KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Colorado

HB26-1397 • 2026

Multiple Employer Health Trust Funding

Current law requires the general assembly to appropriate $650,000 from the general fund to the department of local affairs (department) on July 1, 2026, and $1 million from the general fund to the dep

Budget Labor
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Rep. E. Sirota, Rep. R. Taggart, Sen. J. Amabile, Sen. J. Bridges, Rep. K. Brown, Sen. B. Kirkmeyer
Last action
2026-06-02
Official status
Governor Signed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Multiple Employer Health Trust Funding

Current law requires the general assembly to appropriate $650,000 from the general fund to the department of local affairs (department) on July 1, 2026, and $1 million from the general fund to the department on July 1, 2027, to reduce participating employer contributions to a multiple employer health trust for volunteer firefighters and part-time firefighters.

What This Bill Does

  • Current law requires the general assembly to appropriate $650,000 from the general fund to the department of local affairs (department) on July 1, 2026, and $1 million from the general fund to the department on July 1, 2027, to reduce participating employer contributions to a multiple employer health trust for volunteer firefighters and part-time firefighters.
  • The act repeals the appropriation otherwise required on July 1, 2026.
  • Current law requires the general assembly to appropriate money from the general fund to the division of criminal justice in the department of public safety for the purpose of reimbursing a multiple employer health trust for the direct costs of providing cardiac and other health screenings for peace officers as follows: $350,000 for the state fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026; $500,000 for the state fiscal year beginning July 1, 2027; $1 million for the state fiscal year beginning July 1, 2028; and On each July 1 thereafter, sufficient funds.
  • The act repeals the appropriation otherwise required on July 1, 2026.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

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

L.002

SEN Appropriations

Passed [*]

Plain English: HB1397_L.002 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Appropriations.

  • HB1397_L.002 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Appropriations.
  • HB26-1397 be amended as follows: 1 Amend reengrossed bill, page 2, strike line 3 and substitute "(11)(a)(II) 2 and (11)(a)(III); and repeal (11)(a)(I) as follows:".
  • 3 Page 2, after line 5 insert: 4 "(11) (a) (I) On July 1, 2028, the state treasurer shall transfer two 5 million five hundred thousand dollars to the fund from the general fund, 6 and on each July 1 thereafter, sufficient funds, subject to annual 7 appropriation, to reimburse employers for the direct costs of providing the 8 benefits required by this part 3 and 4 of article 5 of this title 29 for 9 volunteer and part-time firefighters.".
  • 10 Page 2, line 7 strike "(11) (a)".
L.001

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: HB1397_L.001 Amendment No.

  • HB1397_L.001 Amendment No.
  • ___________ HB26-1397 HOUSE FLOOR AMENDMENT Second Reading BY REPRESENTATIVES Velasco and Caldwell 1 Amend printed bill, page 2, strike line 3 and substitute "(11)(a)(II) and 2 (11)(a)(III) as follows:".
  • 3 Page 2, strike lines 6 through 11.
  • 4 Page 2, line 12, strike "(II)" and substitute "(11) (a) (II)".
L.003

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: HB1397_L.003 Amendment No.

  • HB1397_L.003 Amendment No.
  • ___________ HB26-1397 SENATE FLOOR AMENDMENT Second Reading BY SENATOR Cutter 1 Amend the Senate Appropriations Committee Report, dated April 14, 2 2026, page 1, strike lines 1 through 19.
  • 3 Page 2, strike lines 1 through 10.
  • ** *** ** *** ** LLS: Jed Franklin x5484

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-02 Governor

    Governor Signed

  2. 2026-05-26 Governor

    Sent to the Governor

  3. 2026-05-26 House

    Signed by the Speaker of the House

  4. 2026-05-26 Senate

    Signed by the President of the Senate

  5. 2026-04-16 Senate

    Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  6. 2026-04-15 Senate

    Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor

  7. 2026-04-14 Senate

    Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole

  8. 2026-04-13 Senate

    Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Appropriations

  9. 2026-04-11 House

    House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  10. 2026-04-10 House

    House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

  11. 2026-04-09 House

    House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Floor

  12. 2026-04-08 House

    House Second Reading Special Order - Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

  13. 2026-04-06 House

    House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole

  14. 2026-04-02 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to Appropriations

Official Summary Text

Current law requires the general assembly to appropriate $650,000 from the general fund to the department of local affairs (department) on July 1, 2026, and $1 million from the general fund to the department on July 1, 2027, to reduce participating employer contributions to a multiple employer health trust for volunteer firefighters and part-time firefighters. The act repeals the appropriation otherwise required on July 1, 2026.
Current law requires the general assembly to appropriate money from the general fund to the division of criminal justice in the department of public safety for the purpose of reimbursing a multiple employer health trust for the direct costs of providing cardiac and other health screenings for peace officers as follows:
$350,000 for the state fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026;
$500,000 for the state fiscal year beginning July 1, 2027;
$1 million for the state fiscal year beginning July 1, 2028; and
On each July 1 thereafter, sufficient funds.
The act repeals the appropriation otherwise required on July 1, 2026.
For the 2026-27 state fiscal year, the general fund appropriation and the reappropriated funds appropriation from the firefighter benefits cash fund to the department of local affairs for firefighter heart and circulatory malfunction benefits are each decreased by $150,000.
For the 2026-27 state fiscal year, the general fund appropriation to the department of public safety for use by the division of criminal justice for first responder employer health benefit trusts is decreased by $100,000.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)