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SB26-138 • 2026

Reducing Administrative Burdens on Health Care

Section 2 of the act repeals a requirement that health-care profession regulators adopt rules that require each licensed health-care provider, as a condition of renewing, reactivating, or reinstating

Education Healthcare
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Sen. L. Daugherty, Sen. K. Mullica, Rep. K. Stewart, Sen. M. Ball, Sen. J. Bridges, Sen. S. Bright, Sen. J. Carson, Sen. J. Coleman, Sen. L. Cutter, Sen. J. Danielson, Sen. T. Exum, Sen. I. Jodeh, Sen. C. Kipp, Sen. C. Kolker, Sen. J. Marchman, Sen. D. Roberts, Rep. J. Bacon, Rep. A. Boesenecker, Rep. M. Duran, Rep. M. Lindsay, Rep. J. McCluskie, Rep. K. McCormick
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.

Reducing Administrative Burdens on Health Care

Section 2 of the act repeals a requirement that health-care profession regulators adopt rules that require each licensed health-care provider, as a condition of renewing, reactivating, or reinstating a license, to complete up to 4 credit hours of training per licensing cycle in order to demonstrate competency regarding topics related to prescribing drugs and treatment.

What This Bill Does

  • Section 2 of the act repeals a requirement that health-care profession regulators adopt rules that require each licensed health-care provider, as a condition of renewing, reactivating, or reinstating a license, to complete up to 4 credit hours of training per licensing cycle in order to demonstrate competency regarding topics related to prescribing drugs and treatment.
  • Section 3 authorizes the Colorado dental board to adopt rules that require every dentist, dental therapist, and dental hygienist, as a condition of renewing, reactivating, or reinstating a license, to complete up to 4 credit hours of training per licensing cycle regarding topics related to prescribing drugs and treatment.
  • Section 4 requires a licensed veterinarian to complete at least 1 hour of training per renewal period regarding topics related to prescribing drugs and treatment.
  • Section 5 changes the frequency at which specific health-care facilities are required to apply for a license issued by the department of public health and environment from annually to every 2 years.

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.012

HOU Health & Human Services

Passed [*]

Plain English: SB138_L.012 HOUSE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Health & Human Services.

  • SB138_L.012 HOUSE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Health & Human Services.
  • SB26-138 be amended as follows: 1 Amend reengrossed bill, page 11, line 10, strike "MEDICAL ASSISTANCE" 2 and substitute "PRESUMPTIVE ELIGIBILITY".
  • 3 Page 12, line 7, before "IF" insert "(I)".
  • 4 Page 12, after line 11 insert: 5 "(II) UPON NOTIFICATION OF A DETERMINATION THAT A PATIENT 6 IS INELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH-CARE COVERAGE PURSUANT TO 7 SUBSECTION (3.5)(d) OF THIS SECTION, A HEALTH-CARE FACILITY SHALL 8 PROCEED WITH A DETERMINATION OF WHETHER THE PATIENT IS A 9 QUALIFIED PATIENT.".
L.013

HOU Health & Human Services

Passed [*]

Plain English: SB138_L.013 HOUSE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Health & Human Services.

  • SB138_L.013 HOUSE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Health & Human Services.
  • SB26-138 be amended as follows: 1 Amend reengrossed bill, page 18, line 16, after "SCREENING" insert "OR 2 APPLICATION".
  • 3 Page 18, line 17, strike "25.5-3-502," and substitute "25.5-3-502 OR 4 25.5-3-502.5,".
  • 5 Page 19, line 7, strike "REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 25.5-3-502," and 6 substitute "OR APPLICATION REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 25.5-3-502 7 OR 25.5-3-502.5,".
L.001

SEN Health & Human Services

Passed [*]

Plain English: SB138_L.001 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Health & Human Services.

  • SB138_L.001 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Health & Human Services.
  • SB26-138 be amended as follows: 1 Amend printed bill, strike everything below the enacting clause and 2 substitute: 3 "SECTION 1.
  • Legislative declaration.
  • (1) The general 4 assembly finds and declares that: 5 (a) Every Colorado family deserves a fair, dignified, and 6 understandable path to financial assistance when seeking health care.
L.005

SEN Health & Human Services

Passed [*]

Plain English: SB138_L.005 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Health & Human Services.

  • SB138_L.005 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Health & Human Services.
  • SB26-138 be amended as follows: 1 Amend proposed committee amendment (SB138_L.001), page 3, line 19, 2 after "ELIGIBLE" insert "OR IS LIKELY ELIGIBLE".
  • 3 Page 4, line 30, strike "LEVEL" and substitute "GUIDELINE".
  • 4 Page 5, line 4, strike "AND".
L.006

SEN Health & Human Services

Passed [*]

Plain English: SB138_L.006 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Health & Human Services.

  • SB138_L.006 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Health & Human Services.
  • SB26-138 be amended as follows: 1 Amend proposed committee amendment (SB138_L.001), page 5, after 2 line 10 insert: 3 "(3.7) (a) IF A PATIENT HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED ELIGIBLE FOR 4 PUBLIC HEALTH-CARE COVERAGE PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (3.5)(d) OF 5 THIS SECTION WITHIN 45 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF DISCHARGE, A 6 HEALTH-CARE FACILITY SHALL PROCEED WITH A DETERMINATION OF 7 WHETHER THE PATIENT IS A QUALIFIED PATIENT.
  • 8 (b) SUBSECTION (3.5)(d) OF THIS SECTION DOES NOT PROHIBIT A 9 PATIENT OR HEALTH-CARE FACILITY FROM COMPLETING AN APPLICATION 10 PURSUANT TO SECTION 25.5-3-502.5 WHILE A DETERMINATION OF THE 11 PATIENT'S ELIGIBILITY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH-CARE COVERAGE IS PENDING.
  • 12 (c) WHILE A DETERMINATION OF A PATIENT'S ELIGIBILITY FOR 13 PUBLIC HEALTH-CARE COVERAGE IS PENDING, A HEALTH-CARE FACILITY 14 MAY DEFER COMPLETION OF A FINAL DETERMINATION FOR DISCOUNTED 15 CARE IF THE PATIENT IS AFFORDED THE PROTECTIONS FROM BILLING AND 16 COLLECTION ACTIVITY REQUIRED BY SECTION 25.5-3-506.
L.008

SEN Health & Human Services

Passed [*]

Plain English: SB138_L.008 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Health & Human Services.

  • SB138_L.008 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Health & Human Services.
  • SB26-138 be amended as follows: 1 Amend proposed committee amendment (SB138_L.001), page 2, line 36 2 strike "JANUARY" and substitute "JULY".
  • ** *** ** *** ** LLS: Josh Schultz x5486
L.010

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: SB138_L.010 Amendment No.

  • SB138_L.010 Amendment No.
  • ___________ SB26-138 SENATE FLOOR AMENDMENT Second Reading BY SENATOR Daugherty 1 Amend the Health and Human Services Committee Report, dated April 2 23, 2026, page 3, after line 7 insert: 3 "SECTION 3.
  • In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-315-110, add 4 (3)(d), (3)(e), and (3)(f) as follows: 5 12-315-110.
  • License renewal - waiver - rules - continuing 6 education.
L.011

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: SB138_L.011 Amendment No.

  • SB138_L.011 Amendment No.
  • ___________ SB26-138 SENATE FLOOR AMENDMENT Second Reading BY SENATOR Daugherty 1 Amend the Health and Human Services Committee Report, dated April 2 23, 2026, page 3, after line 7 insert: 3 "SECTION 3.
  • In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-220-308, add (3) 4 as follows: 5 12-220-308.
  • Continuing education requirements - rules.
L.014

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: SB138_L.014 Amendment No.

  • SB138_L.014 Amendment No.
  • ___________ SB26-138 HOUSE FLOOR AMENDMENT Second Reading BY REPRESENTATIVE Barron 1 Amend reengrossed bill, page 3, strike lines 11 through 14.
  • 2 Page 4, strike lines 1 and 2.
  • 3 Reletter succeeding paragraphs accordingly.
L.016

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: SB138_L.016 Amendment No.

  • SB138_L.016 Amendment No.
  • ___________ SB26-138 HOUSE FLOOR AMENDMENT Second Reading BY REPRESENTATIVE Stewart K.
  • 1 Amend the Health and Human Services Committee Report, dated May 5, 2 2026, page 2, strike lines 22 and 23 and substitute: 3 "Page 24 of the reengrossed bill, line 22, strike "4" and substitute "5".
  • 4 Page 24, line 24, strike "16" and substitute "18".
L.017

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: SB138_L.017 Amendment No.

  • SB138_L.017 Amendment No.
  • ___________ SB26-138 HOUSE FLOOR AMENDMENT Second Reading BY REPRESENTATIVE Stewart K.
  • 1 Amend reengrossed bill, page 14, line 20, strike "DETERMINATION," and 2 substitute "DETERMINATION AND THE PATIENT'S IDENTIFIED FEDERAL 3 POVERTY GUIDELINE PERCENTAGE,".
  • 4 Page 17, line 15, after "METHODOLOGY." insert "A HEALTH-CARE 5 FACILITY SHALL DISCLOSE TO THE DEPARTMENT WHICH 6 INDUSTRY-STANDARD THIRD-PARTY RESOURCES THEY USE TO DETERMINE 7 MONTHLY HOUSEHOLD INCOME.".
L.019

Third Reading

Passed

Plain English: SB138_L.019 Amendment No.

  • SB138_L.019 Amendment No.
  • ___________ SB26-138 HOUSE FLOOR AMENDMENT Third Reading BY REPRESENTATIVE Stewart K.
  • 1 Amend revised bill, page 10, line 24, strike "SCREENING" and substitute 2 "SCREENING, INCLUDING THE PATIENT'S IDENTIFIED FEDERAL POVERTY 3 GUIDELINE PERCENTAGE,".
  • 4 Page 11, line 26, after "PROGRAM," insert "INFORM THE PATIENT OF THE 5 PATIENT'S IDENTIFIED FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINE PERCENTAGE AND".

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-02 Governor

    Governor Signed

  2. 2026-05-21 Governor

    Sent to the Governor

  3. 2026-05-21 House

    Signed by the Speaker of the House

  4. 2026-05-21 Senate

    Signed by the President of the Senate

  5. 2026-05-08 Senate

    Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass

  6. 2026-05-07 House

    House Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor

  7. 2026-05-06 House

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

  8. 2026-05-05 House

    House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole

  9. 2026-05-01 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services

  10. 2026-05-01 Senate

    Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  11. 2026-04-30 Senate

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

  12. 2026-04-30 Senate

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

  13. 2026-04-23 Senate

    Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to Appropriations

  14. 2026-03-11 Senate

    Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human Services

Official Summary Text

Section 2 of the act repeals a requirement that health-care profession regulators adopt rules that require each licensed health-care provider, as a condition of renewing, reactivating, or reinstating a license, to complete up to 4 credit hours of training per licensing cycle in order to demonstrate competency regarding topics related to prescribing drugs and treatment.
Section 3 authorizes the Colorado dental board to adopt rules that require every dentist, dental therapist, and dental hygienist, as a condition of renewing, reactivating, or reinstating a license, to complete up to 4 credit hours of training per licensing cycle regarding topics related to prescribing drugs and treatment.
Section 4 requires a licensed veterinarian to complete at least 1 hour of training per renewal period regarding topics related to prescribing drugs and treatment.
Section 5 changes the frequency at which specific health-care facilities are required to apply for a license issued by the department of public health and environment from annually to every 2 years.
Under current law, a health-care facility is required to screen each uninsured patient for eligibility for public health insurance programs and discounted care (screening) utilizing a single uniform application developed by the department of health care policy and financing (state department). Sections 6 through 11 change this requirement by:
Changing the method used to conduct the screening from a uniform application to use of a third-party resource, such as a major credit bureau, or use of a uniform screening questionnaire (questionnaire) developed by the state department;
Allowing a health-care facility the option of screening a patient for eligibility for the health-care facility's financial assistance program;
Requiring a health-care facility to provide specified notifications upon completion of the screening;
Creating an application for discounted care (application) for use by a health-care facility upon completion of the screening through which additional information is requested from a patient to determine whether the patient qualifies or is likely to qualify for public health-care coverage or discounted care;
Requiring a health-care facility to provide specified notice and appeal rights to a patient upon completion and review of the application; and
Requiring the state department to adopt rules regarding the questionnaire and application.
Section 11 also narrows state department review requirements of health-care facilities' and licensed health-care professionals' billing for patients who are indigent. The act prohibits the state department from making changes to regulatory documents or imposing new requirements unless the changes or new requirements are adopted by rule by specified dates and are subject to stakeholder engagement.
Section 12 requires the state department to establish by rule the content and format of the information each hospital must provide to the state department for a hospital transparency report at least 30 days prior to the hospital's fiscal year. The act changes the deadline for a hospital to submit to the state department an annual audited financial statement from 120 days to 150 days after the end of the hospital's fiscal year. Current law requires that each hospital has a minimum of 15 days to review the hospital transparency report; the act specifies that the review period is 15 business days and requires that a statewide hospital association must also have a minimum of 15 business days to review the report.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)