutter, Sen. I. Jodeh, Sen. C. Kipp, Sen. C. Kolker, Sen. J. Marchman, Sen. K. Wallace, Sen. M. Weissman
Last action: 2026-04-09
Official status: Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide specific details on defining the human-animal bond, only that it is a factor affecting health and well-being.

Supporting the Human-Animal Bond

The bill changes how 'social determinants of health' are defined to include the human-animal bond and allows grants for programs that support this bond if more funding is provided by the state legislature.

What This Bill Does

Changes the definition of social determinants of health to include the human-animal bond as a factor that affects people's health.
Allows the health disparities and community grant program to award grants to entities supporting the human-animal bond if more funding is provided by the state legislature.

Who It Names or Affects

People who receive grants from the health disparities and community grant program.
Individuals and organizations that support the human-animal bond.

Terms To Know

Social determinants of health: Factors in people's lives, like their environment or relationships, that can affect their health.
Human-animal bond: The special relationship between a person and an animal they care for, which can be good for both the person’s and the animal’s well-being.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not require any specific funding to support the human-animal bond; it only allows such funding if more money is given by the state legislature.
It's unclear how many programs will actually receive grants under this new rule.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

L.001

HOU Health & Human Services

Passed [*]

Plain English: The amendment adds a new definition to Colorado Revised Statutes that recognizes the human-animal bond as a social determinant of health and allows grants to support this relationship.

Adds a new section (4) in Colorado Revised Statute 25-4-2203, which defines 'human-animal bond' and permits grant funding for entities that promote the human-animal bond as a social determinant of health.

The amendment does not specify how much money will be allocated to support the human-animal bond through grants.

L.002

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes the definition of 'social determinants of health' to include recognition of the human-animal bond as a positive influence on people's lives.

Adds language that declares the General Assembly acknowledges the relationship between humans and animals, but clarifies it does not grant animals rights equivalent to those of humans.

The amendment text is somewhat technical and may be hard for some readers to understand fully without additional context.
It's unclear how this change will affect existing laws or policies related to health determinants.

L.005

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: The amendment removes a specific clause from the Health and Human Services Committee Report that prevents animals from being treated as legal persons or giving them standing in civil or criminal proceedings.

Removes language from section 35-80-102 (10) of the committee report.

The amendment does not provide details on how the human-animal bond will be acknowledged as a social determinant of health.
It is unclear what specific impacts this removal will have on existing laws or future legislation regarding animals and legal standing.

L.006

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: The amendment removes language that would have recognized the human-animal bond as a social determinant of health for state program eligibility or benefits.

Removes the part of the bill that acknowledges the human-animal bond as a factor affecting people's health and well-being in relation to state programs.

The amendment text does not provide details about why this language is being removed or what impact it will have on existing policies.
It is unclear how this change affects the overall purpose of supporting the human-animal bond as stated in the bill's title.

Bill History

2026-04-09 Senate
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
2026-04-08 Senate
Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments
2026-04-02 Senate
Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
2026-03-18 Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human Services
2026-03-13 House
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
2026-03-12 House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
2026-03-10 House
House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
2026-02-18 House
Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services

Official Summary Text

The bill
amends the definition of 'social determinants of health' to acknowledge

acknowledges
the human-animal bond as a life-enhancing resource that impacts the length and quality of human life.
The change authorizes, but does not require,

The bill authorizes
the health disparities and community grant program
(grant program)
to
direct funds to programs

award grants to entities
that support the human-animal bond
if the grant program is appropriated additional funds for that purpose by the general assembly
.
(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REREVISED
This Version Includes All Amendments
Adopted in the Second House
LLS NO. 26-0766.01 Christopher McMichael x4775 HOUSE BILL 26-1229
House Committees Senate Committees
Health & Human Services Health & Human Services
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING AUTHORIZING THE HEALTH DISPARITIES AND101
COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM TO CONSIDER THE102
HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND AS A SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH.103
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill amends the definition of "social determinants of health"
to acknowledge the human-animal bond as a life-enhancing resource that
impacts the length and quality of human life. The change authorizes, but
does not require, the health disparities and community grant program to
direct funds to programs that support the human-animal bond.
SENATE
3rd Reading Unamended
April 9, 2026
SENATE
2nd Reading Unamended
April 8, 2026
HOUSE
3rd Reading Unamended
March 13, 2026
HOUSE
Amended 2nd Reading
March 12, 2026
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Taggart and Feret, Camacho, Carter, Clifford, Dura n, Garcia, Gonzalez R., Hamrick,
Jackson, Lindsay, Nguyen, Paschal, Rutinel, Valdez, Woodrow
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Amabile and Rich, Benavidez, Carson, Coleman, Cutter, Jodeh, Kipp, Kolker, Marchman,
Wallace, Weissman
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-4-2203, add (4)2
as follows:3
25-4-2203. Health disparities and community grant program4
human-animal bond - definitions - rules.5
(4) (a) SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS MADE BY THE6
GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO THE GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSE OF7
SUPPORTING THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND, THE GRANT PROGRAM MAY8
AWARD GRANTS TO ENTITIES THAT SUPPORT THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND AS9
A SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH.10
(b) AS USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE11
REQUIRES:12
(I) "HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND" MEANS THE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL13
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AN INDIVIDUAL AND A PET ANIMAL WITHIN THE14
INDIVIDUAL'S CARE AND CUSTODY.15
(II) " PET ANIMAL" HAS THE MEANING SET FORTH IN SECTION16
35-80-102 (10).17
SECTION 2. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act18
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the19
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August20
12, 2026, if adj ournment sine die is on May 13, 2026); except that, if a21
referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the22
state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act23
within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect24
unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in25
1229-2-
November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the1
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.2
1229-3-