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DENVER, CO – The House today advanced the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 state budget package on a preliminary vote. This bipartisan budget protects critical investments in K-12 education and Medicaid, caps tuition for higher education, and makes responsible reductions across programs and agencies to achieve a balanced budget.
“We’re not happy about the cuts we had to make, but these strategic reductions protect essential services like health care and K-12 education,” said JBC Vice Chair Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster. “From protecting Medicaid coverage to capping college tuition, this budget supports popular services that boost public health and safety and foster opportunity for all. As our bipartisan budget moves closer to the finish line, I am proud of our efforts to preserve investments in the critical services Coloradans depend on.”
“Despite having to make painful decisions over many months to balance our budget, we have fought to preserve essential services that families and vulnerable community members need,” said JBC Member Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver. “While making these cuts doesn’t feel good, TABOR requires difficult tradeoffs in order to protect funding for essential services like K-12 education and Medicaid. I remain deeply concerned by federal policies that could harm our economy, increase costs, and freeze funding Coloradans expect and deserve. However, I’m proud of the careful decisions we made to soften the impact of resolving our $1.2 billion gap and continue investing in child care, food assistance, and our environment.”
The state’s $43.9 billion budget contains $16.7 billion in general fund expenditures. This year’s Long Bill, SB25-206, is accompanied by 63 “orbital bills,” which move through the legislative process alongside the budget and make the statutory changes needed to balance the budget.
Protecting Investments in K-12 and Higher Education
Protecting K-12 Funding: In just the last few years, Colorado Democrats have increased total funding for our schools by nearly $3 billion. Since the 2018-19 school year, per pupil funding has increased from $8,123 to $11,852 next year. Despite a declining enrollment environment, this year’s budget builds on steady progress to increase the resources going to our classrooms by directing an additional $150 million more from the General Fund into schools as compared to the FY24-25 budget. Ultimately, total K-12 school funding will increase by over $250 million next year through HB25-1320, the 2025 School Finance Act.
Capping Tuition Rates for Higher Education: In recent years, Colorado Democrats have fought to increase college access by limiting tuition increases and boosting funding for financial aid. This year’s budget includes a 3.5 percent cap on tuition increases for in-state students.
Continuing Medicaid Services for Vulnerable Coloradans
Protecting Medicaid Services that Coloradans Rely On: This year, Colorado Democrats rejected proposed reductions to provider rates and instead secured a moderate 1.6 percent increase and protected Medicaid eligibility, avoiding dire impacts to Coloradans who rely on Medicaid services. However, this progress remains under threat by federal government actions to potentially cut Medicaid.
Continuing Dental Services Provided Through Medicaid: This year’s budget protects funding for Coloradans on Medicaid to receive dental care.
Supporting Colorado Kids and Families
Bolstering Child Care Assistance: The budget invests $15 million in FY24-25 and $10 million in FY25-26 to increase support for the child care assistance program, a vital resource for low-income families to ensure access to quality child care providers which have seen long waitlists and frozen enrollment in many counties due to funding restrictions.
Early Intervention Support for Colorado Children: The budget increases support for early intervention services that help bridge developmental gaps for infants and toddlers who were born premature or with other special needs. This year, Colorado Democrats acted swiftly to plug an unexpected gap in funding in FY24-25 by providing $4 million to halt proposed service reductions, and are investing an additional $16.5 million to sustain the program in FY25-26.
Healthy School Meals for All: This budget fully funds the Healthy School Meals for All program through the end of the year, preserving what voters previously approved at the ballot. If HB25-1274 passes, a referred ballot measure in November will ask voters to weigh in on whether to continue the program or scale it back.
Anti-Poverty Programs Administered by Local Governments: This year’s budget protects programs like TANF and SNAP administered by local governments to serve the most vulnerable communities.
Preserving Colorado’s Public Lands and Natural Resources
Investing in State Parks: This budget preserves and improves Colorado’s state parks, including $52 million in investments to protect critical habitats, maintain park facilities, and reinforce parks infrastructure.
Promoting Water Conservation: This year’s budget protects funding for water conservation and resource management projects to ensure access to clean water for generations of Coloradans to come.
Safeguarding Colorado's Civil Liberties
Maintaining Election Security: The Trump administration abruptly halted federal support for election security, including from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. This budget keeps Colorado’s elections safe and secure by providing $410,000 for robust security assessments and critical technology for all local elections systems.
Defending Against Unlawful Federal Actions: Amidst ongoing uncertainty from the Trump administration, the budget allocates an additional $604,000 for increased support in the Attorney General’s Office to fight reckless, unlawful federal actions and protect federal funding that Coloradans rely on. This year’s budget also sets aside $4 million via SB25-269 and HB25-1321 to protect Colorado from the Trump administration's attempts to freeze federal grants or undermine Colorado’s sovereignty.