As we ring in the new year, we at Illuminate Colorado are marking the start to the 2026 Colorado legislative session, which kicked off yesterday, January 14th. Every year, the Colorado General Assembly, Colorado’s state representatives and senators, come together for 120 days to introduce, hear, vote on, and pass legislation to make changes to Colorado state laws. Through early May, many bills that impact Colorado children and families will make their way through the legislative process. We’re excited to actively engage throughout the legislative session to ensure family strengthening is prioritized at the capitol.

Illuminate’s 2025-2028 Policy Priorities

In 2024, Illuminate reviewed reports and research, held conversations with Illuminate staff and other subject matter experts, including lived experience experts, and measured progress and momentum toward past policy priorities to set new and renewed multi-year priorities. In the 2026 state legislative session, we at Illuminate will continue to work toward our 2025-2028 policy priorities:

• • Advance an aligned and comprehensive family strengthening ecosystem
  • Establish clear and family-centered systems of support for families with infants in order to ensure Colorado infants have the best start possible
  • Foster family financial well-being and independence by increasing pathways to economic security for families
  • Promote strengths-based information and support for families impacted by substance use including those impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
  • Establish and connect long-term funding pathways to sustain and scale Illuminate Programs

Challenges and Opportunities in 2026

As the 2026 legislative session commences, legislators and advocates are navigating many challenges and opportunities to defend and expand policies that strengthen families. One of the largest hurdles faced this year is Colorado’s continued budget crisis. Due to the constraints that TABOR puts on state spending of collected tax revenue paired with inflation, Colorado’s allowable spending limit has not adequately risen with the cost of goods and services to the state. This is especially true as the Joint Budget Committee and other key legislators consider strategies to reduce Medicaid spending, which has risen exponentially with inflation, while maintaining needed services for Medicaid members. Colorado also continues to navigate the challenges imposed by H.R.1, which, among other concerns, resulted in higher state-level administrative costs to administer public benefits, including Medicaid and SNAP. To learn more about the impact of H.R.1 on Colorado children and families, you can visit our blog on the topic.

As Colorado navigates budget challenges, many advocates and legislators are exploring opportunities to expand federal matching funds and pursue opportunities to bring additional federal funds into the state to cushion Colorado’s budget deficit. In addition, policymakers will continue to face federal shifts head on by engaging in creative policy strategies to ensure Colorado remains a safe state for all Coloradans to thrive.

Advocating for Children and Families Under the Dome

At Illuminate, we are working to continue to pursue opportunities to inform legislation and policy conversations with evidence, the perspectives of lived experience experts, and data-driven family strengthening frameworks in alignment with our policy priorities. Additionally, we are engaging in more focused conversations to explore opportunities to expand supports, promote child safety, and reduce fear and stigma for families impacted by substance use.

To stay up to date on our policy work and opportunities to join us in advocating for children and families, sign up to receive our blogs and quarterly newsletters directly to your inbox and follow us on social media. You can learn more about the Colorado legislative process and how to engage by visiting our Advocacy Resources web page.

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