DENVER, Colo. — The Colorado Senate advanced four major bills on Friday morning, sending them to the House of Representatives as lawmakers race to address a billion-dollar budget shortfall caused by recent federal tax code changes. The special legislative session, called by Gov. Jared Polis, continues to tackle pressing fiscal and policy issues affecting state funding, health care, and food assistance.
Senate Bill 25B-1: Governor’s Spending Cut Authority (Passed 19-16)
This closely contested bill gives the governor the authority to make mid-year spending cuts when revenue shortfalls occur, while requiring consultation with the Joint Budget Committee (JBC).
Key provisions include:
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Allowing the governor to suspend and reduce state funding if the General Fund reserve drops below $1 billion.
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Permitting up to 3% of the General Fund budget to be tapped if necessary.
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An amendment, proposed by Sen. Judy Amabile (D-Boulder), raised the threshold from the initially suggested 2% to 3%.
While Democrats largely backed the bill, it faced opposition from all Senate Republicans and four Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez (D-Denver), who warned:
“We’re ceding too much power to the governor — accountability and responsibility are at stake.”
Senate Bill 25B-2: Medicaid Funding for Reproductive Health (Passed 23-12, Party-Line Vote)
This bill authorizes Colorado to use state funds to pay for Medicaid services provided by reproductive health organizations, such as Planned Parenthood, when federal Medicaid dollars are withheld. Democrats unanimously supported the measure, while Republicans opposed it.
Senate Bill 25B-3: Universal School Meals & SNAP Funding (Passed Along Party Lines)
The bill proposes amending a November ballot measure to ask voters if excess revenue from the universal school meals program can also cover expenses related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
This measure comes after President Donald Trump’s federal tax and spending law shifted more SNAP costs to states.
Sen. Katie Wallace (D) defended the bill, saying:
“While Congress has failed families, Coloradans are stepping up to ensure vulnerable people don’t go hungry.”
Senate Bill 25B-5: Wolf Reintroduction Funds Shifted to Health Insurance (Passed 32-3, Bipartisan Support)
The final bill redirects $260,000 from the wolf reintroduction program to a state health insurance fund. A committee amendment ensures Colorado will still proceed with capturing and releasing wolves this winter.
Three Democrats — Lisa Cutter, Tom Sullivan, and Katie Wallace — voted against the bill, with Sullivan citing concerns about how the amendment process was handled.
What’s Next
All four bills now move to the Colorado House of Representatives for consideration. Lawmakers face mounting pressure to pass solutions quickly as the state grapples with budget cuts, Medicaid funding gaps, and food assistance shortfalls triggered by federal policy changes.
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Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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