[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6100596,"mediaKeyId","2813064-b28556ab96fa30ea43efbbc7f3f5813b","parentId",2813064,"title","Senate committee advances bill to expand veterans behavioral‑health grants, set up regional administrators","audioSeconds",4091,"startMs",4091000,"endMs",-1,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2813064-b28556ab96fa30ea43efbbc7f3f5813b&start=4091&end=0","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2813064-b28556ab96fa30ea43efbbc7f3f5813b/thumbnail_4091000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6100596/Colorado/Senate-committee-advances-bill-to-expand-veterans-behavioralhealth-grants-set-up-regional-administrators","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100596-51d8719227c50cce53dd0f2be0d98f29/orig.mp4?Expires=1771111955&Signature=QuPo~hH5K8toGkCcLRUym5MHNcLuZdks0jvzI3r~73lUQTIVlZiU-eTbUjNpX3a4unlPzlGcPwrzhE8~S0qOX207wWBXBPS3gh8o0a3sbogZ~ODYiJURfeFMuYWNmiUzCRdeiGPS2FaEvpwGZ8Hif5KOoh2poykkMhcNQ4Vb-hbkAhLUJkiq4fI-i8zpiUuI0Y7UIAPThoTXWQIkH7wn~SHNtmg331tNhB8ydan5qhorbjNL80YvbzyHjbmW7PQQdH4WO3BLuV91Viq5OpFrNN9-tVUXDBR3ogSdPjEM0RYZlXrMQJfiEgNh5MBt-qSbxj~PBYbXVVGyJXlb7mQJSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Colorado Legislature","date","2025-03-27T00:00:00Z","article","House Bill 1132 would expand and implement the veterans behavioral health grant program created by Proposition KK and preserve existing funding for Veterans Community Living Centers (VCLCs). Sponsor Senator Hendrickson told the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee the bill directs up to $5 million to expand the program and authorizes the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), in coordination with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), to designate Behavioral Health Administrative Service Organizations (BHASOs) to administer grants regionally (timecode 4091.44–4124.54).

Why it matters: Witnesses said the bill would broaden access to evidence‑based and culturally informed behavioral health services for veterans and their families statewide, complementing VA and local services and targeting gaps in mountain and rural areas. Opponents raised privacy and firearm‑related concerns tied to clinical reporting and involuntary commitment processes.

Program details
Senator Hendrickson said the statute would require grant recipients to have expertise serving veterans, demonstrate the ability to provide data and comply with department requirements, and maintain local provider relationships to ensure continuity of care. The sponsor said BHASOs were chosen as regional entities that can tailor grants to local needs and coordinate with DMVA and community non‑profits.

Supporters
Erica Gannon, legislative affairs officer for the Behavioral Health Administration, testified that aligning the expansion with BHASO structures will enable regionally informed approaches and ensure access across prevention to recovery services. Amy Moore, clinic director at the Cohen Military Family Clinic in Colorado Springs, said the clinic’s model typically completes care in 8–12 sessions and that internal outcome measures show clinically significant improvement for more than 70 percent of clients within an average of eight sessions. Damien McCabe described his nonprofit Next Chapter program’s data and testified that increased funding would let vetted community providers expand into mountain and rural regions.

Opposition and concerns
An opponent from Rocky Mountain Gun Owners (identified in the hearing as Catching Valentinus) said the bill could subject veterans who disclose firearm ownership in clinical treatment to heightened risk of being targeted for removal of firearm rights through clinical referrals. Proponents and committee members responded that BHASO participation does not automatically create information‑sharing obligations with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and emphasized existing due process protections for temporary firearm removal tied to imminent risk assessments.

Committee action
Senator Hendrickson moved House Bill 1132 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation; the committee recorded a 3–2 roll call vote to advance the bill. The committee record shows the Department of Human Services and BHA will be available for follow‑up questions on implementation and any required rulemaking.

What’s next
With the committee’s favorable recommendation, the bill moves to the Committee of the Whole for additional debate. Supporters asked that rules and grant criteria emphasize cultural competency, data collection for outcomes, and services that can be delivered virtually and in underserved areas.

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Sponsor Senator Weisman told the committee the measure is intended to “raise the bar on ourselves” and address public perceptions about the closeness of paid lobbyists to lawmakers. “The motivating spirit…is to have a little bit of healthy separation between the policy making function and the reality that we are also all candidates,” he said during opening remarks (timecode 263.93–297.60).

Why it matters: Supporters argued the change would protect the integrity of lawmaking and align Colorado with other states that restrict lobbyist giving year‑round; opponents said it risks unconstitutional limits on political speech and may be impractical to administer. Committee members pressed the sponsor on constitutional precedent, enforcement detail and possible workarounds through trade associations or political committees.

The proposal and amendments
Senator Weisman said the strike‑below amendment L1 narrows the bill to focus on lobbyist contributions and that a second, small drafting fix L2 corrected technical language carried over from the existing section of law. Under the draft amendment, the new statutory section (referred to in testimony as “105.7”) would prevent a currently registered professional lobbyist from giving to legislators or to political committees controlled by them at any time of year; it would also bar donations from a person who was a registered professional lobbyist within the preceding six months. The sponsor said existing limits and disclosure requirements for other kinds of political committees and independent entities would remain unchanged.

Supporters
Witnesses testifying in favor said the bill addresses public distrust of government and closes a timing loophole that lets some donors give outside the formal legislative session. Rachel Layman, legislative affairs and policy staff for Black and Brown Parents United Foundation, said outside spending has surged since Citizens United and praised the bill’s requirement to identify top donors. Cooper Carraway, executive director of the Colorado Education Association, said the measure would help level a playing field between large private interests and working‑class contributors. Ali Belknap of Colorado Common Cause described the extension as a popular, incremental reform that would reduce opportunities for perceived quid pro quo influence.

Opposition and constitutional concerns
Long‑time lobbyist Corky Kyle, president of the Kyle Group, and former state representative Joe McCloskey testified in opposition. Kyle called the bill an “overreach on free speech” and said a six‑month cooling‑off period for former lobbyists would be “unworkable and bureaucratic.” McCloskey noted that post‑Citizens United jurisprudence makes broad curbs on political donations legally risky and said much of the large outside spending now occurs through independent expenditure groups beyond the bill’s reach.

Legal context discussed
Sponsor Weisman repeatedly acknowledged First Amendment issues and cited Buckley v. Valeo, Citizens United, and circuit court precedent he believes support the measure, including a Fourth Circuit decision described in the hearing record. Senators and witnesses debated whether courts that have upheld total bans did so because of specific local scandals underlying those laws and whether Colorado has the same demonstrable record to justify a year‑round ban.

Committee actions
The committee accepted the sponsor’s strike‑below amendment L1 and a technical follow‑up amendment L2 without objection. A later procedural motion to postpone the bill indefinitely failed on a 2–3 vote.

What’s next
The sponsor asked the committee to advance the measure for further consideration; supporters urged lawmakers to weigh public sentiment on transparency and trust. Opponents said the bill could push money into less transparent channels. The committee record shows the bill will proceed through the legislative process with additional debate expected.

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Senate committee advances bill to expand veterans behavioral‑health grants, set up regional administrators

Senate committee hears bill to extend lobbyist contribution ban year‑round amid First Amendment debate