Overview
STATE BUDGET
The state operates on an annual budget cycle, with agencies submitting their budget requests to the Governor in July. The Governor submits a proposed budget to the state legislature in November, and the legislature typically adopts a budget in April for the new fiscal year beginning July 1. The Governor is required to submit a balanced budget, and the legislature is required to pass a balanced budget.
STATE LEGISLATURE
The House of Representatives has 65 members and the Senate 35. Members of the House are elected to two-year terms, and members of the Senate are elected to four-year terms. Regular sessions are held annually and begin no later than the second Wednesday in January. Regular sessions last no more than 120 calendar days. Bills do not carry over from year to year.
KEY RESOURCES
- Colorado General Assembly
- Office of the Attorney General
- Colorado Governor
- Colorado All-Payer Health Claims Database
- Information on Healthcare Policy in Colorado
2025 LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY
Colorado enacted new noncompete and premerger notification laws. SB25-126 implements pre-merger notification requirements. SB25-083 prohibits noncompete agreements that restrict the practice of medicine, and prohibits covenants from restricting health care providers from sharing their new place of employment with patients.
Colorado Laws
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 10-16-103.4. Essential Health Benefits-Requirements-Rules: Colorado Health Care Coverage Act – Colorado
Introduced: Status: Enacted
Requires health plans or providers that take on insurance risk to issue evidence of coverage for the members or patients receiving insurance. States the required elements of an evidence of coverage, including no statements that […]
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Colo. Rev. Stat. § 10-16-103.5. Payment of premiums – required term in contract: Colorado Health Care Coverage Act – Colorado
Introduced: Status: Enacted
Required terms in an insurance contract include dates of coverage and specifically the date when a covered person will become ineligible for coverage.
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Colo. Rev. Stat. § 10-16-104.3. Health coverage for persons under twenty-six years of age – coverage for students who take medical leave of absence: Colorado Health Care Coverage Act – Colorado
Introduced: Status: Enacted
Mandates coverage for coverage under 26 years of Age and for students who are required to take a medical leave of absence that would otherwise cause their student health insurance to lapse.
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Colo. Rev. Stat. § 10-16-104.6. Off-label use of cancer drugs: Colorado Health Care Coverage Act – Colorado
Introduced: Status: Enacted
Any health plan that provides coverage for perscription drugs cannot limit or exclude coverage for FDA approved drugs.
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Colo. Rev. Stat. § 10-16-104.9. Geographic areas for small employers: Colorado Health Care Coverage Act – Colorado
Introduced: Status: Enacted
Allows the insurance commissioner to establish geographic areas in order to help establish and set insurance rates.
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