A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning additional criteria regarding who the governor
Page 1, Line 102may appoint as members of the board that oversees the
Page 1, Line 103Colorado health insurance affordability enterprise.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill adds additional criteria regarding who the governor may appoint as members of the health insurance affordability board, which is the board that oversees the Colorado health insurance affordability enterprise.
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly finds and declares that:
Page 2, Line 3(a) Rural communities are an invaluable component of Colorado's culture, economy, and public health landscape;
Page 2, Line 4(b) Rural communities disproportionately face financial and accessibility obstacles to health coverage;
Page 2, Line 5(c) The 2026 rate increases for private health insurance plans for
Page 2, Line 6the individual market are projected to vary based on geographic area, with average rates projected to increase by:
Page 2, Line 7(I) 25.4% in the Denver area;
(II) 33.4% in eastern Colorado; and
Page 2, Line 8(III) 38.8% in western Colorado;
Page 2, Line 9(d) These significant cost impacts for rural communities
Page 2, Line 10demonstrate a need for additional rural representation on the health
Page 2, Line 11insurance affordability board to ensure residents in rural areas are protected from health insurance coverage loss;
Page 2, Line 12(e) The health insurance affordability board directly allocates
Page 2, Line 13funding to facilitate reductions in premiums and avoid health insurance coverage loss;
Page 2, Line 14(f) Rural and republican representation on the health insurance
Page 2, Line 15affordability board is essential to ensure the allocation of these funds
Page 2, Line 16prioritizes documented Colorado citizens and our most vulnerable rural communities;
Page 2, Line 17(g) Colorado must continue to identify avenues to increase rural
Page 2, Line 18participation in health care to ensure all documented communities within the state have access;
Page 3, Line 1(h) The general assembly can no longer marginalize rural voices and the communities that feed, power, and clothe the rest of the state; and
Page 3, Line 2(i) By requiring geographic and political diversity on the health
Page 3, Line 3insurance affordability board, Colorado can require that the governor
Page 3, Line 4appoint members who adequately address all concerns regarding health
Page 3, Line 5insurance coverage by protecting all taxpaying Coloradans who are at risk
Page 3, Line 6of losing their health insurance coverage and representing the interests of rural communities throughout the state.
Page 3, Line 7SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 10-16-1207, amend (1)(b); and add (1)(a.5) as follows:
Page 3, Line 810-16-1207. Health insurance affordability board - creation -
Page 3, Line 9membership - powers and duties - subject to open meetings and
Page 3, Line 10public records laws - commissioner rules. (1) (a.5) In exercising the
Page 3, Line 11governor's authority to appoint nine of the members to the
Page 3, Line 12board pursuant to subsection (1)(a)(III) of this section, the
Page 3, Line 13governor shall select the nine members in a manner that results
Page 3, Line 14in the board consisting of four members who are registered
Page 3, Line 15democrats, four members who are registered republicans, and one member who is unaffiliated.
Page 3, Line 16(b) To the extent possible, the governor shall attempt to appoint
Page 3, Line 17board members who reflect the diversity of the state with regard to race,
Page 3, Line 18ethnicity, immigration status, income, wealth, ability, and geography. In
Page 3, Line 19considering geographic diversity, the governor shall ensure at least one
Page 3, Line 20member resides on the eastern plains in a county with no more than
Page 3, Line 21fifty thousand residents at the time of the appointment and one
Page 3, Line 22member resides on the western slope in a county with no more than
Page 4, Line 1fifty thousand residents at the time of the appointment and, to the
Page 4, Line 2extent possible, shall attempt to appoint members from each congressional district in the state.
Page 4, Line 3SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date -
Page 4, Line 4applicability. (1) This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following
Page 4, Line 5the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the
Page 4, Line 6general assembly; except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant
Page 4, Line 7to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an
Page 4, Line 8item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item,
Page 4, Line 9section, or part will not take effect unless approved by the people at the
Page 4, Line 10general election to be held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take
Page 4, Line 11effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.
Page 4, Line 12(2) This act applies to board appointments made on or after the applicable effective date of this act.