The 2023 Legislative Session officially concluded on May 8. Over 600 bills were introduced this session and just over 100 bills were passed by both chambers, including all four of our priority bills.
What’s Happening in Colorado
All four of our priority bills passed this session:
- SB23-174 (Access to Certain Behavioral Health Services),
- SB23-176 (Protections For People With An Eating Disorder)
- HB23-1013 (Use of Restrictive Practices in Prisons)
- HB23-1268 (Private Treatment for Out-of-state Defendant).
Additionally, there were numerous bills that passed to address youth mental health, to improve access to care for people with serious mental illness and reduce harms of substance use.
Thank you for all of your work and advocacy this session!
Mental Health Colorado honored and celebrated its annual Legislators of the Year and Behavioral Health Advocates for the 2023 legislative session. Each year, Mental Health Colorado honors lawmakers and advocates for their outstanding commitment to improving health of mind across the lifespan for all Coloradans. We were proud to honor the following people as awardees:
Legislators of the Year:
- Meghan Lukens (D-Steamboat Springs)
- Gabe Evans (R-Fort Lupton)
- Julie Gonzales (D-Denver)
- Byron Pelton (R-Sterling)
Behavioral Advocates of the Year:
- Thom Miller, Behavioral Health Administration
- Lesley Brooks, SummitStone Health Partners
- Tamara Pogue, Summit County Commissioner
A View from Washington, D.C.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched a new website to help people identify available resources, explore unbiased information about various treatment options, and learn how to reach out to get the support they need for issues related to mental health, drugs, or alcohol.
Visit this new resource here: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-support
United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a new Surgeon General’s Advisory on “Social Media and Youth Mental Health.” While social media may offer some benefits, there are ample indicators that social media can also pose a risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.
Read the full advisory here: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/sg-youth-mental-health-social-media-advisory.pdf
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Opvee, the first nalmefene hydrochloride nasal spray for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older. This is the first FDA approval of nalmefene hydrochloride nasal spray for health care and community use.
Read more here: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-prescription-nasal-spray-reverse-opioid-overdose
