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DENVER, CO – Colorado Democrats today introduced two bills to protect Coloradans’ rights and freedoms by strengthening legal protections for reproductive health care.
SB25-129, sponsored by Senators Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Faith Winter, D-Broomfield, and Representatives Karen McCormick, D-Longmont, and Junie Joseph, D-Boulder, would strengthen Colorado’s shield law to protect patients and providers from out-of-state attacks on accessible reproductive health care.
“We have worked hard in Colorado to protect the freedom to decide what to do with our futures and our bodies, and we won’t allow anyone to put these freedoms in danger,” said Cutter. “As attacks on reproductive rights continue across the country, we are working to implement strong and responsive laws in Colorado to shield patients and providers from hostile out-of-state action.”
“We’re standing up to protect our patients and providers from far-reaching civil, out-of-state, and Trump administration threats to restrict abortion, and also health care for LGBTQ+ Coloradans,” said McCormick. “New legislation will expand Colorado’s shield laws to include telehealth and prescription label privacy. Our bill will also strengthen Colorado’s ability to fight back legally against hostile attacks on reproductive freedoms and health care.”
“Colorado is a beacon for reproductive freedom and access to abortion in our region,” said Winter. “Strengthening our shield law would expand protections for patients, providers, and helpers against interstate criminal and civil threats. These measures, like prescription label privacy, telehealth protections, and robust legal safeguards, will ensure that Colorado remains a national leader for reproductive justice and freedom.”
“Colorado has consistently led the nation in protecting abortion rights. Now, we are taking further steps to safeguard our providers and patients from external threats that endanger reproductive freedom and access to essential health care,” said Joseph. “By strengthening Colorado’s shield laws, we can enhance protections for both patients and providers, standing firm against any attempts to undermine bodily autonomy. I am proud to be spearheading this legislation to safeguard abortion access and LGBTQ+ rights for the people of Boulder and Colorado. This bill reaffirms our commitment to upholding reproductive health care rights amidst growing challenges.”
The bill protects providers by allowing a provider’s name to be excluded from a medication abortion label and requiring subpoena requests to include an affirmation that they do not pertain to legally protected health care. The bill would also prohibit attorneys, Colorado residents and entities, and local agencies from complying with hostile out-of-state investigations. Finally, the bill would protect patients using telehealth and strengthen enforcement and compliance mechanisms.
SB25-130, sponsored by Senators Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, and Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, and Representatives Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, and Yara Zokaie, D-Fort Collins, would ensure emergency access for pregnant people who need abortion or miscarriage care and create clarity for emergency patients and providers.
“The people of Colorado deserve safe and accessible access to abortion and miscarriage care without exception, especially when lives are at stake in emergency situations,” said Gonzales. “We owe it to all Coloradans, and particularly the Coloradans most negatively impacted by barriers to reproductive care, to ensure that emergency care is always granted, no questions asked.”
“The Trump administration continues to erode federal protections surrounding reproductive health care, and Colorado must protect life-saving emergency care for pregnant people,” said Froelich. “Since Roe was overturned, hospitals and physicians around the country have been experiencing dangerous ambiguity when it comes to the type of life-saving care they’re legally allowed to provide, specifically for abortion and miscarriage care. In Colorado, we’re ensuring emergency providers have the clarity they need to do their job and save lives.”
“States with the most restrictive abortion bans have challenged and disrupted our federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, which has resulted in devastating loss of life,” said Weissman. “As a part of our efforts to protect Coloradans’ fundamental freedoms in volatile times, it is imperative that we clarify to patients and providers alike that emergency care in Colorado will remain comprehensive and accessible.”
“In states where reproductive health care is restricted, pregnant people are having a hard time receiving emergency abortion or miscarriage care until it’s too late – we cannot let this happen in Colorado,” said Zokaie. “This bill eliminates any dangerous ambiguity around the physician and hospital duty to provide emergency care to patients so no one is denied life-saving care. Our state has been a long-time leader in abortion care because Coloradans understand that access to reproductive health care saves lives.”
The federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) is a nearly 40-year-old law that requires hospitals to provide emergency medical treatment, including abortion and miscarriage care regardless of ability to pay. However, the Supreme Court is allowing states to deny pregnant people abortion care in life-threatening emergencies by sending cases back to lower courts. In response to threats to these federal protections, this bill would ensure that life-saving emergency care will be protected in Colorado.
Both bills have been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee and will be scheduled for hearings in the coming weeks.