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SB 25-237

Repeal Behavioral Health Voucher Program

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Judy Amabile and 5 co-sponsors

Repeal the Rural Behavioral Health Voucher Program, eliminating $50,000/year in vouchers to rural/nonprofit providers and removing the program from statute.

House Committee of the Whole Amendment - Change from Passed to Lost
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Bill Summary · SB 25-237

SB 25-237 — Repeal Behavioral Health Voucher Program (Summary)

Status: Lost in the Colorado House (House Committee of the Whole Amendment — Change from Passed to Lost). Introduced: March 31, 2025. Final action in House: April 9, 2025.

Purpose / Intent

The bill would have repealed the Rural Behavioral Health Voucher Program, which provides annual vouchers to nonprofit contractors delivering behavioral health services in rural and agricultural communities. The change was included as part of the FY 2025–26 Joint Budget Committee package.

Key provisions

  • Repeal statutory authority: would repeal Colorado Revised Statutes section 27-60-110 (the Rural Behavioral Health Voucher Program).
  • Remove program listing: would remove the program from the Behavioral Health Administration’s statutory list of programs at CRS 27-50-105(1)(h).
  • Appropriation adjustment: includes an explicit appropriation clause reducing the FY 2025–26 General Fund appropriation to the Department of Human Services / Behavioral Health Administration by $50,000 to reflect the program repeal.
  • Effective date language: bill would take effect on the governor’s signature or upon becoming law without signature.

Fiscal impact (per Legislative Council / JBC fiscal notes)

  • State expenditures (General Fund): reduction of $50,000 annually beginning FY 2025–26.
  • No change in state FTE.
  • No TABOR refund impact, no transferred funds identified.
  • FY 2025–26 appropriation reduction of $50,000 included in the bill language.
  • Fiscal notes: Initial (March 31, 2025) and Final (June 17, 2025) fiscal notes prepared; final note states impacts do not take effect because the bill was lost.

Who would be affected

  • Behavioral Health Administration (BHA): statutory program removed; $50,000 less in appropriations for vouchers.
  • Nonprofit contractors in rural and agricultural communities: would no longer be eligible to receive vouchers distributed under the repealed program (the program had distributed $50,000 annually to such contractors).
  • Department of Human Services (budget/appropriations): reduction included in the FY 2025–26 budget package.

Legislative actions / timeline (selected)

  • 2025-03-31: Introduced in Senate (Assigned to Appropriations)
  • 2025-04-02 to 04-03: Passed Senate (no amendments)
  • 2025-04-03 to 04-08: Received favorable recommendation from House Appropriations to Committee of the Whole
  • 2025-04-09: House Second Reading — Lost (bill did not become law)

Sponsors

Primary: Senators Judy Amabile, Jeff Bridges; Representatives Emily Sirota, Rick Taggart. Additional cosponsors: S. Bird, B. Kirkmeyer.

Note: Because the bill was defeated in the House on April 9, 2025, the statutory repeal and appropriation reduction described would not take effect.

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

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