HB26-1378 • 2026

Repeal Behavioral Health Resources

Joint Budget Committee. The bill: Repeals the requirement that the behavioral health administration (BHA) contract with a nonprofit organization serving agricultural and rural communities in Colorado

Budget

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Rep. E. Sirota, Rep. R. Taggart, Sen. J. Bridges, Sen. B. Kirkmeyer, Rep. K. Brown, Sen. J. Amabile
Last action: 2026-04-14
Official status: Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included details about reducing appropriations to the department of education, which is not covered in the provided official bill summary.

Repeal of Behavioral Health Resources

This bill removes certain behavioral health programs and funding in Colorado.

What This Bill Does

Removes the requirement for the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) to contract with a nonprofit organization that helps agricultural and rural communities get vouchers for behavioral health care services.
Eliminates the need for BHA to work with an independent third party to support behavioral health providers who want to become safety net providers.
Cancels the grant program aimed at building substance use disorder treatment capacity in underserved areas.
Ends the recovery support services grant program.
Moves leftover money from a special fund called the high-risk families cash fund into the general state fund and then cancels this fund.

Who It Names or Affects

Behavioral health providers who rely on grants or contracts for their work.
People in rural areas who use vouchers to access mental health care services.
The Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) which will no longer have these requirements and programs to manage.

Terms To Know

Behavioral Health Provider: An organization or professional that provides help for people with behavioral health issues, like mental illness or substance use disorders.
High-Risk Families Cash Fund: A fund used to provide financial support to families at risk of losing access to essential services due to financial difficulties.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what will happen to the people who were supposed to receive benefits from these programs.
It is unclear how the reduction in funding for behavioral health services will affect those communities that rely on them.

Amendments

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

L.004

SEN Appropriations

Passed [*]

Plain English: The amendment changes the requirements for behavioral health administration contracts in Colorado by removing specific language related to nonprofit organizations serving agricultural and rural communities and adjusting funding levels.

Removes the requirement that the BHA must contract with a nonprofit organization focused on agricultural and rural communities.
Decreases the general fund appropriation for behavioral health vouchers by $50,000 in the 2026-27 state fiscal year if certain conditions are met.

The amendment's text is technical and may have additional implications not fully explained here.
Specific details about how the removal of contract requirements will affect services for rural and agricultural communities are unclear from this information alone.

L.002

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes the requirement for the behavioral health administration to contract with a nonprofit organization serving agricultural and rural communities in Colorado by altering specific sections of the bill.

Removes certain references to subsections that require the BHA to contract with a nonprofit organization.
Modifies section (3) of the statute to allow annual appropriation for the contract awarded, changing the fiscal year from 2021-22 to 2026-27 and beyond.

The amendment text is technical and does not fully explain all changes in plain English.
It's unclear what specific impacts this change will have on the services provided to rural and agricultural communities.

Bill History

2026-04-14 Senate
Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
2026-04-13 Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Appropriations
2026-04-11 House
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
2026-04-10 House
House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
2026-04-09 House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Floor
2026-04-08 House
House Second Reading Special Order - Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
2026-04-06 House
House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
2026-04-02 House
Introduced In House - Assigned to Appropriations

Official Summary Text

Joint Budget Committee.
The bill:
Repeals the requirement that the behavioral health administration (BHA) contract with a nonprofit organization serving agricultural and rural communities in Colorado to provide vouchers for behavioral health care services;
Repeals the requirement that the BHA contract with an independent third party to provide services and supports to behavioral health providers seeking to become behavioral health safety net providers;
Repeals the building substance use disorder treatment capacity in underserved communities grant program;
Repeals the recovery support services grant program;
Transfers the balance of the high-risk families cash fund (fund) to the general fund and repeals the fund on July 1, 2026; and
Reduces appropriations to the department of education for the affected programs and services.
(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
REENGROSSED
This Version Includes All Amendments
Adopted in the House of Introduction
LLS NO. 26-0895.01 Veronica Parish x2606 HOUSE BILL 26-1378
House Committees Senate Committees
Appropriations
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING THE REPEAL OF CERTAIN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH101
RESOURCES ADMINISTERED BY THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH102
ADMINISTRATION, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, REDUCING103
AN APPROPRIATION.104
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 w ill be av ailable at
http://leg.colorado.gov/.)
Joint Budget Committee. The bill:
! Repeals the requirement that the behavioral health
administration (BHA) contract with a nonprofit
HOUSE
3rd Reading Unamended
April 11, 2026
HOUSE
Amended 2nd Reading
April 9, 2026
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Sirota and Taggart, Brown,
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Bridges and Kirkmeyer, Amabile
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.
organization serving agricultural and rural communities in
Colorado to provide vouchers for behavioral health care
services;
! Repeals the requirement that the BHA contract with an
independent third party to provide services and supports to
behavioral health providers seeking to become behavioral
health safety net providers;
! Repeals the building substance use disorder treatment
capacity in underserved communities grant program;
! Repeals the recovery support services grant program;
! Transfers the balance of the high-risk families cash fund
(fund) to the general fund and repeals the fund on July 1,
2026; and
! Reduces appropriations to the department of education for
the affected programs and services.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, repeal 27-50-305,2
27-80-120, and 27-80-126.3
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 27-50-101, amend4
(6); and add (17.5) as follows:5
27-50-101. Definitions.6
As used in this article 50, unless the context otherwise requires:7
(6) "Behavioral health provider" means a recovery community8
organization, as defined in section 27-80-126, a recovery support services9
organization, as defined in section 27-60-108, or a licensed organization10
or professional providing diagnostic, therapeutic, or psychological11
services for behavioral health conditions. Behavioral health providers12
include a residential child care facility, as defined in section 26-6-90313
(29), and a federally qualified health center.14
(17.5) "R ECOVERY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION " MEANS AN15
INDEPENDENT, NONPROFIT OR GANIZATION LED AND GOVERNED BY16
REPRESENTATIVES OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES OF RECOVERY THAT ORGANIZE17
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RECOVERY-FOCUSED POLICY ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES , CARRY OUT1
RECOVERY-FOCUSED COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS,2
OR PROVIDE PEER-RUN RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES.3
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 27-50-105, amend4
(1)(gg); and repeal (1)(ee) and (1)(ii) as follows:5
27-50-105. Administration of behavioral health programs -6
state plan - sole mental health authority - gifts, grants, or donations7
- repeal.8
(1) The BHA shall administer and provide the following9
behavioral health programs and services:10
11
(ee) The building substance use disorder treatment capacity in12
underserved communities grant program created pursuant to section13
27-80-120;14
(gg) (I) The high-risk families cash fund created pursuant to15
section 27-80-123.16
(II) T HIS SUBSECTION (1)(gg) IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE JULY 1,17
2026.18
(ii) The recovery support services grant program created pursuant19
to section 27-80-126;20
SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 27-60-110, amend21
(3) as follows:22
27-60-110. Behavioral health-care services for rural and23
agricultural communities - vouchers - contract - appropriation.24
(3) For the 2021-22 2026-2027 fiscal year, and each fiscal year25
thereafter, the general assembly shall MAY annually appropriate fifty26
thousand dollars MONEY for the contract awarded pursuant to subsection27
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(1) of this section.1
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 27-60-301, amend2
(3) as follows:3
27-60-301. Definitions.4
As used in this part 3, unless the context otherwise requires:5
(3) "Behavioral health provider" means a recovery community6
organization, as defined in section 27-80-126 SECTION 27-50-101, a7
recovery support services organization, as defined in section 27-60-108,8
or a licensed organization or professional that provides diagnostic,9
therapeutic, or psychological services for behavioral health conditions.10
Behavioral health providers include a residential child care facility, as11
defined in section 26-6-903 (29), and a federally qualified health center,12
as defined in the federal "Social Security Act", 42 U.S.C. sec. 1395x13
(aa)(4).14
SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 27-80-123, add (8)15
and (9) as follows:16
27-80-123. High-risk families cash fund - creation - services17
provided - report - definition - repeal.18
(8) T HE STATE TREASURER SHALL TRANSFER ALL UNEXPENDED19
AND UNENCUMBERED MONEY IN THE FUND ON JUNE 30, 2026, TO THE20
GENERAL FUND.21
(9) THIS SECTION IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026.22
SECTION 7. Appropriation - adjustments to 2026 long bill.23
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, to implement this24
act, the appropriations made in the annual general appropriation act for25
the 2026-27 state fiscal year to the department of human services for use26
by the behavioral health administration for behavioral health safety net27
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services is decreased by $3,500,000, which amount consists of $500,0001
from the general fund and $3,000,000 from the marijuana tax cash fund2
created in section 39-28.8-501 (1), C.R.S.3
(2) Subsection (1) of this section does not require a reduction of4
an appropriation in the annual general appropriation act for the 2026-275
state fiscal year if:6
(a) The general fund appropriation made in the annual general7
appropriation act for the 2026-27 state fiscal year to the department of8
human services for use by the behavioral health administration for9
behavioral health safety net services is less than the amount of the10
adjustment required in subsection (1) of this section;11
(b) The cash funds appropriation from the marijuana tax cash fund12
created in section 39-28.8-501 (1), C.R.S., made in the annual general13
appropriation act for the 2026-27 state fiscal year to the department of14
human services for use by the behavioral health administration for15
behavioral health safety net services is less than the amount of the16
adjustment required in subsection (1) of this section; or17
(c) The annual general appropriation act for the 2026-27 state18
fiscal year does not include an appropriation to the department of human19
services for use by the behavioral health administration for behavioral20
health safety net services.21
(3) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, to22
implement this act, the general fund appropriation made in the annual23
general appropriation act for the 2026-27 state fiscal year to the24
department of human services for use by the behavioral health25
administration for the recovery support services grant program is26
decreased by $1,600,805, and the related FTE is decreased by 1.0 FTE.27
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(4) (a) If the general fund appropriation made in the annual1
general appropriation act for the 2026-27 state fiscal year to the2
department of human services for use by the behavioral health3
administration for the recovery support services grant program is an4
amount less than the amount of the adjustment required in subsection (3)5
of this section, the general fund appropriation is decreased to $0.6
(b) If the annual general appropriation act for the 2026-27 state7
fiscal year does not include an appropriation to the department of human8
services for use by the behavioral health administration for the recovery9
support services grant program, then subsection (3) of this section does10
not require a reduction of an appropriation in the annual general11
appropriation act for the 2026-27 state fiscal year.12
13
SECTION 8. Effective date. This act takes effect upon passage;14
except that section 7 of this act takes effect only if the annual general15
appropriation act for the 2026-27 state fiscal year becomes law, in which16
case section 7 takes effect upon the effective date of this act or of the17
annual general appropriation act for state fiscal year 2026-27, whichever18
is later.19
SECTION 9. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,20
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate21
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for22
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state23
institutions.24
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