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Read. Follow. Verify.Colorado Creates Behavior Analyst Licensing Board and Establishes Medicaid Coverage Rules for ABA Services
Last action · June 2, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Kyle Brown and 46 others
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What This Bill Does
Beginning July 1, 2028, Colorado requires behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts to be licensed by a newly created state board to practice legally. The act also mandates Medicaid reimbursement for services provided to eligible members and requires the licensing of behavior analysis clinics.
Practitioners face new licensing, insurance, and certification mandates backed by criminal penalties for unlicensed practice, while Medicaid members gain reimbursed access to specific services.
- Applied behavior analysis is widely used as an evidence-based intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and related developmental conditions. context
- Colorado regulates various health professions and occupations through the division of professions and occupations within the department of regulatory agencies. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
behavior analysts
Must obtain a state license, carry professional liability insurance, and meet certification and criminal history check requirements to practice after July 1, 2028.
Medicaid members with autism spectrum disorder
Gain reimbursed access to applied behavior analysis services provided by certified behavior technicians.
applied behavior analysis clinics
Must comply with standards prescribed by the department of human services, local zoning rules, licensing fees, and employee qualifications.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the licensing requirement for behavior analysts take effect?
What happens if someone practices applied behavior analysis without a license?
Are Medicaid members eligible for coverage of applied behavior analysis services?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
16 actions- Jun 2, 2026Office of the GovernorEnrolledGovernor Signed
- May 29, 2026HouseFloorSigned by the Speaker of the House
- May 29, 2026SenateFloorSigned by the President of the Senate
- May 29, 2026Office of the GovernorEnrolledSent to the Governor
- May 13, 2026SenateFloorSenate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
- May 12, 2026SenateSenate Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments
Show 10 earlier actions
- May 11, 2026SenateCommitteeSenate Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Unamended to Appropriations
- May 11, 2026SenateCommitteeSenate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
- May 8, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human Services
- May 7, 2026HouseFloorHouse Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor
- May 6, 2026HouseHouse Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
- May 5, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
- May 5, 2026HouseHouse Second Reading Special Order - Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
- May 4, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to Appropriations
- Apr 29, 2026HouseCommitteeHouse Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Unamended to Finance
- Apr 28, 2026HouseIntroducedIntroduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Voting Record
Refer House Bill 26-1425 to the Committee of the Whole.
Total
7
- Yes
- 5
- No
- 2
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
Show 4 earlier roll calls
Refer House Bill 26-1425 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Total
7
- Yes
- 5
- No
- 0
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
- Other positions
- 2
Refer House Bill 26-1425, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Total
7
- Yes
- 6
- No
- 1
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
Refer House Bill 26-1425 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Total
3
- Yes
- 2
- No
- 1
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
Refer House Bill 26-1425 to the Committee on Finance.
Total
7
- Yes
- 3
- No
- 4
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 42 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Establishment of Dedicated Professional Licensing Board
Shift from uncertified or generalized regulation to a specific board housed under the department of regulatory agencies for applied behavior analysts.
Connected Entities
Sources
leg.colorado.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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