Policy & Advocacy

Championing local public health at state government

CALPHO's Policy Committee - 2026 Legislative Action

For the current list of CALPHO’s formal bill positions, see this page.

​CALPHO's Policy Committee meets every two weeks during the legislative session (and monthly during the interim) to deliberate on policies with significant impact in its member-selected priority areas. For 2026, priorities include Communicable Disease Prevention, Investigation, and Control (includes a focus on immunizations); Behavioral Health & Substance Use Prevention; Access to Care through Medicaid; and Environmental Health. In additional, CALPHO always prioritizes policies related to Local Public Health Infrastructure and Funding.

Past Legislative Reports and Positions

For additional details on the Association’s positions, member-selected policy priorities, and further analyses, check out these resources:

• 2025 CALPHO bill positions
• 2025  CALPHO Post-Session Legislative Report
• 2024 CALPHO bill positions
• 2024 CALPHO Post-Session Legislative Report 

Signing of SB16-94, 2016

Lobbying at the Colorado General Assembly

CALPHO is the state’s leading champion for local governmental public health with Colorado’s state and county governments. CALPHO actively lobbies at the state legislature on member-selected priorities, with a focus on creating the conditions that allow LPHAs to protect their community members and promote their communities' health priorities.

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated chronic underfunding and workforce gaps that limit LPHAs' capacity to succeed. Recognizing this, CALPHO revamped its advocacy strategy in 2022 to prioritize funding levels & funding flexibility, organizational infrastructure, and workforce retention as long-term objectives. Additionally, members determine more specific legislative priorities on an annual basis. ​CALPHO is represented at the Capitol by Eliza Schultz of Schultz Public Affairs, LLC.

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CALPHO's member-driven advocacy process

Our policy committee is comprised of public health professionals from across the state. They typically represent different levels of leadership and the various public health specialties, such as environmental health and emergency preparedness. Committee members:

• meet regularly during the legislative session to determine CALPHO’s official legislative positions
• provide additional direction for our Policy Director and lobbying team 
• provide or arrange for expert testimony on bills
• identify advocacy partners and facilitate relationship building

2025 Session Stats - January 8 to May 7

CALPHO’s 2024 Legislator of the Year recipients, Representative Shannon Bird (D) and Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer (R), were recognized for their strong partnership and impactful advocacy around protecting local public health funding

For more information on CALPHO's policy and advocacy work, contact CALPHO Policy Director Allie Morgan.