HB26-1116 Behavioral Health Disorder Processes
Summary
Colorado HB26-1116 extends the mandatory follow-up window after emergency mental health holds from 48 to 72 hours. The bill authorizes courts to include mental health treatment requirements in custody and bond orders for criminal defendants. For behavioral health entity licensing, the bill exempts telehealth-only providers from building certificate requirements and allows outpatient providers to use fire department inspections instead of state inspections.
What changed
HB26-1116 makes three primary changes to Colorado behavioral health law. First, the bill extends the post-discharge follow-up requirement for emergency mental health holds from 48 hours to 72 hours. Second, the bill authorizes courts to order mental health treatment as a condition of bond or custody for criminal defendants who have completed competency evaluations. Third, the bill modifies licensing requirements for behavioral health entities by the Behavioral Health Administration, exempting telehealth-only providers and allowing outpatient providers to use local fire department inspections in lieu of state inspections.
Healthcare facilities providing emergency mental health holds must prepare to implement longer follow-up timelines. Courts will gain new authority to mandate treatment participation as part of bond conditions. Behavioral health entities seeking licensure, particularly telehealth providers and outpatient facilities, may benefit from reduced inspection requirements under the revised licensing framework.
What to do next
- Monitor HB26-1116 for legislative progress through Colorado General Assembly
- Prepare to implement 72-hour follow-up procedures for emergency mental health holds
- Update court order protocols to include mental health treatment requirements where applicable
Archived snapshot
Apr 10, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
HB26-1116
Process for People with Behavioral Health Disorder
| Type | Bill |
|---|---|
| Session | 2026 Regular Session |
| Subjects | Civil Law Courts & Judicial Health Care & Health Insurance Human Services |
Concerning processes related to individuals with behavioral health disorders.
Recent Bill (PDF) Recent Fiscal Note (PDF) Bill Summary:
~~The bill aligns the process for invoking an emergency commitment for an individual under the influence of or incapacitated by substances with the process for invoking an emergency mental health hold.~~
~~For a criminal defendant who has completed a competency evaluation, the bill authorizes the department of human services to include in its discharge plan and plan for community-based restoration services a component of mental health treatment and ongoing clinical support. The bill authorizes a court to include, in an order regarding the custody of the defendant and the defendant's bond status, a requirement for the defendant to participate in mental health treatment.~~
After an individual has been discharged from ~~the~~ a facility where ~~the~~ an individual was held for an emergency mental health hold, current law requires the facility to attempt to follow up with the individual at least 48 hours after discharge. The bill extends the time to attempt to follow up with the individual to 72 hours.
The behavioral health administration (BHA) shall only issue or renew a license for a behavioral health entity if the BHA receives a certificate of compliance for the applicant's building or structure from the division of fire prevention and control. The bill adds the following exceptions to this requirement:
- An applicant that provides only telehealth services is not required to receive a certificate of compliance; and
- An applicant that provides only outpatient services may receive a certificate of compliance from the division of fire prevention and control based on inspections conducted by a fire department that employs a certified inspector rather than from the division of fire prevention and control.
(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Prime Sponsors
Gretchen Rydin
Representative
Ryan Gonzalez
Senator
Matt Ball
Committees
House
Senate
Share:
If you require reasonable accessibility accommodation to access this content, please email accessibility@coleg.gov.
Status
Under Consideration
Introduced
Under Consideration
Upcoming Schedule
1 meeting
Apr 13
Senate General Orders - Second Reading of Bills - Consent Calendar
10:00 AM Senate Chamber
Related Documents & Information
| Date | Version | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| 03/16/2026 | Reengrossed | |
| 03/13/2026 | Engrossed | |
| 02/04/2026 | Introduced |
| Date | Version | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| 03/12/2026 | PA1 |
| Date | Version | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| 03/24/2026 | First Revised Fiscal Note | |
| 03/09/2026 | Initial Fiscal Note |
| Activity | Vote | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| Refer House Bill 26-1116 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. | The motion passed on a vote of 6-0. | Vote summary |
Committee Report: PDF
| Activity | Vote | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Adopt amendment L.004 (Attachment E). | The motion passed without objection. | Vote summary |
| Refer House Bill 26-1116, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. | The motion passed on a vote of 12-0. | Vote summary |
Hearing Summary | Committee Report: PDF
| Date | Calendar | Motion | Vote | Vote Document |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 03/16/2026 | Third Reading | BILL | 59 AYE 3 NO 3 OTHER | Vote record |
| Date | Amendment Number | Committee/ Floor Hearing | Status | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/11/2026 | L.004 | HOU Health & Human Services | Passed [*] |
- Amendments passed in committee are not incorporated into the measure unless adopted by the full House or Senate.
** The status of Second Reading amendments may be subsequently affected by the adoption of an amendment to the Committee of the Whole Report. Refer to the House or Senate Journal for additional information.
| Date | Location | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 04/09/2026 | Senate | Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole |
| 03/20/2026 | Senate | Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human Services |
| 03/16/2026 | House | House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments |
| 03/13/2026 | House | House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee |
| 03/11/2026 | House | House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole |
| 02/04/2026 | House | Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services |
Prime Sponsor
Rep. R. Gonzalez | Rep. G. Rydin
Sponsor
(None) Co-Sponsor
Rep. A. Boesenecker | Rep. K. Brown | Rep. C. Clifford | Rep. M. Duran | Rep. R. English | Rep. J. Joseph | Rep. S. Lieder | Rep. M. Lindsay | Rep. B. Marshall | Rep. J. McCluskie | Rep. K. Nguyen | Rep. E. Sirota
Quick Links
Related changes
Get daily alerts for CO Legislature Bill Search
Daily digest delivered to your inbox.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Source
About this page
Every important government, regulator, and court update from around the world. One place. Real-time. Free. Our mission
Source document text, dates, docket IDs, and authority are extracted directly from CO Legislature.
The summary, classification, recommended actions, deadlines, and penalty information are AI-generated from the original text and may contain errors. Always verify against the source document.
Classification
Who this affects
Taxonomy
Browse Categories
Get alerts for this source
We'll email you when CO Legislature Bill Search publishes new changes.
Subscribed!
Optional. Filters your digest to exactly the updates that matter to you.