The Workplace Advocacy Advisory and Networking Team (ANT) has made significant strides since its inception, championing safer and more supportive work environments for nurses across Colorado. From taking a strong stance on preventing workplace violence to promoting the well-being of the nursing workforce, our team has been dedicated to creating lasting, meaningful change. Through legislative testimony, collaboration with CNA’s Government Affairs and Public Policy (GAPP) Committee, and publishing awareness-raising columns, we’ve advanced policies and practices to protect nurses and elevate the profession.

As we reflect on this progress, we’re also looking ahead to a rare and critical opportunity for nurses to shape the legal foundation of our profession: the Sunset Review of the Colorado Nurse Practice Act.

What is the Sunset Review—and Why Does It Matter?

In Colorado, each profession’s practice act is periodically reviewed through a process known as a sunset review, designed to ensure that regulatory structures remain current, effective, and responsive to evolving professional needs. The Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) oversees this process, evaluating the law and submitting recommendations to the state legislature, which then determines whether the act should be continued, revised, or allowed to expire.

The Colorado Nurse Practice Act—which defines nurses’ legal scope of practice, outlines responsibilities, and sets standards for safe and competent care—is subject to this review every several years. The last review occurred in 2020 and resulted in legislative updates under HB20-1216, which extended the Nurse Practice Act through September 1, 2027.

This means the next Sunset Review process will begin in the coming year, with DORA’s evaluation scheduled to conclude by October 15, 2026. Based on its findings, DORA will submit a report and policy recommendations to the legislature. These may include updates to licensing and education requirements, disciplinary procedures, prescriptive authority rules, and more.

How the Last Sunset Review Impacted Nursing Practice

To understand the importance of this process, consider the outcomes of the last review:

• Broadened disciplinary criteria to include inappropriate sexual conduct with patients during or shortly after care, and clarified that substance use or abuse does not need to be ongoing to warrant disciplinary action.
• Tightened reporting mandates, requiring nurses and insurers to promptly report malpractice outcomes and criminal convictions.
• Removed restrictions requiring nurses to be a certain age or retired to qualify for a volunteer license.
• Reduced the required hours for APRNs to obtain prescriptive authority from 1,000 to 750.
• Eliminated outdated requirements, such as the need for articulated plans for prescriptive authority.
• Clarified and expanded definitions related to delegation, collaboration, and professional nursing practice.

These changes were significant—and they came directly from input provided by nurses, advocates, and professional organizations like CNA.

Your Voice Matters—Help Shape the Next Chapter

The Sunset Review is not just a bureaucratic exercise. It’s a strategic opportunity for practicing nurses to provide input, share real-world insights, and advocate for the tools, protections, and clarity we need to practice safely and effectively in today’s complex healthcare landscape. This is our chance to help ensure that the Nurse Practice Act evolves to meet current challenges and advances nursing practice for the future.

The Workplace Advocacy ANT is preparing to actively engage in this process—and we want your voice at the table. Whether you’re passionate about improving the work environment for nurses, advancing nurse autonomy, or making your voice heard in healthcare policy, your experience and insights are invaluable.

Join the Movement for Meaningful Change

We invite all nurses—regardless of prior advocacy experience—to join our team. We meet virtually on the first Tuesday of every month from 4–5 p.m. via Zoom. Our members collaborate on writing, research, policy analysis, and direct engagement with legislators and stakeholders.

If you have ideas for legislative or regulatory change, want to build advocacy skills, or simply connect with like-minded professionals who care deeply about nursing’s future—this is your place to start. Join us as we continue to promote safer, healthier workplaces—and now, a Nurse Practice Act that reflects the realities and evolving needs of modern nursing. Want to attend a meeting or learn more? Contact us at nurseadvocacychairs@gmail.com—we’d love to connect with you!