Governor Polis Signs Laws Protecting Children’s Food Access and Important Health Care Services – by Jan Wondra

As Special Legislative Session Grinds on, Polis applauds legislators for their hard work and partnership in supporting Coloradans families

On Tuesday, August 26, Polis signed the first bills of Colorado’s 2025 special legislative session to address the billion-dollar budget hole created by President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ budget bill. That federal bill slashed billions from public services, while giving billionaires trillions in tax cuts.

Known as H.R.1 that bill was backed by Congressman Evans, Congressman Hurd, Congresswoman Boebert and Congressman Crank. It cut billions in federal funding from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps families put food on the table.

Today, Governor Polis signed SB25B-003 – Healthy School Meals For All, sponsored by Senators Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Katie Wallace and Representatives Lorena Garcia and Katie Stewart. It updates a pending ballot initiative to protect food access for Colorado families.

“In Colorado, we want to expand access to healthy food, not rip it away. H.R. 1 cruelly threatens access to healthy food for more than 300,000 families who need SNAP to feed themselves and their loved ones while passing the buck to states. Taking food off the table for families is not the Colorado way,” said Polis. “Today, we are updating the opportunity for voters to stand up for kids and families and ensure that all Coloradans have access to healthy food. I want to thank the bill sponsors and advocates for the important work to get this done and give Colorado voters the chance to make our voices heard on this issue.”

Polis also administratively signed SB25B-002 – State-Only Funding for Certain Entities, sponsored by Senators Jeff Bridges and Lindsey Daugherty, and Representatives Jennifer Bacon and Jenny Wilford. This law ensures that Medicaid recipients can continue receiving healthcare services from providers like Planned Parenthood, to which H.R.1 denies access.

“H.R. 1 will deny millions of Americans access to healthcare and threaten thousands of Coloradans’ access to primary care, including wellness visits, breast cancer screenings, and preventative care all in the name of a political vendetta. With this law, Colorado is ensuring Trump and Congressional Republicans cannot deny Coloradans access to the care needed to stay healthy, or bankrupt essential health clinics,” said Polis.

“While Congressional Republicans undercut healthcare providers, the legislature and tireless advocates have shown that in Colorado, we will maintain and expand access to care. I appreciate the hard work of the bill sponsors and people who worked hard to pass this law.”