Tag: Joint Budget Committee
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Costs explode for Colorado program covering pregnant women and children living in the U.S. illegally
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A state program providing health care to pregnant women and children living in the country illegally is costing far more than lawmakers expected, with expenses nearly tripling in just a year and threatening to squeeze Colorado’s budget amid a nearly $1 billion shortfall. The program, launched in 2024, now enrolls more than 30,000 people and…
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Colorado policymakers scramble with prisons on track to exceed capacity
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Colorado’s prison system is on track to exceed capacity within the next year, driven by a sharp slowdown in parole releases, staffing shortages and an aging inmate population — all as lawmakers grapple with an $800 million general fund shortfall that limits options for expanding beds or spending in alternative programs. If projections hold, the…
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Colorado budget writers put Medicaid caregiver pay cuts on hold
The Colorado General Assembly’s budget decision-makers have put proposed pay cuts on hold for people who care for a family member with a disability who receives Medicaid. The Joint Budget Committee made the decision after hours of testimony from family caregivers and several advocates. The Department of Health Care Policy and Financing has been struggling…
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No TABOR refunds this year, as Colorado Gov. Polis warns of tight fiscal outlook
Gov. Jared Polis on Friday submitted revised budget requests for the next two fiscal years, calling for new public safety spending, changes to Medicaid growth, and renewed efforts to privatize Pinnacol Assurance. Notably, the governor said Colorado residents won’t get refunds from the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR). “We are focused on protecting the issues…
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Colorado legislators review wolf program as funding challenges persist
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Wolves took center stage during a Tuesday review by Colorado legislators of the budget proposal from the Department of Natural Resources, which includes the division that manages the reintroduction program. The Joint Budget Committee reviewed the budget proposal for 2026-27 from the department, with an eye toward potential cuts. The annual budget briefing is an…
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Lawmakers, Gov. Jared Polis clash on Medicaid provider rates
Colorado legislators on Tuesday heard from an advisory committee, which proposed making several adjustments to the state’s reimbursement rates for health care facilities that provide services to Medicaid patients. The proposal from the Medicaid Provider Rate Review Advisory Committee diverged from Gov. Jared Polis’ own proposed changes outlined in his budget proposal for the next…
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Gov. Jared Polis’ budget proposal faces backlash over Medicaid and Pinnacol deal
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Gov. Jared Polis’ proposed state budget for 2026-27 drew sharp criticism Wednesday from the legislature’s Joint Budget Committee, as lawmakers from both parties criticized plans to slow Medicaid spending growth and rely on a deal to privatize Pinnacol Assurance to generate revenue. Pinnacol, a quasi-state agency, is the state’s largest provider of workers’ compensation insurance.…
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Colorado figured out how to load state money onto EBT cards, officials say
Colorado officials said they figured out a way to load state funds onto the electronic cards of food stamp recipients. Officials from the Department of Human Services told Colorado Politics they had spoken “extensively” with the vendor for the Electronic Benefits Transfer card. The EBT card is called Colorado Quest. A legislative Joint Budget Committee…
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Gov. Polis proposes privatizing Pinnacol Assurance to address next year’s budget deficit
Gov. Jared Polis is hoping for a windfall from the privatization of Colorado’s quasi-public workers’ compensation insurance division to cover some of the anticipated deficits in next year’s operating budget. The 2026-27 state budget, as proposed by the governor, amounts to $47.9 billion, which translates to a 5.2% increase over the current budget. That’s twice…
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Gov. Jared Polis abruptly cancels unpublicized meeting with Joint Budget Committee
Gov. Jared Polis was scheduled to talk to reporters at 12:30 p.m. on Friday at the Governor’s Mansion to discuss his budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year, which he is required to submit to the Joint Budget Committee on Nov. 1. Before addressing the media, Polis had planned to meet with the Joint Budget…