ColoradoColorado law provides traditional healing coverage for eligible Indigenous victims
Once effective, Colorado's signed law covers traditional healing, burial practices, and related travel through crime victim compensation for eligible Indigenous people.
What it does
Once effective, the law covers traditional healing and burial practices for eligible Indigenous people through crime victim compensation. Examples include help from spiritual healers, ceremonial gifts, and child care during burials.
Once effective, the law covers reasonable travel expenses for victims attending traditional healing ceremonies. It also specifically covers Indigenous victims' travel for traditional Native American healing practices.
Argument forCompensation for traditional healing and related travel could help eligible Indigenous victims receive care that fits their cultural practices.
Argument againstThe open-ended list of covered ceremony expenses could make it harder for claim reviewers to decide which costs qualify.
More detail
Colorado's law provides crime victim compensation for traditional Native American healing ceremonies and practices. Coverage applies to Indigenous people under the state-law definition referenced in the law. Examples include healing from elders, ceremonial burial expenses, and child care during burial ceremonies. Payments for ceremonial services also qualify. The covered expenses must result from a victim's death or injury. A timely referendum petition prevents challenged provisions from taking effect unless voters approve them. Coverage takes effect the day after the 90-day period following final adjournment ends: August 12, 2026, if adjournment was May 13. If a timely referendum petition challenges it, coverage requires voter approval in November 2026 and starts when the governor officially declares the vote.
The law lists traditional healing ceremonies as a covered reason for reasonable victim travel expenses. The general victim travel clause includes traditional healing ceremonies. A separate clause specifically covers Indigenous victims' travel for traditional Native American healing ceremonies and practices. Travel expenses must be reasonable and result from a victim's death or injury. A timely referendum petition prevents challenged provisions from taking effect unless voters approve them. Travel coverage takes effect the day after the 90-day period following final adjournment ends: August 12, 2026, if adjournment was May 13. If timely challenged by referendum petition, it requires voter approval in November 2026 and starts when the governor officially declares the vote.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 29Governor Jared Polis SignedBecame Law
- May 21Signed by the President of the SenateMajor
- May 21Signed by the Speaker of the HouseMajor
- May 21Sent to the GovernorTo Governor
- May 7Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
- Vote recorded REPASS. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded CONCUR. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded CONCUR. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded REPASS. Result: pass.Upper
- May 4House Third Reading Passed with Amendments - FloorPassed House
- Vote recorded AMD (L.009). Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded PERM. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded BILL. Result: pass.Lower
- May 1House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
- Apr 30House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
- Mar 9House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
- Mar 4House Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to House Committee of the WholeMinor
- Vote recorded Refer Senate Bill 26-012, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Refer Senate Bill 26-012, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.003 (Attachment D). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 11Introduced In House - Assigned to JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 10Senate Third Reading Passed - No AmendmentsPassed Senate
- Vote recorded BILL. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded BILL. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 9Senate Second Reading Passed - No AmendmentsMinor
- Feb 4Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the WholeMinor
- Vote recorded Refer Senate Bill 26-012 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 14Introduced In Senate - Assigned to JudiciaryIntroduced
Criminal Justice