Welcome to Capitol Week In Review, our newsletter keeping you informed about policy concerning educational equity and criminal justice reform. You will also hear from us about opportunities to engage in advocacy on topics important to you.
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Legislation of Interest
We’re excited to share several new priority bills and important updates to key priority legislation:
HB25-1320, School Finance Act, extends the transition to Colorado’s new school funding formula by one year, now fully implementing it in 2031-32. This bill increases funding for education by nearly $256 million. This bill is scheduled to be heard in the House Education Committee on April 7th at 1:30pm.
SB25-208, Department of Corrections Inmate Phone Costs, proposes adjustments to the Department of Corrections’ (DOC) responsibility for covering inmate phone call costs. Under current law, the DOC is required to cover 100% of these costs starting July 1, 2025. This bill modifies that requirement by mandating the DOC to cover 75% of inmate phone call costs beginning July 1, 2025, and then increasing to 100% coverage on and after July 1, 2026. Additionally, the bill appropriates $1,436,165 from the general fund to the DOC for inmate telephone calls. This bill is scheduled to be heard in the House Appropriations Committee on April 8th.
HB 25-1116, Reporting Statistics on Restitution, is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 7th at 1:30pm. This bill would ensure the Department of Corrections regularly checks for outstanding warrants on inmates and notifies them, courts, and public defenders. It encourages timely resolution, including virtual court appearances, to prevent legal issues from delaying reentry.
HB 25-1146, Juvenile Detention Bed Caps, proposes increasing Colorado’s juvenile detention bed cap for the 2025-26 fiscal year and, in subsequent years, setting the cap at 125% of the projected average daily juvenile detention population. The bill also mandates annual appropriations to fund these beds. We are in strong opposition; after several delays, this bill will be heard in the Health and Human Services Committee on April 8th at 1:30pm. We are not asking for testimony as there will likely be a compromise.
HB 25-1026, Repeal Co-payment for Department of Corrections (DOC) Inmate Health Care, stops the Department of Corrections from charging medical fees to incarcerated individuals seeking healthcare, separate from what is billed to insurance and already provided by the state. This bill passed out of the House Appropriations Committee with a vote of 8-3.
SB25-200 Dyslexia Screening and READ Act Requirements, updates Colorado’s READ Act to include stronger screening for dyslexia by 2025-26. This bill passed second readings in the Senate.
SB25-001, Colorado Voting Rights Act, strengthens protections against voter discrimination, expands multilingual ballot access, improves accessibility for tribal and disabled voters, and creates a statewide election data office. The bill is scheduled to be heard in the House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee on April 14th at 1:30pm.
HB25-1147 Fairness & Transparency in Municipal Court, aligns municipal courts with state legal standards by ensuring sentencing parity, improving access to indigent defense, and enhancing transparency in court proceedings, passed the Senate and is off to the Governor’s desk!
HB 25-1204 Colorado Indian Child Welfare Act, aligns with federal ICWA while adding stronger state protections. It ensures tribal involvement in child welfare cases, prioritizes placement with family or tribe, and mandates reporting and oversight starting in 2027. This bill is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Health & Human Services Committee on April 23rd upon adjournment.
Our Take: Let’s talk budget- where we were, where we are, and where we are going!
Last week, the long-anticipated Colorado state budget—also known as the “long bill”—was introduced. But if you thought that was the end of the ride, think again. The real action kicked off this week, and it’s been a whirlwind in the State Capitol. As you will recall, Colorado is facing a $1.2 billion shortfall, so legislators have been hard at work identifying ways to balance the budget.
We started with the budget being presented to the Committee of the Whole, where lawmakers dug into the details and debated priorities. From there, it moved into the Senate Appropriations Committee, where amendments and negotiations shaped the next version.
Next came the public caucuses, giving lawmakers from both parties the chance to share their positions and concerns more openly. Then we hit second readings, a critical moment where the Senate debated the bill on the floor—sometimes line by line. It has now passed third readings and is now in the House, bringing the bill one step closer to final passage.
And now, we wait until we get to the final vote on the long bill—arguably the biggest budget moment of the year.
Stay tuned. The twists and turns aren’t over yet, and this budget will shape funding for schools, healthcare, transportation, and so much more across our state.
Take Action: Let’s Ensure Fair and Safe Reintegration for Returning Community Members!
HB25-1116, a bill that seeks to reduce the likelihood of re-incarceration by ensuring that offenders in the custody of the Department of Corrections (DOC) address any outstanding warrants or pending cases before their release, is being heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 7th at 1:30pm.
HB25-1116 will:
- ensure that before an individual leaves prison, the DOC conducts thorough checks for any outstanding in-state or out-of-state warrants or pending cases in Colorado courts.
- gives individuals the opportunity to address legal matters before they return home.
- require the DOC to notify the individual, a public defender liaison, and the relevant court in case an outstanding warrant or pending case is identified.
What We’re Reading
- The Colorado Sun, Minimal cuts next year: School funding proposal promises districts more stable funding — for now
- Chalkbeat, Colorado House Speaker’s school finance plan seeks a compromise on enrollment-averaging
