Senate Finalizes State Budget, Sends to Governor’s Desk
Budget includes resources to improve community safety, shore up public health, among other priorities
DENVER, CO – Lawmakers today gave final sign-off to the FY 2023-2024 Long Bill and sent it to Governor Jared Polis’ desk for his signature, following final tweaks made in conference committee.
Lawmakers prioritized amendments to the budget that fund critical programs including hospitals and health care providers, co-responder programs, veterans assistance programs, wildfire mitigation, and more.
“Balancing the state’s budget in a responsible and thoughtful manner is one of our most urgent priorities as a legislature, and I am pleased to say that this year’s budget hits the mark,” said JBC Chair Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada. “We’re delivering for Colorado families by making record investments in K-12 education, supporting our health care workers, and creating safer communities - all while keeping our state on solid financial footing. We’ve worked hard to create a balanced, thoughtful budget that funds the infrastructure we need to meet our obligations to our families and communities while helping ensure every Coloradan has what they need to thrive.”
“This budget reflects our core Colorado values of opportunity, independence, and responsibility,” said JBC member Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village. “The investments we’re making today will prepare our students for success, increase our housing supply, respond to workforce needs, and lower the cost of health care for our Colorado families. All in a balanced budget that puts Colorado on a sound and sustainable fiscal path into the future.”
Additional priorities funded in the budget by the conference committee include:
$75,000 to the Department of Public Health and Environment for suicide prevention by providing mental health first aid training for students
$4 million in funding for the Community Crime Victims Grant Program in the Department of Public Health and Environment
$500,000 for family planning
$8 million for the Colorado Crime Victim Services Fund
$500,000 for the Colorado Wildlife Safe Passages Fund within the Department of Transportation
$1 million Department of Human Services for outreach related to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
$500,000 for the Tony Grampsas Program
$1 million to supplement funding for Denver Health, and another $1 million for Colorado’s rural hospitals
$2 million to fund a co-responder program within the Behavioral Health Administration
$500,000 in funding for the Veterans Assistance Grant Program in the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
$100,000 for the Wildfire Capacity Mitigation Development Fund
$10 million Reinsurance Program Cash Fund in the Department of Regulatory Agencies
$18.2 million in funding for additional capital projects across the state