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ColoradoHB26-13052026 Regular SessionHouse

Licensing of Behavioral Health Facilities

Sponsored By: Dylan Roberts (Democratic), Meghan Lukens (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Health Care & Health Insurance

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Remote psychiatric units face care standards

Colorado health officials must set and enforce standards for how remote psychiatric units operate and are maintained. These units follow State Board of Health psychiatric hospital licensing rules, not general hospital rules. Enforcement targets the main hospital’s general license, regardless of where the conduct happened. At renewal, the main hospital must show that each unit has Behavioral Health Administration designation to provide Article 65 services. Each unit must also retain federal provider-based status, meet psychiatric hospital rules, be certified to accept Medicaid, and serve Medicaid members. Accreditation can satisfy renewal requirements only when a psychiatric hospital accrediting organization finds the unit meets specialized psychiatric hospital standards. Colorado health officials can still inspect units for licensing and other requirements and investigate complaints.

Rural psychiatric units can share hospital licenses

Qualifying rural psychiatric units can operate under a main hospital’s license without a separate psychiatric hospital license. Each must be standalone, off any hospital campus, within 35 miles of the main hospital, and have at least 17 beds. It must mainly provide inpatient psychiatric care under the main hospital’s name, ownership, and financial and administrative control. This pathway covers facilities initially licensed as psychiatric hospitals or otherwise subject to that licensing. Units must meet state psychiatric hospital rules, including building standards, and have or seek federal provider-based status under 42 CFR 413.65. The main hospital pays a separate licensing fee for each remote unit. A unit that loses federal provider-based status must obtain a psychiatric hospital license to keep operating.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Dylan Roberts

    Democratic • Senate

  • Meghan Lukens

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Andrew Boesenecker

    Democratic • House

  • Bob Marshall

    Democratic • House

  • Cecelia Espenoza

    Democratic • House

  • Jamie Jackson

    Democratic • House

  • Julie McCluskie

    Democratic • House

  • Kyle Brown

    Democratic • House

  • Karen McCormick

    Democratic • House

  • Kenny Nguyen

    Democratic • House

  • Katie Stewart

    Democratic • House

  • Lesley Smith

    Democratic • House

  • Monica Duran

    Democratic • House

  • Mandy Lindsay

    Democratic • House

  • Manny Rutinel

    Democratic • House

  • Naquetta Ricks

    Democratic • House

  • Regina English

    Democratic • House

  • Ryan Gonzalez

    Republican • House

  • Rebekah Stewart

    Democratic • House

  • Ron Weinberg

    Republican • House

  • Sheila Lieder

    Democratic • House

  • Sen. A. Benavidez

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Byron Pelton

    Republican • Senate

  • Cathy Kipp

    Democratic • Senate

  • Chris Kolker

    Democratic • Senate

  • Iman Jodeh

    Democratic • Senate

  • Judy Amabile

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jeff Bridges

    Democratic • Senate

  • James Coleman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Julie Gonzales

    Democratic • Senate

  • Janice Marchman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kyle Mullica

    Democratic • Senate

  • Katie Wallace

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lisa Cutter

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lindsey Daugherty

    Democratic • Senate

  • Larry Liston

    Republican • Senate

  • Marc Catlin

    Republican • Senate

  • Marc Snyder

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mike Weissman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Tony Exum

    Democratic • Senate

  • William Lindstedt

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 243 • No: 1

House vote • 4/17/2026

Senate amendments: Repass

Yes: 63 • No: 0

House vote • 4/17/2026

Senate amendments: Concur

Yes: 62 • No: 1

Senate vote • 4/14/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 35 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/9/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1305 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.

Yes: 6 • No: 0

House vote • 3/23/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 64 • No: 0

House vote • 3/17/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1305 to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 13 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Governor Signed

    5/4/2026House

  2. Signed by the Speaker of the House

    4/28/2026House

  3. Signed by the President of the Senate

    4/28/2026Senate

  4. Sent to the Governor

    4/28/2026House

  5. House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass

    4/17/2026House

  6. House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily

    4/15/2026House

  7. Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    4/14/2026Senate

  8. Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor

    4/13/2026Senate

  9. Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole

    4/9/2026Senate

  10. Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human Services

    3/25/2026Senate

  11. House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    3/23/2026House

  12. House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments

    3/20/2026House

  13. House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole

    3/17/2026House

  14. Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services

    2/27/2026House

Bill Text

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