Under the Dome: AARP advocates secure policy victories for the 50-plus

The hallways, committee rooms, and legislative chambers of the CO State Capitol are much quieter today than they were a week ago.

That is because Colorado’s General Assembly adjourned for the legislative session on May 7, 2025. During this 120-day legislative session, 657 bills were introduced. AARP Colorado staff and volunteers reviewed pending legislation while the legislature was in session to determine how bills would impact Coloradans who are 50 or older. After this exhaustive review, AARP Colorado determined which bills did not intersect with our mission and identified bills that we needed to monitor, actively support or actively oppose.

AARP Colorado’s advocacy focused on four areas during the 2025 legislative session: financial security, housing, fraud prevention and health care. Additionally, advocates worked to mitigate a budget shortfall’s impact on older Coloradans.

Financial Security and Consumer Protections

This legislative session brought both challenges and opportunities in advancing AARP’s mission to enhance the quality of life for all as we age. The vision that drives us is a society in which all people live with dignity and purpose and fulfill their goals and dreams. For this reason, AARP advocates for financial security for older Americans. AARP Colorado was pleased to see successful legislative endeavors in 2025 regarding consumer protections. For example, House Bill 1090 has been signed into law by Governor Jared Polis. This new law seeks to improve price transparency and mitigate hidden fees for Coloradans who rent their homes.

This type of policy can assist renters who have experienced rising housing costs without being adequately informed of additional charges. We asked the AARP community to take action on this bill, and you delivered! Hundreds of Coloradans contacted their legislators and the Governor in support of this bill.

We were also pleased to see the legislature’s passage of HB 1010: Prohibiting Price Gouging in Sales of Necessities, which creates important protections during a declared emergency to ensure that food and medication costs remain stable.

Housing

Because affordable and accessible housing is critical for an aging population, AARP supported multiple housing-related bills this legislative session. For example, HB 1030: Accessibility Standards in Building Codes was signed into law March 11.

AARP Colorado is also still waiting to see if the Governor will sign HB 1004: No Pricing Coordination Between Landlords into law. When some landlords use price-fixing algorithms, they’re essentially making backroom deals that reduce competition and drive-up housing costs for older Coloradans and working families. Colorado has an opportunity to take action to protect renters by addressing the use of algorithms to determine rent prices and related fees. You can ask Governor Polis to sign this bill into law here: Support Fair and Predictable Rental Pricing AARP.

Additionally, AARP Colorado worked to ensure utility customers have adequate access to payment assistance programs before their power is turned off (HB 1234).

Fraud Prevention

AARP Colorado also focused much of our legislative work on an effort to stop fraud and scams that target older people through cryptocurrency ATMs. In collaboration with the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline, our team has been tracking an increase in crimes perpetrated though these devices.

Learn more: How Crypto ATM Scammers Steal Millions

SB 079 creates fraud warnings and implements reasonable, commonsense protections. Watch for an update soon on AARP Colorado’s social media for when it is signed into law!

Health Care

Our portfolio of legislation this session included diverse health care policy areas, yet all of importance to the aging population. Examples include supporting family caregivers through a stream-lined Medicaid Redetermination process (HB 1162); improving coordination during emergencies for paratransit riders (HB 1007); and empowering the state to study a statewide universal health care payment system (SB 045). At the time of this article’s publication, AARP Colorado was still working with coalition partners to ask the Governor to sign HB 1088: Costs for Ground Ambulance Services into law. You can learn more about that effort and take action here: Protect Ambulance Patients from Surprise Bills AARP.

Challenges

The 2025 legislative session also brought challenges with the legislature grappling with a $1.2 billion shortfall. As a result of the economic climate and tough decisions legislators had to make, AARP Colorado unfortunately saw tax credit measures fail that we believe would have benefitted older Coloradans (SB 013; HB 1156; HB 1045). However, the state was able to increase general fund spending on Medicaid expenses and allocate a 1.6% increase in Medicaid provider rates. AARP believes Medicaid is a vital safety net for affordable health care and long-term services.

Thank you!

Advocacy is truly collaborative work and would not be possible without team effort. Getting to know our state senators and state house representatives is one of the best ways to be an advocate. We have successes at the state capital when our volunteers donate their time and expertise and meet with their elected officials. They also testify regarding a wide-range of important bills. We are effective when we collectively send action alerts in droves and make our voices heard.

AARP Colorado is grateful to all our elected officials who have chosen public service and continually represent their constituents during the very long and arduous days at the state capital. Thank you to our AARP Colorado community and to everyone who responded to an action alert, met with a legislator or learned more about a bill.

Get Involved

If you would like to learn more about how to get involved, here are five actions you can take:

1) Are you unsure about who represents you at the Colorado State Capitol? Find out here, visit their websites and/or social media and sign up for their newsletters.

2) Learn more about AARP’s policy priorities by reviewing the “hot off the press” 2025-2026 Policy Playbook.

3) If you aren’t already receiving AARP advocacy action alerts, sign up here to become an Activist. You will be notified about both state and federal issues of importance.

4) Attend a town hall meeting with one of our elected officials, whether it is a local, state or federal leader.

5) Watch our website for additional advocacy volunteer opportunities.