Gov. Jared Polis signed three major reproductive healthcare bills into law Friday that expand and protect access to abortions and gender-affirming care.
鈥淲e've seen countless attacks on reproductive rights and access to gender affirming care in neighboring states across the country,鈥� Polis said at Friday鈥檚 bill signing ceremony. 鈥淭hat's not the Colorado way. We believe in the ability of individuals to make their own decisions. That's a really important value that we share in our state, and these bills further that value of protecting bodily autonomy and people's rights.鈥�
One of the measures, adds protections for out-of-state patients seeking reproductive healthcare or gender-affirming care in Colorado. It also shields their providers from interstate prosecution or investigation by states that have criminalized those treatments.
Bill sponsor Rep. Brianna Titone, Colorado鈥檚 first openly transgender lawmaker, said the measures are about freedom.
鈥淚t's about bodily autonomy,鈥� Titone said. 鈥淭his is about people being able to do what's right for them. Period, full stop.鈥�
, according to the Guttmacher Institute, including Colorado neighbors Oklahoma and Texas. Arizona and Utah also have partial bans in place, with more severe bans currently blocked by the courts.
鈥淟et the passage of these three bills as they are being signed into law today stand as a testament to folks in this state and across the country,鈥� bill sponsor Sen. Julie Gonzales said. 鈥淐olorado is a beacon for care.鈥�
more than 800 anti-LGBTQ bills across the country. At least 110 of those would outlaw or limit gender-affirming care for transgender people. Arizona, Texas and Utah are among the states with bans in place already.
A second measure, outlaws deceptive advertising from crisis pregnancy centers and blocks them from offering unproven abortion reversal medications. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists , including abortions, by presenting themselves as legitimate reproductive healthcare providers. The group also finds that and do not meet clinical standards.
A third, , mandates insurance coverage for reproductive and sexual healthcare. It would add mandates that health insurance plans cover the cost of abortion care and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, including preventative medications.
