DENVER, Colo. – Governor Jared Polis signed the first bills of Colorado’s 2025 special legislative session, aimed at protecting food and health care access for families after federal budget cuts.
The cuts came from H.R. 1, a federal law passed by Congress and supported by President Trump and several Colorado representatives. The law slashed billions from programs like SNAP, which helps families buy groceries, and also limited funding for health care providers.
Republican Congressman Jeff Crank (CO-05), who voted in favor of H.R. 1, said the measure would “deliver for the American people by securing our borders, extending tax cuts, unleashing American energy, and making our nation stronger than ever before.” In his press release, Crank described the bill—formally titled the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act—as a way to unleash economic growth, restore fiscal discipline, and fund expanded immigration enforcement
Republican Congressman Gabe Evans (CO-08), who also supported H.R. 1, called the One Big Beautiful Bill a “bold, commonsense blueprint” to secure the border, lower costs for families, and strengthen national defense. In his press release, Evans said the legislation protects Medicaid for vulnerable Americans while delivering tax relief, new breaks for retirees, and support for Colorado jobs, energy production, and local law enforcement
Healthy School Meals for All
One of the bills signed by Governor Polis was SB25B-003, Healthy School Meals For All, sponsored by Senators Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Katie Wallace, along with Representatives Lorena Garcia and Katie Stewart. This bill updates a ballot measure to protect food access for children and families across the state.
“In Colorado, we want to expand access to healthy food, not rip it away,” said Governor Polis. “H.R. 1 cruelly threatens access to healthy food for more than 300,000 families who need SNAP to feed themselves and their loved ones. Today, we are giving voters the chance to stand up for kids and families to make sure everyone has access to healthy meals.”
Protecting Health Care Services
Governor Polis also signed SB25B-002, State-Only Funding for Certain Entities, sponsored by Senators Jeff Bridges and Lindsey Daugherty, and Representatives Jennifer Bacon and Jenny Wilford. The law ensures that Medicaid patients can keep receiving care from providers such as Planned Parenthood, even after the federal cuts.
“H.R. 1 will deny millions of Americans access to health care and threaten thousands of Coloradans’ access to basic services like wellness visits and cancer screenings,” said Governor Polis. “With this law, Colorado is making sure that people can still get the care they need to stay healthy. We will not let political battles in Washington take away care for our communities.”
What’s Next
These are the first laws passed in the special session, which was called to address a billion-dollar budget gap caused by H.R. 1. Lawmakers say more action will follow to protect Coloradans from losing vital services.
