SB 178: Health Insurance Affordability Measures

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

The act:Authorizes the health insurance affordability enterprise (enterprise), on or after January 1, 2027, to issue revenue bonds of up to $100 million to fund enterprise programs, secured by the enterprise's revenues, and require the enterprise to pay bond obligations before allocating revenues for enterprise programs;Allows the enterprise to invest specified money in the health insurance affordability cash fund (cash fund) without regard to otherwise applicable requirements for such investments and to contract with private professional fund managers to advise on investment strategies;Modifies the allocation of enterprise revenue among authorized purposes and allows the enterprise to reallocate unexpended amounts for specified purposes;Directs the enterprise to require qualified individuals who are enrolled in state-subsidized individual health coverage plans eligible for subsidies from the enterprise to pay premiums established in rules adopted by the commissioner, in consultation with the health insurance affordability board (board);Requires the enterprise to adjust the statewide average premium reduction under the reinsurance program to 18% and to reduce the amount of bonds issued to account for the reduced costs for the reinsurance program;Directs the board, in recommending parameters for implementing subsidies for state-subsidized individual health coverage plans, to recommend coverage that prioritizes enrollment stability and customer predictability; when seeking input on its recommendations regarding plans, coverage, and the number of eligible slots, to enable feedback in at least English and Spanish and in other languages upon request; and to indicate how it incorporated such feedback into its final recommendations;Directs the enterprise to conduct or contract a third party to conduct a study to evaluate the feasibility of restructuring the enterprise programs to increase health insurance affordability and maximize enrollment in health insurance plans;Requires the enterprise to submit 3 written reports and make one in-person presentation to the joint budget committee each year regarding the status of the cash fund and, as part of its in-person presentation in January 2027, to provide an analysis of the effects of changing the statewide average premium reduction under the reinsurance program to 15% and of creating a tiered, income-based, structure for premium assistance for individuals who purchase insurance on the Colorado health benefit exchange (exchange);Repeals the tax credit for contributions to the exchange and replaces it with a tax credit for contributions to the enterprise; andDirects the state treasurer to transfer $40 million from the marijuana tax cash fund to the cash fund by June 30, 2026, reduces to $60 million the designation of money in the marijuana tax cash fund as the state emergency reserve for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 state fiscal years, and increases by $40 million the value of the capitol annex building for purposes of the state emergency reserve for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 state fiscal years.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 32

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. June 2, 2026Governor Signed
2. May 21, 2026Signed by the President of the Senate
3. May 21, 2026Signed by the Speaker of the House
4. May 21, 2026Sent to the Governor
5. May 12, 2026House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
6. May 11, 2026House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments
7. May 9, 2026House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
8. May 8, 2026Senate Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor
9. May 8, 2026Introduced In House - Assigned to Appropriations
10. May 7, 2026Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
11. May 7, 2026Senate Second Reading Special Order - Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
12. May 7, 2026Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor

Showing 12 most recent of 14 actions. Full history