PRIA Logo™
ColoradoSB26-0062026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Parity for Non-Opioid Pain Management Drugs

Sponsored By: Barbara Kirkmeyer (Republican), Judy Amabile (Democratic), Kyle Brown (Democratic), Rick Taggart (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Health Care & Health Insurance

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Better non-opioid drug coverage for pain patients

Colorado insurers with prescription drug benefits must offer at least one clinically appropriate non-opioid prescription alternative to an opioid. For FDA-approved non-opioid drugs prescribed for chronic or acute pain, review rules cannot exceed the least restrictive opioid review rules. Non-opioid pain drug cost-sharing, copayments, and deductibles cannot exceed those for the corresponding opioid drug. State Employee Group Benefits Act plans are excluded. These requirements start at 12:01 a.m. the day after the 90-day period following the legislature’s final adjournment. That date is August 12, 2026, if adjournment occurs May 13, 2026. A referendum petition filed within those 90 days delays the law until voters approve it at the November 2026 election. After voter approval, it takes effect when the governor declares the vote.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Barbara Kirkmeyer

    Republican • Senate

  • Judy Amabile

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kyle Brown

    Democratic • House

  • Rick Taggart

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Andrew Boesenecker

    Democratic • House

  • Emily Sirota

    Democratic • House

  • Jennifer Bacon

    Democratic • House

  • Karen McCormick

    Democratic • House

  • Lesley Smith

    Democratic • House

  • Monica Duran

    Democratic • House

  • Byron Pelton

    Republican • Senate

  • James Coleman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Katie Wallace

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lisa Cutter

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lisa Frizell

    Republican • Senate

  • Marc Catlin

    Republican • Senate

  • Scott Bright

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 309 • No: 37

Senate vote • 5/8/2026

House amendments: Repass

Yes: 28 • No: 6

Senate vote • 5/8/2026

House amendments: Concur

Yes: 34 • No: 0

House vote • 5/6/2026

Third reading: Amd (l.011)

Yes: 63 • No: 1

House vote • 5/6/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 48 • No: 16

House vote • 5/6/2026

Third reading: Perm

Yes: 64 • No: 0

House vote • 5/1/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-006, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 10 • No: 1

House vote • 4/22/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-006 to the Committee on Appropriations.

Yes: 8 • No: 5

Senate vote • 4/20/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 29 • No: 5

Senate vote • 4/17/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-006 to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 7 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/8/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-006, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.

Yes: 6 • No: 1

Senate vote • 4/8/2026

Adopt amendment L.004 (Attachment E).

Yes: 6 • No: 1

Senate vote • 4/8/2026

Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment D).

Yes: 6 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Governor Signed

    6/3/2026House

  2. Signed by the President of the Senate

    5/22/2026Senate

  3. Signed by the Speaker of the House

    5/22/2026House

  4. Sent to the Governor

    5/22/2026House

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

    5/8/2026Senate

  6. House Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor

    5/6/2026House

  7. House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee

    5/5/2026House

  8. House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - No Amendments

    5/5/2026House

  9. House Second Reading Special Order - Lost with Amendments - Committee

    5/5/2026House

  10. House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole

    5/1/2026House

  11. House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Unamended to Appropriations

    4/22/2026House

  12. Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    4/20/2026Senate

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

    4/20/2026House

  14. Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole

    4/17/2026Senate

  15. Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee

    4/17/2026Senate

  16. Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to Appropriations

    4/8/2026Senate

  17. Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

    4/2/2026Senate

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

    1/14/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Engrossed

    PDF

  • Final Act

    PDF

  • House Appropriations Preamend

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

  • Reengrossed

    PDF

  • Rerevised

    PDF

  • Revised

    PDF

  • Senate Health & Human Services Preamend

    PDF

  • Signed Act

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation