Colorado Bill: Compensation for Native American Healing

Detected March 5th, 2026

Summary

Colorado Senate Bill 26-012 proposes to amend the Colorado Crime Victim Compensation Act to allow enrolled members of federally recognized tribes to receive compensation for traditional Native American healing ceremonies and practices. The bill is currently in the draft stage and under consideration by the state legislature.

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What changed

Colorado Senate Bill 26-012, currently in draft and under consideration, seeks to amend the state's Crime Victim Compensation Act. If passed, the bill would permit enrolled members of federally recognized tribes to receive compensation for expenses related to traditional Native American healing ceremonies and practices. This represents a substantive expansion of eligible compensable losses under the existing act.

This legislative proposal, if enacted, would require the Colorado Division of Criminal Justice to update its victim compensation guidelines and processes to accommodate these new eligible expenses for tribal members. Compliance officers should monitor the bill's progress through the legislative process, noting its current status as 'Under Consideration' and its scheduled committee meeting. No specific compliance deadline is yet established as the bill has not been enacted.

What to do next

Monitor the progress of Colorado Senate Bill 26-012 through the legislative process.
Review the final enacted legislation for any specific implementation requirements or deadlines.

Source document (simplified)

SB26-012

Compensable Losses for Tribal Members

| Type | Bill |
| --- | --- |
| Session | 2026 Regular Session |
| Subjects | Courts & Judicial |
Concerning compensable losses under the "Colorado Crime Victim Compensation Act" for enrolled members of a federally recognized tribe.

Recent Bill (PDF) Recent Fiscal Note (PDF) Bill Summary:

The bill allows eligible enrolled members of a federally recognized tribe to receive compensation for traditional Native American healing ceremonies and practices and related expenses under the "Colorado Crime Victim Compensation Act".

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Prime Sponsors

Senator

Jessie Danielson
Representative

Elizabeth Velasco

Committees

Senate

Judiciary

House

Judiciary

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Status

Under Consideration

Introduced

Under Consideration

Upcoming Schedule

1 meeting

Wed

Mar 4

House Judiciary

1:30 PM HCR 0107

Related Documents & Information

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 02/10/2026 | Reengrossed | PDF |
| 02/09/2026 | Engrossed | PDF |
| 01/14/2026 | Introduced | PDF |

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 01/27/2026 | FN1 | PDF |

| Activity | Vote | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Refer Senate Bill 26-012, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. | The motion passed on a vote of 8-3. | Vote summary |

| Activity | Vote | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Refer Senate Bill 26-012 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 7-0. | Vote summary |
Hearing Summary | Committee Report: PDF
| Date | Calendar | Motion | Vote | Vote Document |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 02/10/2026 | Third Reading | BILL | 31 AYE 1 NO 3 OTHER | Vote record |

| Date | Amendment Number | Committee/ Floor Hearing | Status | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 03/04/2026 | L.003 | HOU Judiciary | Passed [*] | PDF |
* 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 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/04/2026 | House | House Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole |
| 02/11/2026 | House | Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary |
| 02/10/2026 | Senate | Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments |
| 02/09/2026 | Senate | Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments |
| 02/04/2026 | Senate | Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole |
| 01/14/2026 | Senate | Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary |
Prime Sponsor

Sen. J. Danielson

Rep. E. Velasco

Sponsor

(None) Co-Sponsor