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. 26-0043.01 Jennifer Berman x3286 HOUSE BILL 26-1238
House Committees Senate Committees
Health & Human Services Health & Human Services
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDED IN THE101
STATE, AND , IN CONNECTION THEREWITH , DESIGNATING102
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES , INCLUDING AMBULANCE103
SERVICES AND AIR AMBULANCE SERVICES , TO BE ESSENTIAL104
SERVICES.105
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 declares emergency medical services as an essential
service in the state and an integral part of the state's health-care
SENATE
3rd Reading Unamended
April 7, 2026
SENATE
2nd Reading Unamended
April 6, 2026
HOUSE
3rd Reading Unamended
March 12, 2026
HOUSE
Amended 2nd Reading
March 11, 2026
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Johnson and Lukens, Barron, Bradfield, Bradley, Clifford, Feret, Garcia Sander, Lieder,
Martinez, Mauro, McCluskie, Nguyen, Richardson, Soper, Suckla, Taggart, Velasco, Winter
T., Bacon, Boesenecker, Brown, Caldwell, Dura n, Flanell, Froelich, Garcia, Gonzalez R.,
Hamrick, Jackson, Keltie, Lindsay, Mabrey, Marshall, McCormick, Paschal, Rutinel, Rydin,
Smith, Stewart K., Story, Titone, Weinberg
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Baisley and Lindstedt, Frizell, Pelton R., Rich, R oberts, Amabile, Carson, Coleman,
Daugherty, Exum, Jodeh, Kipp, Liston, Marchman
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.
infrastructure. In relation to the declaration, the bill authorizes:
! Public and private ambulance services in the state to
participate in, and receive reimbursement from, public
safety-related systems coordinated by the department of
personnel or the department of public safety;
! The disbursement of money from the emergency medical
services account in the highway users tax fund to counties
and cities and counties that authorize ambulance services
within their boundaries; and
! The governor to direct the transfer of money from the
disaster emergency fund to the emergency medical services
account to finance emergency medical services needed in
response to a declared disaster emergency.
The bill also updates certain definitions related to emergency
medical services, including the addition of a definition of "out-of-hospital
setting", which term is included in and may be used interchangeably with
the existing defined term "prehospital setting".
The bill clarifies that an off-duty emergency medical service
provider is not obligated to respond to the scene of a medical emergency
or provide emergency medical services.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly2
finds that:3
(a) The state of Colorado recognizes the critical and essential role4
that emergency medical service providers play in safeguarding the health5
and safety of our communities;6
(b) These dedicated professionals serve as first responders during7
medical crises, delivering immediate and often lifesaving care to people8
in dire need; and9
(c) Emergency medical service providers encompass a diverse10
range of highly trained and skilled medical personnel, including11
paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and other specialized12
medical responders.13
(2) The general assembly therefore declares that:14
1238-2-
(a) The provision of emergency medical services constitutes a1
vital component of the health-care system in the state; and2
(b) Our health-care system is multifacet ed, and em ergency3
medical services play a crucial role in the system and provide an essential4
service in the state.5
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-3.5-102, add (5)6
and (6) as follows:7
25-3.5-102. Legislative declaration.8
(5) (a) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FURTHER FINDS THAT:9
(I) THE PROVISION OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, INCLUDING10
AMBULANCE SERVICES AND AIR AMBULANCE SERVICES, IS ESSENTIAL TO11
THE PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF THE12
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO;13
(II) A CCESS TO TIMELY AND APPROPRIATE MEDICAL CARE IN14
OUT-OF-HOSPITAL SERVICES IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THE STATE 'S15
HEALTH-CARE INFRASTRUCTURE, PARTICULARLY IN RURAL AND FRONTIER16
AREAS OF THE STATE IN WHICH HOSPITALS AND OTHER HEALTH -CARE17
RESOURCES MAY BE LIMITED; AND18
(III) EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES FUNCTION AS AN INTEGRAL19
PART OF THE CONTINUUM OF CARE BY BRIDGING PREHOSPITAL ,20
INTERFACILITY, AND COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH-CARE DELIVERY.21
(b) THEREFORE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DECLARES THAT:22
(I) I T IS NECESSARY TO RECOGNIZE AND SUPPORT EMERGENCY23
MEDICAL SERVICES AS AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE IN THE STATE OF COLORADO24
AND TO ENSURE THAT EACH RESIDENT OF AND VISITOR TO THE STATE HAS25
ACCESS TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES;26
(II) A S ESSENTIAL HEALTH -CARE PROVIDERS AND FIRST27
1238-3-
RESPONDERS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE EXPECTED1
TO RESPOND DURING A DECLARED DISASTER, PRESCRIBED CLOSURE, CRISIS,2
OR EMERGENCY; AND3
(III) IT IS THE POLICY OF THE STATE OF COLORADO THAT:4
(A) W HEN IN ACTIVE SERVICE , EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE5
PROVIDERS ARE AUTHORIZED TO TRAVEL UNENCUMBERED UPON THE6
ROADS AND HIGHWAYS WITHIN THE STATE; AND7
(B) A T ANY TIME OR PLACE IN WHICH EMERGENCY MEDICAL8
SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE CALLED TO RESPOND , THEIR PERFORMANCE OF9
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES FALLS WITHIN THE DUTIES AND10
CLASSIFIED DEMANDS OF THEIR JOBS AND THE REGULAR USAGE AND WEAR11
OF THEIR VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT. 12
(6) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RECOGNIZES AND DECLARES THAT13
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ARE ESSENTIAL. WHEN ACTING ON DUTY14
OR RESPONDING AS A VOLUNTEER , EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE15
PROVIDERS, INCLUDING PROVIDERS OF EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE16
AND NONEMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE, ARE RECOGNIZED AS17
PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES REGARDLESS OF LOCATION.18
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-3.5-103, amend19
(1.3), (3), (9), and (10.3); and add (7.2), (8.9), and (9.2) as follows:20
25-3.5-103. Definitions.21
As used in this article 3.5, unless the context otherwise requires:22
(1.3) "Air ambulance service" means any A public or private entity23
that uses an air ambulance to transport patients to a medical facility AND24
INCLUDES THE PROVISION OF EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE AND25
NONEMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE.26
(3) (a) "Ambulance service" means the furnishing, operating,27
1238-4-
conducting, maintaining, advertising, or otherwise engaging in or1
professing to be engaged in the transportation of patients by ambulance2
AND INCLUDES THE PROVISION OF EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE AND3
NONEMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE.4
(b) Taken in context, it "AMBULANCE SERVICE" also means the5
person so engaged PROVIDING or professing to be so engaged PROVIDING6
AMBULANCE SERVICE.7
(c) The person so engaged PROVIDING and the vehicles used for8
the emergency transportation of persons INDIVIDUALS injured at a mine9
are excluded from this definition when the personnel utilized in the10
operation of said THE vehicles are subject to the mandatory safety11
standards of the federal mine safety and health administration, or its12
successor agency.13
(7.2) "EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE" MEANS AN IMMEDIATE14
AMBULANCE OR AIR AMBULANCE RESPONSE AT THE TIME AMBULANCE15
SERVICE OR AIR AMBULANCE SERVICE IS REQUESTED THAT RESULTS IN THE16
ASSESSMENT, TREATMENT , OR TRANSPORT OF A PATIENT BY AN17
AMBULANCE OR AIR AMBULANCE.18
(8.9) "N ONEMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE " MEANS THE19
TRANSPORT OF A PATIENT BY AN AMBULANCE OR AIR AMBULANCE AND20
THAT INCLUDES THE PROVISION OF MEDICALLY NECESSARY SUPPLIES AND21
SERVICES AND MEETS THE MEDICAL NECESSITY REQUIREMENTS UNDER 4222
CFR 410.40 (e), AS THAT SECTION EXISTED ON JULY 1, 2025.23
(9) "Patient" means any individual who is sick, injured, or24
otherwise incapacitated or helpless "OUT-OF-HOSPITAL SERVICES" MEANS25
FURNISHING ANY NECESSARY GOODS AND SERVICES OUTSIDE OF A26
HOSPITAL SETTING FOR THE PURPOSE OF PREVENTING , ALLEVIATING ,27
1238-5-
CURING, OR HEALING HUMAN ILLNESS, A PHYSICAL DISABILITY, A PHYSICAL1
INJURY, OR A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER WHILE RESPONDING TO AN2
EMERGENCY OR OTHER HEALTH -CARE CONDITION . "OUT-OF-HOSPITAL3
SERVICES" DOES NOT INCLUDE PREHOSPITAL SETTING TRANSPORTS.4
(9.2) "PATIENT" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS SICK, INJURED, OR5
OTHERWISE INCAPACITATED OR HELPLESS.6
(10.3) "Prehospital "setting" means one of the following settings7
in which an emergency medical service provider performs patient care,8
which care is subject to medical direction by a medical director:9
(a) At the site of an emergency;10
(b) During emergency transport; or11
(c) During interfacility transport; OR12
(d) WHILE PROVIDING OUT-OF-HOSPITAL SERVICES.13
14
SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-3.5-203, add (6)15
as follows:16
25-3.5-203. Emergency medical service providers - licensure17
- renewal of license - duties of department - rules - record checks -18
definitions.19
(6) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, NOTHING20
IN THIS ARTICLE 3.5 IMPOSES ON AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE21
PROVIDER AN OBLIGATION TO RESPOND TO THE SCENE OF A MEDICAL22
EMERGENCY OR TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES WHEN THE23
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE PROVIDER IS OFF DUTY.24
25
SECTION 5. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act26
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the27
1238-6-
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August1
12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13, 2026); except that, if a2
referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the3
state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act4
within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect5
unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in6
November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the7
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.8
1238-7-