Senate Bill 17 to codify the Healthy Steps early-childhood program into the Colorado Department of Early Childhood advanced from the House Health & Human Services Committee by a favorable recommendation, the committee recorded.

The bill’s sponsors and witnesses told the committee the measure would recognize and define an existing pediatric primary-care program that embeds child-development and behavioral-health specialists into clinical teams to support children ages 0–3 and their caregivers. Representative Joseph, a bill sponsor, said the measure is designed “to support early childhood health programs in Colorado” and to solidify a program that currently operates in the community.

Healthy Steps, witnesses said, already operates in clinics statewide. Christina Walker, senior director of policy at the nonprofit Healthier Colorado, told the committee the program serves about 38,000 children in roughly 32 sites and that 71% of those children rely on Medicaid. Walker said current funding includes a mix of private philanthropy and $675,000 in state funding that supports six sites and has been level-funded since fiscal 2017–18.

Dr. Melissa Buchholz, director of the Healthy Steps program in Colorado and a clinical psychologist at Children’s Hospital, described the program’s clinical model and its work with families during routine well-child visits, giving an example of a family who was connected to housing resources and follow-up that led to improved stability. “Healthy Steps enhances primary care for families with young children, identifying both common and complex needs and working with families and medical providers to address those needs,” Buchholz said.

Committee members pressed sponsors and witnesses on three topics: whether the bill would mandate screenings, whether parents could opt out of additional assessments, and precisely which ages the statutory language would cover. Representative Johnson asked whether the program would “mandate” new mental-health screenings during routine well checks; Representative Zocai, a co-prime sponsor, responded that the bill “is not mandating any additional screenings” but would provide supports when concerns are flagged during appointments. On age coverage, sponsors clarified that the bill text as introduced references services for children ages 0 to 3 and said they would provide a definitive clarification if the committee requested it.

Members also asked about funding and administration. Sponsors said the bill, as written for committee, removes an initial fiscal note by making implementation contingent on available funding and by directing expansion to be supported through gifts, grants and donations or other funding mechanisms in coordination with the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing and the Behavioral Health Administration. Walker confirmed the program can use Medicaid to pay for services when a child is eligible, and she and sponsors said they are exploring public–private partnerships and other funding sources but had not identified a new dedicated funding stream at the time of testimony.

After public testimony and questions, the committee voted to send the bill forward with a favorable recommendation to the Committee of the Whole.

Supporters argued the bill preserves an evidence-based program that brings developmental and behavioral specialists into pediatric settings and improves referrals and care coordination. Questions from members focused on limits of the state’s authority under the bill, precise age coverage, parental consent and how program expansion would be funded. No amendment was adopted during the committee’s deliberations.