SB 25-183 Puts Will of Colorado Voters on Constitutional Right to Abortion Into Effect, SB 25-129 Strengthens Colorado’s Shield Law
 |  |
| Media Contact: Mónica Caballeros Director of Communications Monicacaballeros@colorlatina.org | Media Contact: Laura K Chapin Media Communications Director Laura@cobaltadvocates.org |
For Immediate Release: April 24, 2025
Denver – Today, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed two critical reproductive rights bills into state law, SB 25-129 and SB 25-183.
SB 25-183, Coverage for Pregnancy-Related Services, implements Colorado’s 2024 Right to Abortion ballot measure (Amendment 79) which puts abortion rights into the Colorado Constitution and removes a barrier to abortion access by lifting a ban on state public insurance coverage for abortion care. Amendment 79 won with 62% of the vote statewide, surpassed the 55% threshold needed for victory in five Congressional Districts, and won a majority in all eight of Colorado’s Congressional Districts.
SB 25-129, Legally Protected Health-Care Activity Protections, reinforces Colorado’s reproductive health care shield law, enacted in 2023, to further protect patients and providers of reproductive health care in our state.
Cobalt and COLOR (Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights) co-chaired the Amendment 79 ballot measure campaign in 2024, an effort supported by over 115 organizations. Partners came together again to pass these critical pieces of legislation, part of the Reproductive Care Without Barriers bill package. The final bill in the package, SB 25-130 to ensure emergency care access, is currently advancing in the state legislature.
“In Colorado, we have a proud history of fighting for our freedom to decide about our bodies and futures. By signing these bills into law, Governor Polis reaffirms Colorado’s role as a national leader for reproductive justice and freedom,” said Dusti Gurule, President & CEO of COLOR. “But this achievement is truly a reflection of community power. Thousands of Coloradans from across the state organized, advocated, and mobilized to fight for these bills that allow them to lead safer, healthier, and more self-determined lives. In this moment of increasing hostility toward reproductive justice and direct attacks on our communities, this fight has never been more urgent.”
According to Cobalt President Karen Middleton, “This is a day that has been a long coming for Cobalt on reproductive health care and securing abortion rights in the Colorado Constitution. Colorado voters gave a clear mandate on November 5: abortion rights belong in the Colorado Constitution, abortion is health care, and health care must be equitable and accessible for all.
We thank Governor Polis for signing these bills into law and appreciate his strong advocacy for putting our shared Colorado values on reproductive rights and freedom into action. Today is a win for every Coloradan who voted yes on Amendment 79. Today is a win for every Coloradan who needs and deserves equal access to abortion care, for medical providers in our state, and for those who support them.”
As a practical matter, SB 183 will put into place the mechanisms necessary for public insurance plans to include abortion care as a covered service. State public employees already pay insurance premiums, so SB 183 ensures that abortion care, like other reproductive health care, is part of their overall plan. Private insurance plans are already required to include abortion care under a 2023 law, SB 189, that took effect Jan. 1.
Strengthening Colorado’s 2023 shield law remains urgent and critical as patients and providers alike face escalating threats, and even arrest, for accessing care. The provisions of the 2025 bill specifically address enhanced data privacy. For example, if a provider mails medication abortion to a patient, the identity of the provider will remain confidential and list a practice name instead. This prevents both acts of violence against providers, and provides legal barriers to hostile actions from other states. It also further protects patients, providers, and helpers of legally protected health care from out-of-state criminal and civil threats.
###
Cobalt is a grassroots, statewide Colorado organization that advances abortion access and reproductive rights. Our organization began in 1967 when Colorado became the first state to allow safe, legal abortion. Cobalt believes nothing should stand between you and your health decisions, which is why we are dedicated to fighting for systems, structures, and policies that protect reproductive rights and guarantee comprehensive, universal access to reproductive healthcare, including abortion.
Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR) is a community-rooted nonprofit organization that works to enable Latine individuals and their families to lead safe, healthy, and self-determined lives. Founded in 1998, we are the only Latina-led and Latina-serving multi-entity reproductive justice organization in the state. We bring an intersectional approach to our fight for reproductive justice, advancing issues impacting the Latine community in the areas of education, health care, civil rights, economic justice, and immigration.
