At a recent meeting of Boulder County’s Substance Use Advisory Group, or SUAG, experts shared three bills they’re keeping eyes on this state legislative session — along with a constrained budget advocates worry will impact funding for substance use prevention, treatment and harm reduction. “There’s likely to be a priority to preserve mental health funding, but not substance abuse,” said Jose Esquibel, associate director of the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, of the proposed legislation. Sponsored by: Rep. Kyle Brown, D12; Rep. Anthony Hartsook, D44; Sen. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D21Status: Referred to the House floor; hearing TBD. The bill “mandates that private health insurers provide coverage for mental health and substance abuse disorders based on a determination of medical necessity by a qualified medical professional, not by the insurer,” she wrote. The bill also includes stipulations for the evaluation and release of individuals detained for mental health emergencies.