House Education Committee Passes Bill to Keep Students Safe and Combat Overdoses in School

DENVER, CO – The House Education Committee today passed legislation to standardize drug overdose education in Colorado’s public high schools. HB25-1293 is bipartisan and aims to keep students informed and safe. 

“Overdoses are preventable, and this bill works to ensure our schools and students have the educational resources and naloxone they need to save lives,” said Rep. Jamie Jackson, D-Aurora. “This bipartisan bill builds upon previous legislative efforts to combat overdoses in schools and keep students safe. By standardizing drug overdose education in our public schools, we can help keep our high schoolers and teachers informed and prepared for what to do in the case of an overdose. We’re focused on preventing overdoses, and if this education requirement saves even one student, it will be worth it.” 

HB25-1293, also sponsored by Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, R-Colorado Springs, passed committee by a vote of 13-0. This bill requires the State Board of Education to adopt standards regarding drug overdose education in schools.

If signed into law, the bill requires the State Board of Education to adopt health education standards for 9th through 12th grades in public schools on drug overdose identification, risks, prevention, and response by 2028 or earlier depending on the funding fulfillment of the bill. The goal of HB25-1293 is to standardize Colorado’s public school response to drug overdose, spread prevention awareness and save student’s lives. 

Colorado lawmakers have made strides to help prevent youth overdoses in schools. Last year, a bipartisan group of legislators championed a law that made opiate antagonists and drug testing strips available on school buses and in school buildings.