By: Cameron DeTello

By June 7th, all bills from Colorado’s 2025 legislative session will have either been signed into law or vetoed by Governor Polis. Now is the perfect time to reflect on what young people, and our team at Young Invincibles Rocky Mountain, accomplished during one of the most politically complex sessions in recent memory.

Political Landscape: Moderation, Money Trouble, and Movement Building

The 2024 election cycle ushered in a more moderate tone at the Colorado State Capitol. While Democrats still hold the trifecta, the House supermajority shrank slightly, from 46 to 43 seats, resulting in more centrist negotiations across the aisle. Governor Polis, now in his final stretch, has frustrated both parties and faced rare bipartisan challenges, including a veto override on a social media regulation bill.

All of this played out against the backdrop of a $1.2 billion state budget deficit. While short-term fixes helped plug this year’s hole, long-term structural issues, especially those related to The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) restrictions and rising health care costs, loomed large. Lawmakers also braced Colorado for potential federal policy rollbacks, introducing bills aimed at safeguarding the rights and protections that we currently have.

Despite the Challenges, Young People Led

Young people didn’t just attend this session; they led the way. They testified, met with legislators, co-wrote bills, and rallied at the Capitol to demand a future rooted in equity, affordability, and access. At Young Invincibles Rocky Mountain, we supported their leadership every step of the way, fighting for policies in health care, higher education, and workforce development that reflect the needs of this generation.

Even in a tough budget year, we helped move the needle toward justice.

Care Without Compromise: Fighting for the Health Young Adults Deserve

Young adults in rural communities and communities of color continue to face steep barriers to care. This year, we backed policies that make our healthcare system more accessible, affordable, and inclusive, eliminate surprise bills, protect reproductive rights, expand mental health support, and reduce costs. As a result, young adults can better access affordable, quality healthcare, including reproductive care, without surprise billing and other obstacles. 

Key Wins:

• Emergency Care Protections (SB25-130): Requires emergency care to be provided to all patients. Became Law.
  
• Healthy School Meals (SB25-1275): Continued funding for free, healthy school lunches. Became Law.
  
• Ambulance Billing Regulation (HB25-1088): Requires insurers to cover out-of-network ambulance services. Became Law.
  
• PBM Reform (HB25-1094): Groundbreaking regulation of Pharmacy Benefit Managers—first in the nation. Became Law.
  
• Reproductive Rights: Supported the implementation of Amendment 79 and secured abortion access (HB25-1252). Became Law.
  
• Gender-Affirming (HB25-1309 & HB25-1312).  HB 25-1309 ensures access to gender-affirming healthcare by prohibiting insurance plans from denying or limiting medically necessary treatments as prescribed by a qualified healthcare provider. Became Law
  
• Trans Health Protections (HB 25-1312)- The “Kelly Loving Act” strengthens protections for transgender individuals, prohibiting discrimination in public accommodations and safeguarding access to gender-affirming care. It also ensures inclusive policies regarding names and dress codes. Became Law.
• Mental Health Parity (HB25-1002) The bill ensures that insurance coverage for behavioral, mental health, and substance use disorders is equal to coverage for physical illnesses. Became Law.

Tough Loss:

• Governor Polis signed SB25-71, a bill that amends the 340B Drug Pricing Program, leaving patients in the dark while they foot the bill.
• This session, Colorado considered two bills, SB24-124 and SB25-71, to amend the 340B Drug Pricing Program, a federal program created to help safety net hospitals and clinics serve populations facing the most significant barriers to care, stretch limited resources, and reinvest in patients. Young adults already struggle with access to healthcare, medical debt, student loans, and rising living costs. Changes to the 340B Drug Pricing Program will further impact their ability to afford necessary medications and services.
• Signing SB25-71 into law sends a clear message that Colorado prioritizes hospital profits over patient accessibility and affordability. See our press release on the topic here.

“Across Colorado, families face the same obstacles: delayed care, surprise medical bills, and uncertainty about whether they can afford the treatment they need. SB25-124 ensures healthcare discounts benefit patients, not profits.”
— Citlaly Quiroz, Spring 2025 Young Advocate

Higher Education: Access, Affordability & Equity

Too many students in Colorado are being priced out or tripped up by bureaucratic hurdles around transferring earned credits. This year, we fought for clearer pathways, debt prevention, and stronger support systems for young adults.

Key Wins:

• Credit Transfer Website (HB25-1038): A new public tool to help students map out what transfers across Colorado colleges and universities. Became Law.
  
• Work-Based Learning Expansion (HB25-1186). The bill creates the work-based learning consortium pilot program (pilot program) in the Department of Higher Education.  Became Law.
  
• Financial Literacy Requirement (HB25-1192). The bill requires the successful completion of a course in financial literacy as a condition of high school graduation, beginning with students in the ninth grade on or after September 1, 2026. Became Law.
• Academic Adjustments for Disabled Students (SB25-087).  The bill requires Colorado institutions of higher education to establish a policy and process that supports students with disabilities in voluntarily self-disclosing their disability. Became Law.

“Credits are tuition money. It was disheartening to pay again for classes I’d already taken. An accessible transfer map would help students make better financial choices and carry less debt.”
— Ariel Tomlinson, Colorado Youth Advisory Board

Workforce Development: Equity in Action

Every young adult, regardless of their background, deserves a pathway to economic security. This session, we backed policies that open doors and tear down structural barriers.

Key Win:

• CASE Act (In Progress): The Colorado Advancement and Success Expansion Act, drafted by YI advocates, will support undocumented graduates in accessing career pathways. Although we are unsure of the exact next steps, our young advocates have been working tirelessly to study this issue and draft policy recommendations for the upcoming legislative session.

Tough Loss:

• SB25-005 (Union Organizing Protections): Would have removed unnecessary barriers to union security agreements. Failed to advance.

“The CASE Act Bill is more important than ever as it gives undocumented students the opportunity to continue their education and build the skills and resources they need to advocate for themselves. By creating employment pathways, we allow these students to take control of their futures and fight back against the uncertainty they face. For them, this bill is not just a policy; it is a lifeline that helps them find their voice and pursue their dreams with dignity and respect.”

— Citlaly Quiroz, Colorado Youth Advisory Board and Spring 2025 Young Advocate

Youth Power in Action: Our Day at the Capitol

In March, we brought over 60 young people to the Capitol to meet with lawmakers and advocate for change in food justice, education, healthcare, and workforce development. For many, it was their first time engaging in advocacy at this level.

“After speaking with a few elected officials, I realized they’re just people. It wasn’t as intimidating as I had expected. That realization felt empowering.”
— Ashley Settergren, Spring 2025 Young Advocate

A Different Kind of Legislative Session for YI

What’s Next?

We’re not slowing down. This summer, we’ll launch community listening sessions and co-create our 2026 policy agenda with young people across Colorado.

Get Involved:

• • Apply for the Young Advocates Program – a paid, 12-week internship focused on leadership, policy, and advocacy. Applications open until July 15th.
  • Join our Student Voice Coalition to help shape statewide higher education and workforce policies. Applications open until July 15th.
    

💥 Want to support our next generation of leaders? Donate here. [Make sure you indicate that you want to allocate your donation to YI Colorado!]
📚 Missed the session? Read our full 2025 Policy Agenda.
📬 Stay in the loop with Colorado’s monthly newsletter and weekly engagement emails. You can also join our national newsletter here!

Thank you to every young leader, legislator, and community partner who made this session a powerful experience. Let’s keep building together.