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First Regular Session | 75th General Assembly
Colorado General Assembly

PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For SB25-183

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
Date Mar 25, 2025       Location HCR 0112

SB25-183 - Referred to House Appropriations
12:37:10 PM  
The primary bill sponsors, Representatives Garcia and McCluskie, introduced Senate Bill 25-183 to the House Health and Human Services Committee. The bill makes conforming changes to state law to codify Amendment 79 by striking references to the repealed constitutional prohibition on the use of public funds for abortion care. This includes removing the public employers exemption from the requirement that individual and group health benefit plans provide coverage for the total cost of abortion care, thus codifying that public employers are required to provide this coverage. Additionally, the bill includes abortion care services as a covered benefit under Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus administered by the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, and requires that all services be reimbursed with state funds only.

A handout was provided to the committee (Attachment A).
12:45:20 PM  
The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee. Bill Zepernick, representing Legislative Council Staff, responded to questions from the committee.
12:54:45 PM  
Ms. Isabel Cruz, representing Colorado Consumer Health Initiative, testified in support of the bill. Mariah Guerrero, representing Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Elyse Katz, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Onnastasia Cole, representing Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Emma Pinter, representing Counties & Commissioners Acting Together (CCAT), testified in support of the bill. Mx. Indra Lusero, representing Elephant Circle, testified in support of the bill.
01:10:11 PM  
Kristy Neeley, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Dr. Thomas Perille, representing Democrats for Life of Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Scott Shamblin, representing Colorado Right To Life, testified in opposition to the bill. Dr. Catherine Wheeler, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Jennifer Qualteri, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

A handout was provided to the committee (Attachment B).
01:23:14 PM  
The panel responded to questions from the committee.
01:30:06 PM  
Ms. Lauren Smith, representing Soul 2 Soul Sisters, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Leah Audin, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Shaunti Meyer, representing Boulder Valley Health Center, testified in support of the bill. Melisa Hidalgo-Cuellar, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Allison Irias, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Michael Neil, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.
01:44:50 PM  
The panel responded to questions from the committee.
01:48:07 PM  
Mrs. Brittany Vessely, representing Colorado Catholic Conference, testified in opposition to the bill. Giuliana Day, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Tamra Axworthy, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mrs. Wendy Smith, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Patty McKernan, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.
02:00:40 PM  
The panel responded to questions from the committee.
02:02:52 PM  
Diane Ferraro, representing Save the Storks, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Lloyd Benes, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Trevor Malloy, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.
02:10:43 PM  
The panel responded to questions from the committee.
02:12:01 PM  
Marilyn Gore, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Additional written testimony was submitted to the committee (Attachment C).
02:15:05 PM  
The bill sponsors provided closing comments on the bill.
02:23:15 PM  
Members of the committee provided closing comments on the bill.

02:30:41 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 25-183 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Lieder
Seconded Stewart K.
Bottoms No
Bradfield No
Bradley No
English Yes
Feret Yes
Garcia Sander No
Gilchrist Yes
Hamrick Yes
McCormick Yes
Rydin Yes
Stewart K. Yes
Lieder Yes
Brown Yes
Final YES: 9   NO: 4   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS