Colorado’s 2025 legislative session is already underway, and lawmakers have their work cut out for them. The state is dealing with a budget shortfall between $600 to $750 million, which means there may not be enough money to fully fund important services like education, housing and healthcare.
At this year’s legislative preview event at the University of Northern Colorado Greeley, state legislators and policy experts talked about what’s ahead. The biggest challenge brought up was figuring out how to balance the budget while still funding programs that many people rely on.
Governor Jared Polis has proposed a $46.1 billion budget that keeps funding steady for K-12 education and public safety, but higher education and healthcare could be disproportionately affected. One of the biggest concerns is funding for Colorado’s public colleges and universities. Polis is proposing an increase of just $12.1 million, much less than the $132 million increase from last year. This could make it harder for schools to keep tuition affordable for students.
The governor wants to implement a 2.3% cap on tuition hikes for in-state students, but with rising costs some worry that won’t be enough. Lawmakers are also discussing a proposal to make filling out the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (better known by its acronym: FAFSA) a requirement for graduating high schoolers.
At the same time, state colleges have asked for $80.2 million in additional funding to help with basic costs. It’s unclear if the legislature will be able to meet that request, given the budget shortfall.
Housing and healthcare are also big concerns this session. Many people are struggling to afford homes, especially in rural and mountain communities where prices keep going up. Some lawmakers want to invest more in affordable housing projects, but with limited money available that could prove difficult.
Healthcare costs are another challenge, with insurance prices rising and not enough nurses and healthcare workers to meet demand. Some lawmakers are looking at ways to encourage and help train more people to work in healthcare.
Immigration is another key issue. At the Immigrant Voices event at the state Capitol on Jan. 22, HD-57 Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, spoke about the important role immigrants play in Colorado’s workforce and communities. “We all want the same things,” Velasco stated. “We want access to clean water. We want our families to be safe. We want to be able to thrive.”
Velasco, who co-chairs the Democratic Latino Caucus, pointed out that immigrants work at many important jobs, including firefighting, education and healthcare. “We are firefighters. We are service workers. We are nurses. We are teachers. We are everywhere in our communities,” she said. “And it’s so, so important that we are all safe.”
While most immigration policies are decided at the federal level, state lawmakers are expected to discuss funding for legal services and protections for immigrant workers. Some groups are also pushing for stronger protections against unfair treatment in housing and the workplace.
This session also brings new lawmakers who could shape key decisions. Republican Sen. Scott Bright (SD-13) and Democratic Rep. Ryan Gonzalez (HD-50) are among the fresh faces at the Capitol. Gonzalez’s victory flipped a Republican seat to the Democrats, signaling possible changes in the political balance in Northern Colorado.
Lawmakers from both parties will have to work together to find solutions, especially with limited funding available. Velasco stressed the importance of community organizations in helping to protect people’s rights.
“When we see an attack on one of us, that’s an attack on all of us,” she said. “Let’s stand together.”
With the session already moving forward, the next few months will show whether lawmakers can find ways to fund education, housing and healthcare without making deep cuts. The budget shortfall will make it difficult to approve expansive new programs, and lawmakers will have to decide what to prioritize.