Joint Budget Committee approves drafting of multiple bills including mental‑health homes, Guard tuition waiver and combined ARPA measure

The Joint Budget Committee voted on March 12 to give staff permission to draft a slate of bills covering mental‑health transitional living homes, National Guard tuition waivers, a repeal of a bond assistance program, retail delivery fee allocation changes and a combined ARPA transfer measure.

Emily Pope, JBC staff, told the committee she wanted permission to draft a narrowly tailored bill to stop Medicaid revenue that passes through HIPPUF and is received by CDHS from being counted multiple times in state fiscal calculations: "I'm here to request permission to start drafting a bill around the issue that we talked about with mental health transitional living homes in the state hospitals where Medicaid revenue that's going to DHS is counting multiple times," Pope said. Vice Chair Bridges moved the drafting motion and the committee voted 6‑0 to approve permission to draft the bill.

The committee also heard a draft from John Catlett (JBC staff) to clarify administration of the Colorado National Guard Tuition Waiver after a statutory interpretation issue last year. Bridges moved to introduce an LLS draft, and that motion passed unanimously. Committee members asked staff to confirm institutions had been consulted; Catlett said institutions reported no pushback on the new proposal.

Other drafting permissions and introductions approved during the meeting included:

- Repeal of the Bond Assistance Program (LLS 0892): motion passed 6‑0; staff noted the bill will run with the long bill and listed House and Senate sponsors.
- Retail delivery fee revenue allocation (LLS 894): staff explained the bill adjusts multimodal fund splits to 70% local / 30% state; motion passed 6‑0.
- Combined ARPA drafting: Kelly Shen (JBC staff) requested authority to combine several ARPA transfers; the committee granted permission (motion passed 6‑0).
- A staff request to draft legislation adjusting the TABOR inflation calculation for calendar year 2025 (to interpolate missing BLS data caused by a federal data gap): the committee directed staff to draft the proposal in line with the Governor's letter (motion passed 6‑0).

Votes at a glance

- Permission to draft: Mental‑health transitional living home bill — Motion: "Move to draft, mental health transitional living home potential legislation." Mover: Vice Chair Bridges. Outcome: approved, 6‑0.
- Introduce: Colorado National Guard Tuition Waiver (LLS draft introduced) — Outcome: approved, 6‑0.
- Introduce: Repeal Bond Assistance Program (LLS 0892) — Outcome: approved, 6‑0.
- Introduce: Retail delivery fee revenue allocation (LLS 894) — Outcome: approved, 6‑0.
- Draft permission: Combined ARPA bill — Outcome: approved, 6‑0.
- Draft permission: TABOR inflation‑calculation adjustment per Governor's letter — Outcome: approved, 6‑0.

Why this matters

The drafting permissions give staff a green light to write statutory language and return the bills to the committee for consideration. Several of the measures will travel with the annual long bill or require companion measures in other chambers; staff and committee members noted some items will need additional outreach, technical cleanup and potential supporting legislation before final votes.

Next steps

Staff will produce bill drafts and, where required, accompanying legislation. Committee members asked staff to follow up with impacted institutions and agencies before finalizing language; several items will be folded into the long bill process or brought back as come‑backs for further committee action.