SB 25-289
Fiscal Note
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
SB 25-289: CREATION OF A DRUG DONATION PROGRAM
Prime Sponsors:
Sen. Cutter
Rep. Brown
Published for: Senate Health & Human Services
Drafting number: LLS 25-1042
Fiscal Analyst:
Shukria Maktabi, 303-866-4720
shukria.maktabi@coleg.gov
Version: Initial Fiscal Note
Date: April 15, 2025
Fiscal note status: The fiscal note reflects the introduced bill.
Summary Information
Overview. The bill creates a drug donation program that allows the donation and redistribution of
unused medicines.
Types of impacts. The bill is projected to affect the following areas on an ongoing basis:
Minimal State Workload
Minimal State Revenue
Local Government
Appropriations. No appropriation is required.
Table 1
State Fiscal Impacts
Type of Impact
Budget Year
FY 2025-26
Out Year
FY 2026-27
State Revenue $0 $0
State Expenditures $0 $0
Transferred Funds $0 $0
Change in TABOR Refunds $0 $0
Change in State FTE 0.0 FTE 0.0 FTE
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April 15, 2025 SB 25-289
Summary of Legislation
Current law allows certain licensed facilities and prescription drug outlets to redistribute unused
medicine donated by patients. The bill expands these efforts by creating the Colorado Drug
Donation Program in the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) to facilitate the donation
and redistribution of unused medicine to patients who are indigent, uninsured, underinsured, or
enrolled in public health programs. Under the program, a donor is defined as any person or
entity legally authorized to possess medicine and a donation recipient includes a wholesaler,
distributor, third-party logistics provider, repackager, hospital, pharmacy, clinic, health-care
provider, or prescriber's office.
The bill establishes record-keeping requirements for donated medicines, types of medicines that
may be donated, storage and disposal of donated medicines, and the process for re-dispensing
medicine to eligible patients. The bill also requires the State Board of Pharmacy in DORA to
develop program rules; clarifies that individuals and entities involved in the program are not
liable when acting in good faith; and modifies the existing state laws that allow select facilities to
re-dispense unused medicine to align with the redistribution of unused medicine through this
program.
State Revenue
Beginning in FY 2025-26, the bill may increase state revenue to the Judicial Department from an
increase in civil case filing fees for noncompliant entities participating in the program. The fiscal
note assumes most participants will follow the law and any increase in fee revenue will be
minimal.
State Expenditures
Beginning in FY 2025-26, the bill minimally increases workload in DORA, the Judicial
Department, and other state agencies, as described below.
Department of Regulatory Agencies
Beginning in FY 2025-26, workload will increase for the Board of Pharmacy to develop rules and
oversee the program. This workload is minimal and can be accomplished within existing
resources.
Judicial Department
Trial court workload in the Judicial Department may increase for cases against noncompliant
entities. The fiscal note assumes most participants will follow the law and that any increase can
be accomplished within existing resources. Page 3
April 15, 2025 SB 25-289
Other state agencies
To the extent that state health facilities opt to participate in the program, workload will increase
to implement the program at the facility. The fiscal note assumes participation is at the
discretion of the facility and any workload impacts will be absorbable within existing
appropriations or will be requested through the annual budget process.
Local Government
Similar to state facilities, any local facility that elects to participate in the program will have
increased administrative costs to follow the requirements of the program.
Effective Date
The bill takes effect 90 days following adjournment of the General Assembly sine die, assuming
no referendum petition is filed.
State and Local Government Contacts
Corrections
Higher Education
Human Services
Judicial
Law
Public Health and Environment
Regulatory Agencies
The revenue and expenditure impacts in this fiscal note represent changes from current law under the bill for each
fiscal year. For additional information about fiscal notes, please visit the General Assembly website.