12 out of 13 Pelton-sponsored bills make it to governor’s desk

Rep. Rod Pelton, R-Cheyenne Wells, finished up his third legislative session as one of the most effective members of the Republican House caucus. Twelve of the 13 measures he sponsored headed to the governor’s desk, his best year ever. He went six-for-six in House bills he sponsored, and six for seven in Senate bills he sponsored.

Among his wins in 2021 was the creation of the Behavioral Health Administration, which Gov. Jared Polis signed in April. House Bill 1097 is intended to consolidate behavioral health programs scattered across multiple state agencies and house those programs in what could be a stand-alone state agency.

Two of the three other bills dealing with mental health services and sponsored by Pelton have been signed into law, including House Bill 1021, part of an effort to create a behavioral health workforce. The law, signed on June 18, identifies a variety of peer-run organizations that assist people with substance abuse and mental health services, and allows those organizations to seek reimbursement from the Department of Human Services, which handles Medicaid payments.

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