Colorado's HB 25-1159 took effect on March 1, 2026, delivering the most significant child support overhaul the state has seen in decades. The law eliminates the 93-overnight threshold that distorted custody negotiations for years, extends the income schedule to cover combined parental incomes up to $480,000 per year, and removes the $250 floor on extraordinary medical expenses — meaning both parents now share all uninsured medical costs proportionally from the first dollar.
| Key Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| What happened | Colorado enacted HB 25-1159, overhauling the child support guidelines under C.R.S. § 14-10-115 |
| Effective date | March 1, 2026 |
| Primary changes | Elimination of 93-overnight cliff, income cap increase to $480,000, removal of $250 medical threshold |
| Who is affected | All Colorado parents with new or modifiable child support orders |
| Key statute | C.R.S. § 14-10-115 (Child Support Guidelines) |
| Practical impact | Support calculations now reflect actual parenting time from the first overnight, higher-income families get guideline certainty, and medical cost-sharing starts at dollar one |
The 93-Overnight Cliff Is Gone — and That Changes Everything
For years, Colorado's child support formula created a hard cutoff at 93 overnights per year. A parent with 92 overnights received zero credit for parenting time in the support calculation. Cross that line to 93, and a significant financial adjustment kicked in. This binary threshold turned what should have been a parenting decision into a financial negotiation, with parents fighting over a single night to trigger or avoid a support recalculation.
HB 25-1159 replaces this cliff with a graduated credit system that recognizes parenting time from the very first overnight. Under the new formula, each additional overnight a parent exercises incrementally adjusts the support obligation. A parent with 50 overnights now receives proportional credit, rather than being treated identically to a parent with zero overnights. The Family Law Software analysis confirms this is a linear model, not a stepped one — every night counts equally.
This change directly impacts how Colorado family courts and mediators approach parenting time disputes. The financial incentive to game the overnight count around a specific number disappears. Parents and attorneys can now focus parenting plans on what actually serves the child, rather than engineering schedules to land on one side of an arbitrary threshold.
How Colorado's New Income Schedule Handles Higher Earners
The prior Colorado child support guidelines under C.R.S. § 14-10-115 capped out at a combined parental income well below what many dual-professional households earn. When parents earned above the schedule's ceiling, courts had broad discretion to set support amounts — leading to inconsistent outcomes across jurisdictions within the state.
HB 25-1159 extends the income schedule to cover combined gross incomes up to $480,000 per year. This means families earning up to $40,000 per month combined now have a defined guideline amount rather than relying on judicial discretion. For Colorado's Front Range corridor — where dual-income households in Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs routinely exceed prior caps — this provides predictability that did not exist before March 1, 2026.
Parents earning above $480,000 combined still fall into discretionary territory, but the expanded schedule covers an estimated 95% of cases that previously required deviation arguments. Attorneys practicing in Douglas County, Arapahoe County, and Jefferson County should expect this change to streamline negotiations for their higher-earning clients significantly.
Medical Expenses Now Split From the First Dollar
The third major change eliminates the $250 threshold for extraordinary medical expenses. Under the prior guidelines, a parent had to accumulate more than $250 in uninsured medical costs for a child before the other parent owed any contribution. Expenses below that floor were absorbed entirely by the custodial parent.
Effective March 1, 2026, both parents share all uninsured medical, dental, and mental health expenses proportionally based on their respective incomes — starting from the first dollar. If one parent earns 60% of the combined income and the child needs $150 in uninsured dental work, that parent owes $90 immediately. There is no minimum threshold to meet first.
This matters most for families with children who have ongoing medical needs. Orthodontic treatment, therapy sessions, prescription costs, and specialist co-pays that individually fell below $250 but collectively added up to thousands per year were previously borne by one parent alone. The new rule distributes that burden according to each parent's ability to pay, consistent with the proportional-share model Colorado uses for all other child-related expenses under C.R.S. § 14-10-115.
Practical Takeaways for Colorado Parents
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Run new calculations immediately. If you have an existing child support order and your parenting time is anywhere between 1 and 92 overnights, the new graduated formula could substantially change your support obligation. Use the updated Colorado child support worksheet or consult an attorney to see your revised numbers under HB 25-1159.
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Existing orders do not change automatically. The new law applies to new cases filed on or after March 1, 2026, and to modifications requested after that date. If you want the new formula applied to your existing order, you must file a motion to modify under C.R.S. § 14-10-122, demonstrating a substantial and continuing change in circumstances.
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Track medical expenses from dollar one. Both parents should begin documenting every uninsured medical, dental, and mental health expense immediately. The $250 buffer no longer exists — reimbursement requests can now be submitted for any amount, and courts will expect both parties to maintain records.
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Reassess parenting plans without the financial cliff. If you or your co-parent previously agreed to a parenting schedule influenced by the 93-overnight threshold, this is an opportunity to revisit that arrangement based purely on your child's needs. The financial penalty for having 92 versus 94 overnights no longer exists.
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Higher-income parents should recalculate with the $480,000 cap. If your combined income was previously above the old schedule's ceiling and you relied on a negotiated deviation, the new guidelines may produce a different number. Whether that favors the payor or the recipient depends on the specific income split and parenting time arrangement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does HB 25-1159 automatically change my existing child support order?
No. Existing child support orders remain in effect until formally modified. To apply the new guidelines under C.R.S. § 14-10-122, a parent must file a motion to modify and demonstrate a substantial and continuing change in circumstances. The new law itself may qualify as a changed circumstance, but the court must still approve the modification.
How does the new graduated overnight credit work in Colorado?
The graduated system under HB 25-1159 provides incremental credit for every overnight a parent exercises, starting from night one. Unlike the prior 93-overnight cliff under C.R.S. § 14-10-115, which gave zero credit below 93 nights, the new formula adjusts support obligations linearly. A parent with 60 overnights receives proportionally more credit than a parent with 30 overnights.
What counts as an uninsured medical expense under the new Colorado rules?
All medical, dental, orthodontic, mental health, and prescription expenses not covered by insurance qualify for proportional sharing from the first dollar. Before March 1, 2026, only expenses exceeding $250 per child per year were shared. Under HB 25-1159, a $50 co-pay for a pediatrician visit is now subject to proportional reimbursement based on each parent's share of combined income.
Can I file to modify my child support order right away?
Yes. Colorado parents can file a motion to modify child support at any time after March 1, 2026, under C.R.S. § 14-10-122. The court will apply the new HB 25-1159 guidelines when recalculating. However, modifications are not guaranteed — the court must find that the recalculated amount differs by at least 10% from the current order or that circumstances have substantially changed.
Does the $480,000 income cap apply to gross or net income?
The $480,000 cap under Colorado's updated guidelines applies to combined gross income of both parents, consistent with how C.R.S. § 14-10-115 has always defined income for child support purposes. Gross income includes wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, and other sources before taxes and deductions, subject to specific statutory adjustments.
Colorado parents navigating these changes can find an exclusive divorce attorney in their county through our directory for personalized guidance on how HB 25-1159 affects their specific situation.
This article discusses recent news and provides general legal commentary. It does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique. Consult a qualified family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.