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HB 25-1132

Military Family Behavioral Health Grant Program

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jennifer Bacon and 46 co-sponsors

Creates the Military Family Behavioral Health Grant Program to fund local nonprofits to expand community behavioral health services for service members, veterans, and families.

Governor Signed
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Bill Summary · HB 25-1132

HB 25-1132 — Military Family Behavioral Health Grant Program

Status: Governor signed (May 1, 2025)

Summary / Purpose

HB 25-1132 creates a Military Family Behavioral Health Grant Program in the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) and amends the existing Veterans Mental Health Services Program. The bill aims to expand access to behavioral and complementary health services for (1) veterans who live in Veterans Community Living Centers (VCLCs) through a provider-reimbursement program, and (2) service members, veterans, and their family members through grants to local nonprofit community behavioral health programs.

Key provisions

  • Establishes the Military Family Behavioral Health Grant Program (27-50-806) administered by the BHA to award grants to local nonprofit organizations to establish or expand community behavioral health programs serving service members, veterans, and family members.

    • Grants: awarded for an initial one-year period and may be extended up to one additional year to expend funds (no new money during extension).
    • Application requirements: evidence‑based practices, military cultural competency training for staff, timely connection to community-based care upon discharge, and community partnerships.
    • Prioritization factors: projects already having capital investments, culturally competent services, capacity to submit impact data, and proximity (within 50 miles) to a U.S. military installation in Colorado.
    • The BHA may renew funding to grantees that meet performance metrics without requiring a reapplication.

  • Revises the Veterans Mental Health Services Program (28-5-714):

    • The Division of Veterans Affairs will reimburse participating health‑care professionals for sessions with “eligible veterans” (defined as veterans who reside in VCLCs).
    • Each eligible veteran may receive up to 26 reimbursed sessions per year; additional sessions and complementary behavioral health services (e.g., acupuncture, healing touch, massage, acupressure, craniosacral therapy) may be reimbursed subject to available appropriations.
    • Providers must be available to provide at least four sessions to each eligible veteran they accept as a client.
    • The Division sets the reimbursement process and a single rate that applies equally to in‑person and telehealth appointments. The Adjutant General (with the Board of Veterans Affairs) adopts implementation rules.
    • BHA will coordinate with the Division and post a list of participating providers.

Funding

  • Amends the Behavioral and Mental Health Cash Fund allocation (24-75-230):
    • The first $3,500,000 of transfers to the fund (per section 39-37-301 (2)(a)(II)) must be used by BHA, in coordination with the Division, to continue/expand the Veterans Mental Health Services Program.
    • After that requirement is met, the next $1,500,000 of transfers must be used by BHA for the Military Family Behavioral Health Grant Program.
  • Overall grant awards and reimbursements remain subject to available appropriations.

Who is affected

  • Direct beneficiaries: veterans residing in VCLCs (reimbursement program), service members, veterans, and family members (grant‑funded community programs).
  • Administrative entities: Behavioral Health Administration, Division of Veterans Affairs, Adjutant General, Board of Veterans Affairs.
  • Providers: a wide range of licensed/credentialed behavioral and complementary health professionals (listed in statute) who may enroll to receive reimbursement.
  • Local nonprofit community behavioral health organizations that apply for grants.

Implementation & effective date

  • BHA must adopt rules to implement the grant program; the Division and Adjutant General adopt rules for the reimbursement program.
  • The act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. the day after the 90‑day period following final adjournment of the General Assembly, unless a referendum petition is filed (in which case implementation would await voter approval).

Legislative history

  • Introduced: Jan 28, 2025. Passed both chambers (House and Senate) with amendments; sent to Governor Apr 24, 2025; signed by Governor May 1, 2025.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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