Colorado legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Colorado SB6: Parity for Non-Opioid Pain Management Drugs
Status: Chaptered, June 3, 2026
Concerning parity for the use of non-opioid pain management drugs, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, May 21, 2026:
NOTE: This bill has been prepared for the signatures of the appropriate legislative officers and the Governor. To determine whether the Governor has signed the bill or taken other action on it, please consult the legislative status sheet, the legislative history, or the Session Laws. SENATE BILL 26-006 BY SENATOR(S) Amabile and Kirkmeyer, Bright, Catlin, Cutter, Frizell, Pelton B., Wallace, Coleman; also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Brown and Taggart, Bacon, Boesenecker, Duran, McCormick, Sirota, Smith. CONCERNING PARITY FOR THE USE OF NON-OPIOID PAIN MANAGEMENT DRUGS, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, MAKING AN APPROPRIATION. SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 10-16-145.5, add (2.5) as follows: 10-16-145.5. Step therapy - prior authorization - prohibited - stage four advanced metastatic cancer - non-opioid pain management drug - definitions. (2.5) (a) NOTWITHSTANDING SECTION 10-16-145, A CARRIER THAT PROVIDES PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS SHALL REQUIRE THAT: (I) THE UTILIZATION REVIEW REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING PRIOR ________ Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material added to existing law; dashes through words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law and such material is not part of the act. AUTHORIZATION AND STEP THERAPY, FOR A NON-OPIOID DRUG PRESCRIBED AND APPROVED BY THE FDA FOR THE TREATMENT OR MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC OR ACUTE PAIN ARE NO MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE UTILIZATION REVIEW REQUIREMENTS FOR OPIOID DRUGS PRESCRIBED FOR THE TREATMENT OR …
Sponsors
- Brown, Kyle (D, 12) · primary sponsor
- Taggart, Rick (R, 55) · primary sponsor
- Bacon, Jennifer (D, 7)
- Boesenecker, Andrew (D, 53)
- Duran, Monica (D, 23)
- McCormick, Karen (D, 11)
- Sirota, Emily (D, 9)
- Smith, Lesley (D, 49)
- Amabile, Judy (D, 18) · primary sponsor
- Kirkmeyer, Barbara (R, 23) · primary sponsor
- Bright, Scott (R, 13)
- Catlin, Marc (R, 5)
Latest actions
- : Governor Signed
- : Sent to the Governor
- : Signed by the Speaker of the House
- : Signed by the President of the Senate
- : Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
- : House Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor
- : House Second Reading Special Order - Lost with Amendments - Committee
- : House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - No Amendments
- : House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
- : House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
Votes
- House Amendments: REPASS (May 8, 2026): 28 yea, 6 nay, passed
- House Amendments: CONCUR (May 8, 2026): 34 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading: PERM (May 6, 2026): 64 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading: BILL (May 6, 2026): 48 yea, 16 nay, passed
- Third Reading: AMD (L.011) (May 6, 2026): 63 yea, 1 nay, passed
- Refer Senate Bill 26-006, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. (May 1, 2026): 10 yea, 1 nay, passed
Subjects: Health Care Policy and Financing, Medicaid (Medical Assistance)
Common questions
- What is SB6?
- SB6 is a bill in the Colorado Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Parity for Non-Opioid Pain Management Drugs.
- What does SB6 do?
- Concerning parity for the use of non-opioid pain management drugs, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
- What is the status of SB6?
- Chaptered as of June 3, 2026. Latest action: Governor Signed (June 3, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB6?
- Brown, Kyle (D, 12), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB6?
- On the Colorado Legislature website: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb26-006
Source: official Colorado record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.