All Roll Calls
Yes: 217 • No: 87
ColoradoSB26-1132026 Regular SessionSenate
Require Recovery Residences to Obtain Behavioral Health Administration License
Sponsored By: Judy Amabile (Democratic), Karen McCormick (Democratic), Matt Ball (Democratic), Michael Carter (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
Health Care & Health Insurance
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
9 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 4 mixed.
Recovery residents can keep prescribed treatment
Recovery residences cannot deny you admission because you use prescribed medication-assisted treatment for a substance use disorder. This includes FDA-approved agonist medicines. They cannot make you stop or taper treatment to live there, or block medicine taken as your doctor directs. Homes can require safe medication storage or staff administration to prevent harm and medication diversion.
Recovery housing rules protect former offenders
State recovery residence rules cannot bar someone solely because of past criminal justice involvement or convictions. The rules also cannot let a residence impose that sole reason for exclusion. This protection does not prevent exclusion for other reasons.
Families get public recovery home findings
The state must keep a public list of licensed recovery residences. Beginning July 1, 2027, certified homes must report qualifying deaths, serious injuries, abuse, and caretaker neglect, including after licensing. Homes must also report deliberate or repeated misuse of residents’ money or belongings without consent, even temporarily, and drugs diverted to someone else. The law requires some specified incidents to be reported to law enforcement as well. The state must investigate properly submitted reports and publish summaries, investigated complaints and conclusions, and deficiency citations, explaining violations and whether the home responded appropriately. Reports remain confidential, and public findings cannot identify residents or health-care professionals; the state can confirm a pending investigation before it ends.
Recovery homes cannot take admission kickbacks
Recovery home owners, workers, administrators, and related people cannot seek or receive money or valuables tied to applications or admission decisions. They also cannot receive money or valuables from toxicology labs that test residents. Payments for residents’ housing and support remain allowed, as do fees for supportive services required for placement.
Recovery home operators pay licensing costs
By May 1, 2027, the state must set application and renewal fees that fully cover licensing administration and enforcement. The law sets no fee amounts; fees go into the new Behavioral Health Licensing Cash Fund. Applicants, owners, and managers must pay for fingerprint-based state and federal criminal history checks after applying; new owners or managers must submit within 10 days of the change. The state keeps results confidential and can deny a license based on them only as allowed by the cited laws; fingerprint vendors cannot keep prints longer than 30 days. Residences pay for employee and service-contractor background checks, completed before employment or contract execution and no more than 90 days before the start.
Recovery homes face safety rules and fines
By May 1, 2027, the state must set rules covering resident rights, staffing, records, admissions, discharge, buildings, reporting, and inspections. Previously certified homes must receive compliance timelines for standards stricter than their former certification rules. The state can require fixes, training, monitoring, or other restrictions, and can impose fines instead of adverse license action, capped at $2,000 per calendar year. After required proceedings, it can suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew licenses; owner, manager, or administrator convictions posing resident risks can also lead to action after a hearing. Beginning July 1, 2027, unlicensed operators face possible fines of $50–$100 per day after a court finds a violation, accruing from the date the agency finds the violation; collected fines go to the General Fund.
Recovery homes need yearly state licenses
Beginning July 1, 2027, covered Colorado recovery residences need a Behavioral Health Administration license, with a transition for previously certified homes. The requirement covers substance-free housing that provides recovery support for people whose primary diagnosis is a behavioral health disorder; specified family homes, treatment settings, supportive housing, shelters, health facilities, and reentry programs are excluded. Operators must apply annually, and regular licenses expire one year after issuance or renewal. The state reviews applications, must act on complete applications within 30 days, and can inspect homes or require written correction plans; approved applicants must notify their local zoning authority. Homes licensed to offer onsite outpatient services also need recovery residence licenses, but the state must avoid duplicate oversight. Temporary licenses last up to 90 days, with only one additional temporary license allowed within a year. Applicants must show efforts to comply and finish required criminal history checks, and temporary operation cannot threaten residents’ health, safety, or welfare.
Recovery housing oversight expires in 2033
The law sets September 1, 2033, as the repeal date for this recovery residence licensing framework. A regulatory review is required before repeal. Unless extended by another law, repeal ends both the framework’s operator requirements and its resident oversight protections.
Recovery housing referrals face license limits
Beginning July 1, 2027, covered health providers, managed care groups, health facilities, and government entities cannot use unlicensed recovery residences. This applies to referrals, service purchases, and contracts, with an exception for qualifying previously certified homes. Homes certified as of June 30, 2027, can continue operating and receiving referrals while seeking a license. Before July 1, 2027, they must notify the state of their certification, rule compliance, and intent to seek licensing. They must apply at least 60 days before the first anniversary of their latest certification and hold an approved license beginning July 1, 2028.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Judy Amabile
Democratic • Senate
Karen McCormick
Democratic • House
Matt Ball
Democratic • Senate
Michael Carter
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Andrew Boesenecker
Democratic • House
Chad Clifford
Democratic • House
Emily Sirota
Democratic • House
Gretchen Rydin
Democratic • House
Jennifer Bacon
Democratic • House
Julie McCluskie
Democratic • House
Kyle Brown
Democratic • House
Mandy Lindsay
Democratic • House
Naquetta Ricks
Democratic • House
Regina English
Democratic • House
Sen. A. Benavidez
Affiliation unavailable
Cathy Kipp
Democratic • Senate
Chris Kolker
Democratic • Senate
Iman Jodeh
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
Marc Snyder
Democratic • Senate
Mike Weissman
Democratic • Senate
Tony Exum
Democratic • Senate
William Lindstedt
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 5/8/2026
House amendments: Concur
Yes: 34 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/8/2026
House amendments: Repass
Yes: 28 • No: 6
House vote • 5/6/2026
Third reading: Bill
Yes: 48 • No: 16
House vote • 5/5/2026
Committee of the whole: Amd (h.001)
Yes: 22 • No: 39
House vote • 5/5/2026
Refer Senate Bill 26-113 to the Committee of the Whole.
Yes: 9 • No: 2
House vote • 4/13/2026
Refer Senate Bill 26-113, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Yes: 7 • No: 3
House vote • 4/7/2026
Adopt amendment L.012 (Attachment D).
Yes: 8 • No: 5
House vote • 4/7/2026
Refer Senate Bill 26-113, as amended, to the Committee on Finance.
Yes: 8 • No: 5
House vote • 4/7/2026
Adopt amendment L.008 (Attachment B).
Yes: 8 • No: 5
Senate vote • 3/25/2026
Third reading: Bill
Yes: 30 • No: 5
Senate vote • 3/20/2026
Refer Senate Bill 26-113, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Yes: 7 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/4/2026
Refer Senate Bill 26-113, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Yes: 8 • No: 1
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
6/2/2026HouseSigned by the President of the Senate
5/20/2026SenateSigned by the Speaker of the House
5/20/2026HouseSent to the Governor
5/20/2026HouseSenate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
5/8/2026SenateHouse Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
5/6/2026HouseHouse Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
5/5/2026HouseHouse Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
5/5/2026HouseHouse Committee on Finance Refer Amended to Appropriations
4/13/2026HouseHouse Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to Finance
4/7/2026HouseSenate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
3/25/2026SenateIntroduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services
3/25/2026HouseSenate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
3/24/2026SenateSenate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
3/20/2026SenateSenate Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to Appropriations
3/4/2026SenateIntroduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human Services
2/12/2026Senate
Bill Text
Engrossed
Final Act
House Finance Preamend
House Health & Human Services Preamend
Introduced
Reengrossed
Rerevised
Revised
Senate Appropriations Preamend
Senate Health & Human Services Preamend
Signed Act
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