Two new Colorado laws are set to improve access to state parks for Ute Tribe members and increase the availability of medical equipment, taking effect on August 6. Sponsored by Representative Katie Stewart, these measures aim to honor Indigenous connections to ancestral lands and enhance healthcare delivery.
As reported by Colorado House Democrats, HB25-1163 will eliminate entrance fees for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe members at all 43 state parks in Colorado. Rep. Stewart emphasized, "Long before Colorado was a state, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe were stewards of the land now known as our state parks." She added, "This law ensures that enrolled members of the Colorado Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe can receive free entry to Colorado's state parks."
The importance of state parks like Mancos and Golden Gate as spaces of cultural and spiritual significance for these tribes underpins HB25-1163. The law, believed to chip away at systemic barriers for the Ute peoples, has garnered the endorsement of tribal leaders, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the Department of Natural Resources.
In tandem with these provisions, HB25-1016 permits occupational therapists to prescribe durable medical equipment directly, with real-time implications for the health landscape in rural Colorado. Aiming to reduce delays in obtaining crucial medical equipment, this law enables a quicker response to patient needs. "Occupational therapists know what care their patients need, and this new law allows them to prescribe critical medical equipment to their patients," said Stewart, as per Colorado House Democrats. This legislation is expected to advance the quality and scope of healthcare by simplifying the distribution of items like wheelchairs and oxygen tanks.
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