House panel advances bill to let firefighter behavioral-health trust accept donations

The House Appropriations Committee moved House Bill 14-33 to the Committee of the Whole after sponsors and witnesses said the measure would preserve behavioral-health services for Colorado firefighters.

Sponsor Representative Velasco introduced the bill as a "small modification" to the Colorado Firefighter Health Benefits Trust that would allow the trust to accept gifts, grants and donations. The sponsor said the change is intended to help ensure access to behavioral and mental health services for career and volunteer firefighters.

Megan Wagner, testifying for the Special District Association, told the committee the trusts allow firefighters "quick access to health care services without having to fight health insurance or the workers comp system." Wagner said the authorizing statute did not include authority to accept private gifts, grants or donations and that HB14-33 would fill that gap.

Ken Watkins, executive director of the Colorado State Fire Chiefs, said state behavioral-health funding for firefighters ended effective Nov. 1, 2025, a development that "immediately reduced behavioral health trust benefits due to the budget limitations." Watkins urged members to ‘‘please join [the sponsors] in addressing firefighter behavioral health needs through your yes vote of House Bill 14-33."

Committee members asked no substantive questions of the witnesses; the committee later voted to move the bill forward. The committee clerk recorded the motion to send HB14-33 to the Committee of the Whole and members congratulated the sponsors when the motion carried.

Next steps: HB14-33 is on the committee calendar for consideration by the Committee of the Whole.