DENVER – A new bill introduced in Colorado’s General Assembly this week — HB26‑1429 — would make immediate improvements to the state’s safety net while laying the groundwork for a redesigned, modern system that delivers essential services more effectively to kids and families.

“Children in every part of our state are thriving with the support of Colorado’s investments in public benefits like health coverage, food benefits, and child care,” said Heather Tritten, President and CEO of the Colorado Children’s Campaign. “When these systems are working well, kids and families have what they need to live their lives with confidence that their basic needs will be met. When they are not, kids and families face unnecessary stress and struggles. This bill is an important step toward making sure our public benefits are run as efficiently and effectively as possible at a time when they are facing unprecedented threats and scrutiny.”

Changes to the federal budget and increased uncertainty about funding for public benefits have threatened access to child care assistance, food assistance, health coverage, and temporary cash support in Colorado. But Colorado’s safety net is also facing longer-term challenges, including state budget barriers, increasing need, outdated technology, and a fragmented approach to administering programs that can create inefficiencies and barriers for families.

Colorado’s public benefit programs help ensure hundreds of thousands of children’s basic needs are met. Of the state’s 1.2 million children, in the 2024-25 state fiscal year:

• More than 615,000 children got their health coverage through Medicaid or the Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+).
• Nearly 355,000 children participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
• More than 50,000 children received basic cash assistance through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
• About 27,600 children were supported by the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP).

These programs are vitally important for children’s well-being. Every day, they help children get to the doctor when they need to; have healthy food on the table; and have a safe place to go while their parents are in school or at work. Yet families often face long delays, duplicative paperwork, and inconsistent processes to access these benefits — barriers that can prevent children from getting timely care, nutritious food, and financial stability.

“Families need high-quality assistance delivered better and faster so kids can focus on being kids,” said Sarah Barnes, Vice President of Policy at the Colorado Children’s Campaign. “HB26‑1429 cuts red tape, strengthens accountability, and puts Colorado on a path toward a safety net that actually works for children and families.”

About the Bill: HB26‑1429

HB26‑1429 delivers the changes Colorado needs, without sacrificing our values. The product of intensive work by county, state, and nonprofit partners, the bill centers children and families and ensures long-term sustainability.

HB26‑1429:

• Establishes a continuous quality improvement system to track metrics and identify and fix eligibility and benefits errors statewide
• Strengthens transparency and accountability with standardized performance contracts and monthly public reporting
• Creates a plan to transition to a statewide case integrity centralized service
• Creates an integrated policy committee to increase alignment and improve service delivery across programs
• Sets a clear path to launch a redesigned public benefits system by July 2028

Media Contact:

Jackie Zubrzycki, Vice President of Communications, Colorado Children’s Campaign
Email: Jackie@ColoradoKids.org

About the Colorado Children’s Campaign

At the Colorado Children’s Campaign, we use data and research to identify what kids across our state need most, then advocate for policies that strengthen their well‑being and help them thrive. Our focus is the whole child, working across Early Childhood, K‑12 Education, Health, and Economic Security for the greatest long‑term impact.