Key Bills From Colorado’s 2025 Legislative Session
Colorado lawmakers finished their 2025 legislative session this week. Over four months, they debated and worked on hundreds of bills. Here are five important new laws that passed both chambers and are now heading to Governor Jared Polis:
Affordable Housing Investment Act
This new law puts $500 million from the state’s general fund into affordable housing projects throughout Colorado. The money will be given as grants and low-interest loans to developers and local governments. The focus is on helping build homes for low- and middle-income families. This law also encourages building accessory dwelling units and makes it easier to get permits for multifamily housing projects.
Climate Action and Clean Energy Standards
Lawmakers approved a wide-ranging climate bill. This law sets new goals for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Utilities must get 90% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2040. The bill also calls for tougher energy efficiency standards in buildings. A new state office will be in charge of moving Colorado toward clean energy, and there will be funding for training workers in green jobs.
Public Education Funding Reform
The Legislature passed a major update to how Colorado funds public schools. The new formula gives more funding to every student and provides extra help for English language learners, students with disabilities, and students from low-income families. There are also plans to raise teacher salaries and to make early childhood education more available.
Gun Violence Prevention Package
A group of new laws will work to lower gun violence in Colorado. The measures ban the sale of assault weapons, require background checks for all gun purchases, and make it mandatory to safely store firearms in homes where children live. The bill also creates a state office of gun violence prevention. This office will coordinate research and help create programs in communities to prevent gun violence.
Health Care Access Expansion
Lawmakers passed a bill to make health care available to more people. The new law sets up a public health insurance option run by the state. This plan is for people and small businesses who cannot use Medicaid or do not get insurance through work. The law also limits how much people have to pay for prescription drugs and gives more money to health clinics in rural areas.
These five laws show some of the biggest steps Colorado is taking this year in areas like housing, climate change, education, gun safety, and health care.
Colorado lawmakers finished their 2025 legislative session this week. Over four months, they debated and worked on hundreds of bills. Here are five important new laws that passed both chambers and are now heading to Governor Jared Polis:
Affordable Housing Investment Act
This new law puts $500 million from the state’s general fund into affordable housing projects throughout Colorado. The money will be given as grants and low-interest loans to developers and local governments. The focus is on helping build homes for low- and middle-income families. This law also encourages building accessory dwelling units and makes it easier to get permits for multifamily housing projects.
Climate Action and Clean Energy Standards
Lawmakers approved a wide-ranging climate bill. This law sets new goals for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Utilities must get 90% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2040. The bill also calls for tougher energy efficiency standards in buildings. A new state office will be in charge of moving Colorado toward clean energy, and there will be funding for training workers in green jobs.
Public Education Funding Reform
The Legislature passed a major update to how Colorado funds public schools. The new formula gives more funding to every student and provides extra help for English language learners, students with disabilities, and students from low-income families. There are also plans to raise teacher salaries and to make early childhood education more available.
Gun Violence Prevention Package
A group of new laws will work to lower gun violence in Colorado. The measures ban the sale of assault weapons, require background checks for all gun purchases, and make it mandatory to safely store firearms in homes where children live. The bill also creates a state office of gun violence prevention. This office will coordinate research and help create programs in communities to prevent gun violence.
Health Care Access Expansion
Lawmakers passed a bill to make health care available to more people. The new law sets up a public health insurance option run by the state. This plan is for people and small businesses who cannot use Medicaid or do not get insurance through work. The law also limits how much people have to pay for prescription drugs and gives more money to health clinics in rural areas.
These five laws show some of the biggest steps Colorado is taking this year in areas like housing, climate change, education, gun safety, and health care.