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SB26-178 • 2026

Health Insurance Affordability Measures

The act: Authorizes the health insurance affordability enterprise (enterprise), on or after January 1, 2027, to issue revenue bonds of up to $100 million to fund enterprise programs, secured by the en

Budget Taxes
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Sen. I. Jodeh, Sen. K. Mullica, Rep. K. Brown, Rep. L. Gilchrist, Sen. L. Cutter, Sen. J. Danielson, Sen. L. Daugherty, Sen. T. Exum, Sen. J. Gonzales, Sen. C. Kipp, Sen. W. Lindstedt, Sen. J. Marchman, Sen. D. Roberts, Rep. J. Bacon, Rep. A. Boesenecker, Rep. S. Camacho, Rep. C. Clifford, Rep. M. Froelich, Rep. E. Hamrick, Rep. J. Jackson, Rep. M. Lindsay, Rep. M. Lukens, Rep. J. McCluskie, Rep. K. McCormick, Rep. K. Nguyen, Rep. A. Paschal, Rep. N. Ricks, Rep. M. Rutinel, Rep. G. Rydin, Rep. E. Sirota, Rep. L. Smith, Rep. K. Stewart, Rep. Y. Zokaie
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.

Health Insurance Affordability Measures

The act: Authorizes the health insurance affordability enterprise (enterprise), on or after January 1, 2027, to issue revenue bonds of up to $100 million to fund enterprise programs, secured by the enterprise's revenues, and require the enterprise to pay bond obligations before allocating revenues for enterprise programs; Allows the enterprise to invest specified money in the health insurance affordability cash fund (cash fund) without regard to otherwise applicable requirements for such investments and to contract with private professional fund managers to advise on investment strategies; Modifies the allocation of enterprise revenue among authorized purposes and allows the enterprise to reallocate unexpended amounts for specified purposes; Directs the enterprise to require qualified individuals who are enrolled in state-subsidized individual health coverage plans eligible for subsidies from the enterprise to pay premiums established in rules adopted by the commissioner, in consultation with the health insurance affordability board (board); Requires the enterprise to adjust the statewide average premium reduction under the reinsurance program to 18% and to reduce the amount of bonds issued to account for the reduced costs for the reinsurance program; Directs the board, in recommending parameters for implementing subsidies for state-subsidized individual health coverage plans, to recommend coverage that prioritizes enrollment stability and customer predictability; when seeking input on its recommendations regarding plans, coverage, and the number of eligible slots, to enable feedback in at least English and Spanish and in other languages upon request; and to indicate how it incorporated such feedback into its final recommendations; Directs the enterprise to conduct or contract a third party to conduct a study to evaluate the feasibility of restructuring the enterprise programs to increase health insurance affordability and maximize enrollment in health insurance plans; Requires the enterprise to submit 3 written reports and make one in-person presentation to the joint budget committee each year regarding the status of the cash fund and, as part of its in-person presentation in January 2027, to provide an analysis of the effects of changing the statewide average premium reduction under the reinsurance program to 15% and of creating a tiered, income-based, structure for premium assistance for individuals who purchase insurance on the Colorado health benefit exchange (exchange); Repeals the tax credit for contributions to the exchange and replaces it with a tax credit for contributions to the enterprise; and Directs the state treasurer to transfer $40 million from the marijuana tax cash fund to the cash fund by June 30, 2026, reduces to $60 million the designation of money in the marijuana tax cash fund as the state emergency reserve for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 state fiscal years, and increases by $40 million the value of the capitol annex building for purposes of the state emergency reserve for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 state fiscal years.

What This Bill Does

  • The act: Authorizes the health insurance affordability enterprise (enterprise), on or after January 1, 2027, to issue revenue bonds of up to $100 million to fund enterprise programs, secured by the enterprise's revenues, and require the enterprise to pay bond obligations before allocating revenues for enterprise programs; Allows the enterprise to invest specified money in the health insurance affordability cash fund (cash fund) without regard to otherwise applicable requirements for such investments and to contract with private professional fund managers to advise on investment strategies; Modifies the allocation of enterprise revenue among authorized purposes and allows the enterprise to reallocate unexpended amounts for specified purposes; Directs the enterprise to require qualified individuals who are enrolled in state-subsidized individual health coverage plans eligible for subsidies from the enterprise to pay premiums established in rules adopted by the commissioner, in consultation with the health insurance affordability board (board); Requires the enterprise to adjust the statewide average premium reduction under the reinsurance program to 18% and to reduce the amount of bonds issued to account for the reduced costs for the reinsurance program; Directs the board, in recommending parameters for implementing subsidies for state-subsidized individual health coverage plans, to recommend coverage that prioritizes enrollment stability and customer predictability; when seeking input on its recommendations regarding plans, coverage, and the number of eligible slots, to enable feedback in at least English and Spanish and in other languages upon request; and to indicate how it incorporated such feedback into its final recommendations; Directs the enterprise to conduct or contract a third party to conduct a study to evaluate the feasibility of restructuring the enterprise programs to increase health insurance affordability and maximize enrollment in health insurance plans; Requires the enterprise to submit 3 written reports and make one in-person presentation to the joint budget committee each year regarding the status of the cash fund and, as part of its in-person presentation in January 2027, to provide an analysis of the effects of changing the statewide average premium reduction under the reinsurance program to 15% and of creating a tiered, income-based, structure for premium assistance for individuals who purchase insurance on the Colorado health benefit exchange (exchange); Repeals the tax credit for contributions to the exchange and replaces it with a tax credit for contributions to the enterprise; and Directs the state treasurer to transfer $40 million from the marijuana tax cash fund to the cash fund by June 30, 2026, reduces to $60 million the designation of money in the marijuana tax cash fund as the state emergency reserve for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 state fiscal years, and increases by $40 million the value of the capitol annex building for purposes of the state emergency reserve for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 state fiscal years.
  • (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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.010

SEN Appropriations

Passed [*]

Plain English: SB178_L.010 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Appropriations.

  • SB178_L.010 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Appropriations.
  • SB26-178 be amended as follows: 1 Amend the Finance Committee Report, dated April 30, 2026, page 1, 2 strike lines 1 through 3 and substitute: 3 "Amend printed bill, page 2, strike lines 2 through 5.
  • 4 Page 3 of the bill, strike lines 1 through 13.
  • 5 Renumber succeeding sections accordingly.
L.012

SEN Appropriations

Passed [*]

Plain English: SB178_L.012 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Appropriations.

  • SB178_L.012 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Appropriations.
  • SB26-178 be amended as follows: 1 Amend proposed committee amendment (SB178_L.011), page 1, line 10, 2 strike "and 10-16-1214"."." and substitute "10-16-1214, and 3 10-16-1215".".".
  • 4 Page 1, strike line 16 and substitute "PURCHASED BY QUALIFIED 5 INDIVIDUALS.
  • 6 10-16-1215.
L.014

SEN Appropriations

Passed [*]

Plain English: SB178_L.014 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Appropriations.

  • SB178_L.014 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Appropriations.
  • SB26-178 be amended as follows: 1 Amend the Finance Committee Report, dated April 30, 2026, page 3, 2 strike lines 11 through 14 and substitute: 3 "Page 12 of the bill, line 8, strike "10-16-1212" and substitute 4 "10-16-1212, 10-16-1213, and 10-16-1214".".
  • 5 Page 6 of the report, strike line 8 and substitute "ARTICLE 51 OF TITLE 11.
  • 6 10-16-1214.
L.015

SEN Appropriations

Passed [*]

Plain English: SB178_L.015 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Appropriations.

  • SB178_L.015 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Appropriations.
  • SB26-178 be amended as follows: 1 Amend proposed committee amendment (SB178_L.014), page 1, line 25, 2 after "(2)" insert "(a)".
  • 3 Page 1 of the amendment, after line 30 insert: 4 "(b) AS PART OF THE BRIEFING IN JANUARY, 2027, THE ENTERPRISE 5 SHALL ALSO PROVIDE TO THE JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE: 6 (I) AN ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF CHANGING THE STATEWIDE 7 AVERAGE PREMIUM REDUCTION IN THE REINSURANCE PROGRAM TO 8 FIFTEEN PERCENT, INCLUDING THE EFFECTS OF THAT CHANGE ON: 9 (A) TOTAL SAVINGS FOR THE ENTERPRISE; 10 (B) FEDERAL PASS-THROUGH FUNDING FROM THE STATE 11 INNOVATION WAIVER UNDER SECTION 10-16-1109 AND SECTION 1332 OF 12 THE FEDERAL ACT, 42 U.S.C.
  • SEC.
L.001

SEN Finance

Passed [*]

Plain English: SB178_L.001 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Finance.

  • SB178_L.001 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Finance.
  • SB26-178 be amended as follows: 1 Amend printed bill, page 3, line 15, strike "(6.5), (16), and (17)" and 2 substitute "(1.3), (1.5), (6.5), and (16)".
  • 3 Page 3, after line 17 insert: 4 "(1.3) "BOND" MEANS ANY BOND, NOTE, INTERIM CERTIFICATE, 5 COMMERCIAL PAPER, CONTRACT, OR OTHER EVIDENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS 6 OF THE ENTERPRISE AUTHORIZED BY THIS PART 12.
  • 7 (1.5) "BOND OBLIGATIONS" MEANS THE DEBT SERVICE ON, AND 8 RELATED COSTS AND OBLIGATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH, BONDS, 9 INCLUDING: 10 (a) PAYMENTS WITH RESPECT TO PRINCIPAL, INTEREST, 11 PREPAYMENT PREMIUMS, RESERVE FUNDS, SURPLUS FUNDS, SINKING 12 FUNDS, AND COSTS OF ISSUANCE; 13 (b) PAYMENTS RELATED TO ANY CREDIT ENHANCEMENT, LIQUIDITY 14 SUPPORT, OR INTEREST RATE PROTECTION FOR BONDS; 15 (c) FEES AND EXPENSES OF ANY TRUSTEE, BOND REGISTRAR, 16 PAYING AGENT, AUTHENTICATING AGENT, REBATE ANALYST OR 17 CONSULTANT, CALCULATION AGENT, REMARKETING AGENT, OR CREDIT 18 ENHANCEMENT, LIQUIDITY SUPPORT, OR INTEREST RATE PROTECTION 19 PROVIDER; 20 (d) COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS; AND 21 (e) OTHER COSTS, FEES, AND EXPENSES RELATED TO ANY OF THE 22 OBLIGATIONS SPECIFIED IN SUBSECTIONS (1.5)(a) TO (1.5)(d) OF THIS 23 SECTION AND ANY OTHER AMOUNTS REQUIRED TO BE PAID PURSUANT TO 24 THE PROVISIONS OF ANY DOCUMENTS AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF THE 25 BONDS.".
L.003

SEN Finance

Passed [*]

Plain English: SB178_L.003 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Finance.

  • SB178_L.003 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Finance.
  • SB26-178 be amended as follows: 1 Amend printed bill, page 11, line 6, strike "Spanish" and substitute 2 "Spanish, INCLUDING MAKING WRITTEN MATERIALS AND PRESENTATIONS 3 AVAILABLE NOT LATER THAN SEVEN DAYS AFTER MEETINGS,".
  • ** *** ** *** ** LLS: Christy Chase x2008
L.002

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: SB178_L.002 Amendment No.

  • SB178_L.002 Amendment No.
  • ___________ SB26-178 SENATE FLOOR AMENDMENT Second Reading BY SENATOR Jodeh 1 Amend the Finance Committee Report, dated April 30, 2026, page 3, 2 strike line 14 and substitute: 3 "Page 12 of the printed bill, line 8, strike "10-16-1212" and substitute 4 "10-16-1212, 10-16-1213, and 10-16-1214".".
  • 5 Amend printed bill, page 15, strike lines 19 through 26 and substitute: 6 "10-16-1214.
  • Tax credit for contributions to the enterprise - 7 allocation notice - rules.
L.016

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: SB178_L.016 Amendment No.

  • SB178_L.016 Amendment No.
  • ___________ SB26-178 SENATE FLOOR AMENDMENT Second Reading BY SENATOR Mullica 1 Amend the Finance Committee Report, dated April 30, 2026, page 3, line 2 23, strike "12." and substitute "12; EXCEPT THAT, IN DETERMINING THE 3 TOTAL AMOUNT OF BONDS TO ISSUE, THE ENTERPRISE SHALL TAKE INTO 4 ACCOUNT AND REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF BONDS ISSUED BASED ON THE 5 SAVINGS REALIZED BY THE ADJUSTMENT IN THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE 6 PREMIUM REDUCTION UNDER THE REINSURANCE PROGRAM PURSUANT TO 7 SECTION 10-16-1205 (2)(f)(II)(A).".
  • 8 Page 4 of the finance report, line 38, strike "(1)(a)(I), THE 9 SUPPLEMENTAL".
  • 10 Page 4 of the finance report, strike line 39 and substitute "(1)(a)(I) AND 11 ANY".
L.022

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: SB178_L.022 Amendment No.

  • SB178_L.022 Amendment No.
  • ___________ SB26-178 HOUSE FLOOR AMENDMENT Second Reading BY REPRESENTATIVE Richardson 1 Amend reengrossed bill, page 7, line 24, strike "FUND." and substitute 2 "FUND; EXCEPT THAT, IF, BY JUNE 29, 2026, THE UNITED STATES 3 CONGRESS ENACTS AND THE PRESIDENT SIGNS FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT 4 EXTENDS, RECREATES, OR OTHERWISE REINSTATES THE ENHANCED 5 PREMIUM TAX CREDIT FOR THE 2027 PLAN YEAR, THE STATE TREASURER 6 SHALL NOT MAKE THE TRANSFER SPECIFIED IN THIS SUBSECTION (6).".
  • 7 Page 10, line 8, after "(1) (a)" insert "(I)".
  • 8 Page 10, after line 19 insert: 9 "(II) NOTWITHSTANDING SUBSECTION (1)(a)(I) OF THIS SECTION, 10 IF, BY DECEMBER 31, 2026, THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS ENACTS AND 11 THE PRESIDENT SIGNS FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT EXTENDS, RECREATES, 12 OR OTHERWISE REINSTATES THE ENHANCED PREMIUM TAX CREDIT FOR THE 13 2027 PLAN YEAR, THE ENTERPRISE SHALL NOT ISSUE BONDS PURSUANT TO 14 THIS SECTION.".
L.020

Third Reading

Passed

Plain English: SB178_L.020 Amendment No.

  • SB178_L.020 Amendment No.
  • ___________ SB26-178 SENATE FLOOR AMENDMENT Third Reading BY SENATOR Mullica 1 Amend engrossed bill, page 3, line 26, strike "(2)(g), and (3);" and 2 substitute "and (2)(g);".
  • 3 Page 4, strike line 27.
  • 4 Page 5, strike lines 1 through 4.

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. 2026-05-12 House

    House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  6. 2026-05-11 House

    House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments

  7. 2026-05-09 House

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

  8. 2026-05-08 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to Appropriations

  9. 2026-05-08 Senate

    Senate Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor

  10. 2026-05-07 Senate

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

  11. 2026-05-07 Senate

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

  12. 2026-05-07 Senate

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

  13. 2026-04-30 Senate

    Senate Committee on Finance Refer Amended to Appropriations

  14. 2026-04-23 Senate

    Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Finance

Official Summary Text

The act:
Authorizes the health insurance affordability enterprise (enterprise), on or after January 1, 2027, to issue revenue bonds of up to $100 million to fund enterprise programs, secured by the enterprise's revenues, and require the enterprise to pay bond obligations before allocating revenues for enterprise programs;
Allows the enterprise to invest specified money in the health insurance affordability cash fund (cash fund) without regard to otherwise applicable requirements for such investments and to contract with private professional fund managers to advise on investment strategies;
Modifies the allocation of enterprise revenue among authorized purposes and allows the enterprise to reallocate unexpended amounts for specified purposes;
Directs the enterprise to require qualified individuals who are enrolled in state-subsidized individual health coverage plans eligible for subsidies from the enterprise to pay premiums established in rules adopted by the commissioner, in consultation with the health insurance affordability board (board);
Requires the enterprise to adjust the statewide average premium reduction under the reinsurance program to 18% and to reduce the amount of bonds issued to account for the reduced costs for the reinsurance program;
Directs the board, in recommending parameters for implementing subsidies for state-subsidized individual health coverage plans, to recommend coverage that prioritizes enrollment stability and customer predictability; when seeking input on its recommendations regarding plans, coverage, and the number of eligible slots, to enable feedback in at least English and Spanish and in other languages upon request; and to indicate how it incorporated such feedback into its final recommendations;
Directs the enterprise to conduct or contract a third party to conduct a study to evaluate the feasibility of restructuring the enterprise programs to increase health insurance affordability and maximize enrollment in health insurance plans;
Requires the enterprise to submit 3 written reports and make one in-person presentation to the joint budget committee each year regarding the status of the cash fund and, as part of its in-person presentation in January 2027, to provide an analysis of the effects of changing the statewide average premium reduction under the reinsurance program to 15% and of creating a tiered, income-based, structure for premium assistance for individuals who purchase insurance on the Colorado health benefit exchange (exchange);
Repeals the tax credit for contributions to the exchange and replaces it with a tax credit for contributions to the enterprise; and
Directs the state treasurer to transfer $40 million from the marijuana tax cash fund to the cash fund by June 30, 2026, reduces to $60 million the designation of money in the marijuana tax cash fund as the state emergency reserve for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 state fiscal years, and increases by $40 million the value of the capitol annex building for purposes of the state emergency reserve for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 state fiscal years.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)