DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado state lawmakers heard two new abortion bills in committee Wednesday. Supporters and sponsors said the bills are proactive rather than reactive when it comes to reproductive health.
Abortion is already protected by law in Colorado, but supporters said the new bills come as abortion issues arise elsewhere in the United States.
During his first week in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to stop federal taxpayer dollars from funding abortion. You may remember, Coloradans passed a ballot measure to allow abortion care to be covered by Medicaid and state employee health plans during the 2024 general election. Advocates said they have not seen any executive orders that directly threaten the intent of the measures in committee at the state capitol, but they have seen doctors and patients targeted in other states.
One bill would expand the state’s shield law by not requiring a doctor to have their name listed on the label for abortion medicine. Doctors could list the name of where they practice instead. Opponents have raised legal concerns about telehealth providers being able to prescribe abortion medicine.
“With these out of state attacks and again trying to cross borders, we want to be sure that doctors and providers feel comfortable at every level. So, if they don’t feel comfortable having their name but rather just the name of the practice on a prescription bottle, that feels like a reasonable accommodation so that they can feel a little bit safer,” said Senator Lisa Cutter.
The measure passed out of the Senate Judiciary committee with a vote of 5 to 2 along party lines.
The other bill would require hospitals to provide abortion or miscarriage care for people in emergency situations.
“There is already a case that we have heard about that a patient was turned away from a hospital in southwest Colorado because her water broke very early in pregnancy. She actually had to go home for two days, take care of her kids and come back when it became a life-threatening problem. We don’t think that should be the case. A patient should never have to figure out the political or religious views before they go seeking emergency care,” said Kiera Hutton, Political Director for Cobalt. “This does not necessarily mean that particular hospital has to provide the care that they don’t agree with, but they have to stabilize the patient and transport them somewhere that they can get the care that they need.”
This bill was laid over without amendments.