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.
Legislation of Interest
As we close out the first month of this year’s session, here are a few updates on some of our criminal justice reform policy priorities– including a newly introduced bill!
HB 25-1081, Reporting Statistics on Restitution, passed the House Judiciary Committee with a vote of 7-4 and passed second reading in the House. As you may recall, this bill requires enhanced data collection on restitution demographics, prioritizing transparency and accountability. It seeks to address systemic inequities by revealing who owes restitution, who receives payment, and any potential barriers in the process. HB 25-1116, DOC Search Court Records Before Offender Release, which 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, and was just introduced in the House.
HB25-1135, Communication Devices in Schools, requires all public and charter schools in Colorado to establish policies on student use of communication devices during school hours by July 1, 2026. These policies must specify any restrictions and exceptions for device use throughout the school day. The bill was introduced in the House and is scheduled to be heard in the House Education Committee on February 12.
HB25-1153, Statewide Government Language Access Assessment, requires a statewide language access assessment across Colorado’s principal departments to evaluate and improve services for non-English speakers. The assessment will review language access needs, existing resources, and expenditures. A final report with recommendations is due by December 31, 2026. It was introduced in the House.
HB25-1049, Communications Rights for Persons in Custody, ensures individuals in custody can make and receive private, unrecorded legal telephone calls at no cost or use private, unrecorded audiovisual conferencing. Under current law, individuals in custody have the right to consult with an attorney. It passed the House Judiciary Committee unanimously out of House Judiciary Committee.
SB25-001, Colorado Voting Rights Act, was introduced in the Senate and establishes the Colorado Voting Rights Act (CVRA) and updates election-related statutes in four key areas: (1) Election and voting provisions for Indian tribes. (2) Enhanced voting services for individuals with disabilities. (3) Improved language access in election processes. (4) Strengthened election-related data collection practices.
Our Take: Eliminating Medical Fees for Incarcerated People
We are thrilled that the House Judiciary Committee recently passed HB 25-1026, Repeal Co-payment for Department of Corrections (DOC) Inmate Health Care. This legislation 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.
Current law requires the DOC to assess a copayment for medical, dental, mental health, and optometric care services. Copays and fees charged for seeking medical care while incarcerated in Colorado, range from $3 to $5. While that amount does not sound excessive, we must consider the average wages paid to inmates incarcerated in Colorado of 69 cents to $1.81 per day. To contrast, this amounts to a $900 co-pay for the average Coloradan earning minimum wage.
Studies show these fees deter people from seeking necessary care. A 2018 study in the Journal for Evidence-Based Practice in Correctional Health found that 70% of incarcerated individuals avoided medical care due to copays. Similarly, a 2024 American Medical Association study found that in states where copays exceeded a week’s pay, individuals with chronic health conditions were half as likely to seek medical treatment. Delayed care leads to worsening health outcomes, increasing long-term costs for the state. HB 25-1026 would eliminate these fees for three years, allowing time to assess the impact of this policy while ensuring access to essential healthcare for incarcerated individuals.
Take Action: Keep Families Connected
HB23-1133, passed in 2023, ensures free communication in Colorado’s prisons to keep families connected. The law phases in funding over three years, cutting call costs by 25% in year one, 35% in year two, and making all calls free by July 1, 2025. However, the Joint Budget Committee is now considering cutting funding to only cover 50% of costs this year, jeopardizing full implementation. We’ve been raising awareness about this because it’s incredibly impactful for families across Colorado.
Delays in implementing this policy risk undermining efforts to reduce recidivism and support families. Let’s work together to protect this critical progress!
Contact members of the Joint Budget Committee and ask them to prioritize the funding needed to bring free prison phone calls to families this year, as outlined in HB23-1133. If you want to learn more about other advocacy opportunities in the Criminal Justice Reform space, register to attend our community information session happening February 13th from 5:30-7:00p, here !
What We’re Reading
- Chalkbeat Colorado, Colorado parents, this new state tax credit could net you thousands of dollars
- Chalkbeat Colorado, NAEP test results: Colorado’s scores are mostly stable, as gap between low and high performers widens
- CPR News, A bill requiring schools to have cell phone policies aims to boost classroom learning
