Legislation - 2025

This page provides links to legislation Chris has sponsored or taken an active roll in supporting or opposing.  If you have any questions, please reach out to his office at: Chris.Richardson.house@coleg.gov

An overview of all bills considered during the 2025 legislative session can be found at:  https://leg.colorado.gov/bills

2025 Special Legislative Session – Sponsored Bills

 HOUSE PRIME SPONSOR - 25B-0042: Stabilize Premiums, Protect Coverage, Live Within Our Means 

 What the bill does

• Refocuses Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise (HIAE) affordability dollars on people who meet federal eligibility standards (i.e., lawful presence).

• Removes “regardless of immigration status” from the definition of “qualified individual” and excludes those without lawful status from HIAE-funded subsidies.

• Implements quickly to help stabilize 2026 individual-market premiums during a declared budget shortfall.

• Does not change federally required Emergency Medicaid or privately funded/charitable care.

Why it’s needed now

• Budget reality: Colorado faces a significant deficit. In tight years, every dollar we spend must protect core services and the largest number of residents possible.

• Premium shock ahead: Without retargeting funds, many lawfully present families will face higher 2026 premiums and coverage losses.

• Cost trajectory: Current OmniSalud subsidies are ~$18M/year. Had HB25-1297 become law, funding would have risen to ~$75M/year—a figure that more accurately reflects where costs are headed if we do nothing. The $18M is an artificially low waypoint that will grow toward $75M+ unless we reform how these services are financed or reduce dependency on subsidies.

Intended purpose

• Stabilize premiums and preserve coverage for lawfully present Coloradans in a deficit year.

• Align with federal rules to safeguard matching funds and avoid ripple cuts to education, behavioral health, and public safety.

• Prioritize constituents—Colorado voters and citizens—when resources are limited.

Key impacts

• Individual market stability: More affordability help is available to hold down premiums for lawfully present enrollees in 2026.

• Targeted compassion: Emergency and charitable care remain; community providers can be supported through separate appropriations if needed.

• Program sustainability: Right-sizes HIAE to prevent a funding curve that outpaces revenues.

Frequently Asked Questions

• “Isn’t this abandoning compassion?” - No. Letting the system drift toward collapse is not compassionate. Compassion means building a program that endures so families can keep coverage next year and beyond.

• “Does this cut off emergency care?” - No. Federally required Emergency Medicaid and private/charitable care are unchanged.

• “What about children and maternal health?” - The bill’s goal is fiscal stabilization and premium relief; members can consider targeted transition supports or specific carve-outs without losing the bill’s core purpose.  Amendments for second reading in these areas are welcome.

Broad Appeal

• Equity & coverage preservation:
  Stabilizing the individual market prevents churn among low- and moderate-income families and protects federal funding streams that sustain safety-net services. Pairing this bill with transition supports for current enrollees and community health center capacity is a responsible equity strategy in a deficit year.

• Pocketbook & fairness:
  This keeps premiums from spiking, protects coverage for those who qualify under federal rules, and ensures we live within our means without cutting classrooms or public safety.

Path forward

• Amendments welcome before Second Reading to refine implementation (e.g., transition aid, reporting, targeted carve-outs) while keeping the bill’s fiscal and premium-stabilization goals intact.

Bottom line

In a year of limited dollars, prioritizing our constituents—Colorado voters and citizens—ahead of others is our duty. HB25B-0042 is a pragmatic, compassionate step that protects coverage, stabilizes premiums, and stewards scarce resources.

2025 Legislative Recap – Results of Sponsored Bills

As your representative for Colorado House District 56, I remain committed to advancing legislation that upholds our constitutional rights, protects public safety, and ensures that government remains accountable, transparent, and restrained.

While ultimately results were mixed in this session I was proud to sponsor key bills that advanced these goals to the Governor’s desk:

🔹 HB25-1289 – Metro District Tax Exemption Transparency
This new law closes a loophole allowing metro district board members to claim tax exemptions on property leases that may not serve a genuine public purpose. It strengthens oversight and forces full disclosure when conflicts of interest arise—bringing much-needed transparency to local government finance.   Passed the House and Senate unanimously- signed by the Governor.

🔹 HB25-1298 – Judicial Performance Commission for the 23rd Judicial District
With the creation of a new judicial district for Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln counties, I led efforts to ensure there is a local commission to evaluate judicial performance, so rural voices are heard in decisions that affect our courts and communities- Passed the House and Senate unanimously- signed by the Governor.

🔹 HB25-1122 – Autonomous Commercial Vehicles Safety Act
This bill required a licensed driver to be present in autonomous commercial trucks—ensuring accountability for load safety, chain management, and preventing coding errors from replacing human judgment. It passed with overwhelming bipartisan support (House- 55:9, Senate- 27:8) but was ultimately vetoed by the Governor, despite widespread public safety concerns.

Two other critical bills I introduced in the House were killed on party-line votes in committee:

• HB25-1089: Required bipartisan teams for ballot signature verification—common-sense reform that ensures no one person can control ballot validation alone.

• HB25-1046: Would have given a greater rural voice in how transportation dollars are allocated, instead of being dictated solely by urban-centric priorities.

Additionally, I was House prime sponsor of two Senate bills that were also killed on party-line votes in Senate committees.

• SB25-047 would have repealed Colorado’s sanctuary laws to reestablish cooperation with ICE.

• SB25-057 would have required periodic voter roll review to prevent non-citizens from receiving ballots.

Though not all bills crossed the finish line, I will continue to fight for policies that reflect the values of the Eastern Plains—liberty, accountability, and equal representation.