Bill

HB 25-1026

Repeal Copayment for Department of Corrections Inmate Health Care

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Judy Amabile and 32 co-sponsors

HB 25-1026 would repeal copayments for Department of Corrections inmate health care, removing financial barriers to medical, dental, and mental-health services.

Governor Vetoed

WeVote Research Nonpartisan

Bill Summary · HB 25-1026

Summary — HB 25‑1026: Repeal Copayment for Department of Corrections Inmate Health Care

Status: Governor vetoed (2025-05-29)
Introduced: 2025-01-08

Purpose / Intent

HB 25‑1026 would have eliminated the requirement that incarcerated people in the custody of the Department of Corrections (DOC) pay a copayment for health care services. The stated intent is to remove financial barriers to timely medical, dental, and behavioral‑health care for people who are incarcerated and to align DOC health‑care access with public‑health and correctional‑health standards.

Key provisions (as reflected by the bill title and legislative description)

Repeal of the statutory copayment requirement for inmate health care administered by the Department of Corrections.
Removal of any statutory references that authorize DOC to collect copayments from incarcerated individuals for medical, dental, or mental‑health encounters.
Implicit operational changes for DOC health services administration (e.g., billing/collection practices) to discontinue routine copayment assessments and collections.

(Note: the full bill text and fiscal note are not provided here; the above describes the substantive change indicated by the bill title — repeal of inmate health‑care copayments.)

Who would be affected

Primary: Individuals incarcerated in state DOC facilities (they would no longer be charged copayments for covered health services).
Department of Corrections: administrative processes for collecting copayments would change; DOC health‑care operations and recordkeeping would need adjustment.
State budget: elimination of copayment revenues collected by DOC. The net fiscal effect would depend on the amount of revenue historically collected, administrative savings from eliminating collections, and any downstream changes in health‑care utilization and costs.
Health contractors and providers who deliver care under DOC contracts may see changes in billing/administrative workflow but not necessarily in reimbursement rates unless separately amended.

Potential impacts and considerations

Access and health outcomes: Removing copayments may increase timely use of medical and behavioral‑health services, potentially reducing progression to more serious conditions and emergency care needs.
Fiscal: Direct revenue from copayments would end; however, administrative cost savings (from not collecting small fees) and potential reductions in higher‑cost emergency care could offset some revenue loss. Exact fiscal impacts require the bill’s fiscal note.
Operational: DOC would need to update policies, intake materials, contracts with health providers, and financial systems to stop assessing and collecting copays.
Equity and public health: Proponents typically argue repeals reduce barriers and improve public health; opponents often highlight budgetary impacts and potential increased utilization.

Legislative history / procedural timeline (selected)

2025-01-08: Introduced in House; assigned to Judiciary Committee.
2025-01-22: House Judiciary referred amended measure to Appropriations.
2025-04-04 to 04-16: House Appropriations and full House considered and passed the bill (House Third Reading passed 2025-04-16).
2025-04-21 to 04-30: Introduced in Senate; referred to Judiciary, then Appropriations; Senate passed with amendments and later passed Third Reading (2025-04-30).
2025-05-01: House concurred with Senate amendments and repassed the bill.
2025-05-13: Sent to Governor; signed by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House.
2025-05-29: Governor vetoed the bill (bill did not take effect).

Current status and next steps

The Governor vetoed HB 25‑1026 on May 29, 2025. As vetoed legislation, it did not become law unless the General Assembly successfully overrides the veto (no override action is recorded in the provided history). For full details, consult the official bill text and fiscal note (not included here) for precise statutory language, definitions, and estimated fiscal effects.

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