We are back this week with round two of Healthier Colorado’s media digest. With April now upon us and the state budget officially under consideration in the House, it is crunch time at the legislature.
Read on for more about: the progress we’ve made towards protecting Colorado youth and users of all ages from the danger of unregulated AI chatbots; funding for critical childcare support for Colorado families; the new Healthier Colorado Advisory Committee; and what’s on our radar for the weeks ahead.
🏛️ At the Capitol: Legislative Updates
Here’s where things stand on the bills and issues we’re tracking this session.
HEADED TO THE HOUSE FLOOR! HB26-1263: Protecting AI Chatbot Users from Harm Sponsored by Rep. Camacho, Rep. Mabrey, Sen. Jodeh, and Sen. Carson
With extensive stakeholder engagement ongoing, we anticipate that HB26-1263 will be debated on the floor of the House early next week.
ICYMI, tech experts, health care providers, and youth advocates came together to testify in support of the legislation during its committee hearing on March 26th. Since then, the sponsors and bill supporters have continued to work with families and organizations across the state to strengthen the bill to ensure it remains a strong, effective, and common-sense bill that is legally and technologically feasible.
As AI technology continues to advance rapidly, protecting Colorado users can’t wait. This bill is a critical first step and will now move to the Senate with bipartisan sponsors Carson and Jodeh.
Healthier Colorado’s policy experts, who have played a key role in shaping and advancing the legislation, are available for further discussion and to answer questions.
Passed the House, Senate Committee Hearing Scheduled for April 22! HB26-1260: Updates to Child Care Assistance Programs Sponsored by Rep. Garcia, Rep. Willford, Sen. Cutter, and Sen. Bright
With continued robust bipartisan support and some recent amendments, HB26-1260 continues to move through the legislative process. Its next milestone is a hearing in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, currently scheduled for April 22nd.
Shout-outs to Erica Breunlin and Taylor Dolven of the Colorado Sun for their ongoing in-depth coverage of Colorado’s child care affordability crisis, which the CCCAP program was designed to mitigate.
To ensure that the program can continue to offer support to Colorado families, bill sponsors and advocates (including Healthier Colorado’s senior director of policy, Christina Walker) are working to find creative funding sources.
Read the UPDATED fact sheet to learn more.
Holding in House Appropriations! SB26-131: Sports Betting Protections Sponsored by Sen. Ball, Sen. Pelton, Rep. Woodrow, and Rep. Woog
Following its passage out of the Senate Finance Committee, SB26-131 is waiting to be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee before heading to the floor for a full Senate vote.
This is common-sense reform that Colorado needs to balance strong support for business with reasonable protections for Coloradans’ mental and behavioral health.
🧑🤝🧑 Meet the New Healthier Colorado Advisory Committee
ICYMI, Healthier Colorado recently announced the launch of its new Advisory Committee. This distinguished group of leaders’ breadth of experience and commitment to community will help shape the organization’s mission to ensure all Coloradans have the opportunity to live healthy lives and thrive.
The Advisory Committee reflects Healthier Colorado’s belief that meaningful, lasting progress advancing policies that make Colorado healthier requires voices from across the state with experience across sectors, and with an understanding that what is needed in Sterling may be different from what is needed in Denver or Salida. Committee members will provide strategic guidance, community perspective, and subject-matter expertise as the organization continues its work at the Capitol and beyond.
Learn more about the Advisory Committee members here!
🌷Celebrating Mother’s Day with Mama’s Fun Run 5k
This Mother’s Day, Healthier Colorado is celebrating the strength and resilience of the moms in our lives.
WHAT: Mama’s Fun Run 5k 💐
WHEN: Saturday, May 2nd, 8 AM doors, 8:30 AM start
WHERE: Fleet Feet Cherry Creek, 300 E. 1st Ave #112, Denver, CO 80206 (parking will be validated)
⏪ ICYMI: In Case You Missed It
Mind Our Future Colorado Roundtable in Grand Junction — Following the launch of Mind Our Future, a new statewide initiative to make child and youth mental health a centerpiece of the 2026 governor’s race, Healthier Colorado and Children’s Hospital Colorado hosted a roundtable in Grand Junction that brought together over 30 mental and behavioral health leaders.
Insights from the roundtable and future events will be used to create a policy playbook that will help Colorado’s next governor tackle youth mental health issues from day 1.
A candidate forum focused entirely on child and youth mental health is scheduled for May 28th and will be streamed live on CBS Colorado.
Senator Hickenlooper Joined Healthier Colorado for a Virtual Town Hall — On March 26th, Healthier Colorado was pleased to host Sen. Hickenlooper for a town hall conversation with advocates, experts, and Coloradans struggling to access healthcare. As a result of H.R. 1’s new Medicaid requirements and other tax cuts, almost 250,000 people in Colorado will lose their health care coverage. We thank the Senator for joining us and for his continued leadership in Washington DC, fighting to preserve coverage for Colorado!
📅 Coming Up: Key Dates to Watch
Here’s what’s on our radar in the weeks ahead.
Wednesday, April 22 SB26-131: Sports Betting Protections is scheduled for a committee hearing in Senate Appropriations.
Saturday, May 2nd Healthier Colorado’s Mama’s Day 5k Fun Run and Walk to raise awareness of maternal health!
Thursday, May 28 Mind Our Future Colorado hosts a gubernatorial candidate forum on child and youth mental health, streamed live on CBS Colorado.