Bill to Increase Mental Health Funding for Veterans and Their Families Passes Committee

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 27, 2025

CONTACT: Nina Krizman

Senate Majority Communications Director

nina.krizman@coleg.gov

913-981-3713

HB25-1132 would fund community-based programming for military members and their families.

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senators Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo, and Jeff Bridges, D-Arapahoe County, to authorize existing funds to cover community-based behavioral health services for veterans and their families passed the Senate State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee today.

“Since my time in the Army, I’ve become intimately familiar with the critical need for community-focused mental health services for veterans,” Hinrichsen said. “Our veterans and their families gave everything they had to protect and serve our country, and they deserve all the life-saving support we can give in return.”

“Too many of our state’s veterans struggle with PTSD, anxiety, and other life-altering mental health conditions without access to proper treatment,” Bridges said. “Voters approved Prop KK, which boosts funding for crime victim programs, public safety grants, and behavioral health services like the ones supported by this bill. This legislation would provide crucial support for our service members while implementing the will of the voters.”

HB25-1132 would allow funding allocated through Proposition KK, which passed in November, to fund eligible non-profit organizations that offer community-based mental health services to veterans and their families. To be eligible, organizations must offer evidence-based practices, provide proper competency training to staff and have established verifiable community partnerships.

Colorado Democrats passed a law referring a ballot measure to voters in the November 2024 election that would create a new excise tax on gun dealers, gun manufacturers, and ammunition vendors to fund the Colorado Crime Victim Services Fund, Behavioral Health Administration, and school safety efforts. Nearly 54.5 percent of Colorado voters approved Prop KK to bolster crime victim support and behavioral health programs.

Track HB25-1132’s progress HERE.

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About the Colorado Senate Democrats
The Senate Democratic Caucus for the 2025 legislative session includes Senators James Coleman, Robert Rodriguez, Julie Gonzales, Jeff Bridges, Jessie Danielson, Faith Winter, Chris Kolker, Nick Hinrichsen, Lisa Cutter, Dylan Roberts, Tom Sullivan, Janice Marchman, Kyle Mullica, Tony Exum, Sr., Dafna Michaelson Jenet, Marc Snyder, Cathy Kipp, Judy Amabile, Lindsey Daugherty, Mike Weissman, Iman Jodeh, Matt Ball, Katie Wallace