HB26-1425 · Bill · 2026 Regular Session · Colorado

Applied Behavior Analysis Services

☆ Watch

Concerning the regulation of applied behavior analysis services, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

Official status: Became Law

20 proposed amendments

Prime sponsors

• Lindsay Gilchrist (House) — Prime Sponsor
• Kyle Brown (House) — Prime Sponsor
• Lindsey Daugherty (Senate) — Prime Sponsor
• Scott Bright (Senate) — Prime Sponsor

Progress (from the official record)

Official summary

Official text — shown in English exactly as published by the official source. The official text controls.

The act creates the Colorado behavior analyst licensing board (board) under the direction and supervision of the division of professions and occupations in the department of regulatory agencies. On and after July 1, 2028, an individual is prohibited from engaging in or offering the practice of applied behavior analysis unless the individual is licensed by the board. The board is authorized to license behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts if they meet the requirements specified by the act and the rules adopted by the board pursuant to the act. An individual who seeks to practice as a behavior analyst or assistant behavior analyst must meet the following requirements: File an application for a license; Have a valid certification in good standing with a certifying entity; Complete a fingerprint-based criminal history record check; Carry professional liability insurance in an amount determined by the board by rule unless working as a public employee covered under governmental immunity; and If the individual seeks to practice as an assistant behavior analyst, be supervised by a licensed behavior analyst and practice within the scope of practice established by rules of the board. The board may deny or refuse to renew a license, suspend or revoke a license, impose probationary conditions on a license, or issue a cease-and-desist letter or seek injunctive relief against a licensee or an applicant for licensure who has engaged in specified grounds for discipline or unprofessional conduct. The board may also send a licensee a letter of admonition or a confidential letter of concern under certain circumstances. The act exempts specified individuals from the licensing requirements established by the act. An individual who practices or offers or attempts to practice as a behavior analyst or assistant behavior analyst without being licensed pursuant to the act and who is not exempted from licensure commits a class 2 misdemeanor. The board may adopt rules as necessary to implement the act. The regulation of behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts is scheduled for repeal on September 1, 2031. Before the repeal, the functions of the board in regulating applied behavior analysis are scheduled for review in accordance with the sunset law. The act requires the department of health care policy and financing (state department) to reimburse an applied behavior analysis provider for applied behavior analysis services provided by a behavior technician certified by a certifying entity to a medicaid member with autism spectrum disorder or other conditions for which coverage may be available under state department policies. Subject to federal approval, the state department shall reimburse the applicable applied behavior analysis provider for applied behavior analysis services provided by a behavior technician who is required by the state department to be certified by a certifying entity, but is not certified at the time of services, for services provided during one temporary period of not less than 45 days while the behavior technician is pursuing the certification if specified conditions are met. The department of human services (department) is required to prescribe and publish standards for the licensing and regulation of applied behavior analysis clinics (clinics). The department is authorized to adopt rules concerning specific subjects related to standards for clinics. Clinics are required to comply with specified requirements regarding local government zoning regulations, licensing fees, and qualifications for employees of the clinics. The act changes the definition of 'day treatment center' to 'day treatment facility' and requires that facilities that were not subject to the definition before the effective date of the act but that meet the amended definition submit an application for licensure by the department on or before August 1, 2026 , and become licensed before August 1, 2027. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Status timeline

Recorded votes

• 05/11/2026 — Senate Appropriations: “Refer House Bill 26-1425 to the Committee of the Whole.” — the motion passed on a vote of 5–2.
• 05/11/2026 — Senate Health & Human Services: “Refer House Bill 26-1425 to the Committee on Appropriations.” — the motion passed on a vote of 5–0.
• 05/05/2026 — House Appropriations: “Refer House Bill 26-1425, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.” — the motion passed on a vote of 10–1.
• 05/04/2026 — House Finance: “Refer House Bill 26-1425 to the Committee on Appropriations.” — the motion passed on a vote of 6–5.
• 04/29/2026 — House Health & Human Services: “Refer House Bill 26-1425 to the Committee on Finance.” — the motion passed on a vote of 8–5.

Proposed amendments (20 proposed amendments)

Source: Colorado General Assembly (leg.colorado.gov) · Data as of 2026-11-05

Full text

• Signed Act version (official PDF), 06/03/2026
• Final Act version (official PDF), 05/28/2026
• Rerevised version (official PDF), 05/13/2026
• Revised version (official PDF), 05/12/2026
• Reengrossed version (official PDF), 05/07/2026
• Engrossed version (official PDF), 05/06/2026
• Introduced version (official PDF), 04/28/2026

Official record

View HB26-1425 on leg.colorado.gov

Source: Colorado General Assembly (leg.colorado.gov) · Data as of 2026-11-05