Accomplishments
2019
During the 2019 legislative session, we made great strides in protecting the rights of Coloradans. We passed comprehensive sex education legislation which requires sex education classes include lessons on consent; be inclusive of LGBTQ+ students; not use stigma, shame, or gender stereotypes; and, if schools are teaching about pregnancy outcomes, that the lessons include unbiased information about all options, including abortion care.
We also helped pass landmark bills which make it legal for transgender and non-binary Coloradans to update their identification documents to reflect their gender; bring back the Maternal Mortality Review Committee; prohibit so-called "conversion therapy" for minors; and ensure free access to menstrual products for people in custody.
See our Colorado 2019 Legislative Scorecard for more information on these accomplishments, as well as on the many other successes for reproductive health and education in 2019.
2018
We are so proud of the work that was accomplished during the 2018 legislative session. Planned Parenthood staff and activists worked with our coalition partners and with our elected officials on legislation that would impact access to comprehensive reproductive health care - both fighting against bad legislation and lifting up the good.
This included working with reproductive health champions in the Capitol to expand 12-month birth control access to include folks across the state who are on Medicaid; protecting funding for the Colorado Civil Rights Division (CCRD); and working to introduce one of Colorado's most expansive bills for reproductive health along with our progressive partners Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR) and NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado.
Check out our Colorado 2018 Legislative Scorecard for more information on our exciting strides in reproductive health and education.
2017
Alongside incredible reproductive rights partners and community advocates, Planned Parenthood Votes Colorado helped to pass proactive legislation to enable women to access 12 months of birth control at a time. Thus, empowering women across Colorado to have better control over their reproductive health and their futures.
We also worked alongside our community partners to see a "Reproductive Care is Health Care" Resolution passed and defeated FIVE anti-reproductive health care bills.
Please see our Colorado 2017 Legislative Scorecard for more information on reproductive health and education bills.
2016
In 2016 Planned Parenthood Votes Colorado, alongside community partners, defeated eight bills that would have endangered Coloradans access to reproductive health care. The first six sought to block access to safe and legal abortion in Colorado, placing many Colorado women’s health in danger. The other two bills would have allowed individuals and organizations to discriminate based on personal religious views against LGBTQ Coloradans and women.
While we also worked on a piece of proactive legislation aimed at expanding access to birth control, ultimately did not pass.
Please see our Colorado 2016 Legislative Scorecard for more information on reproductive health and education bills.
2015
The 2015 Colorado General Assembly’s session saw SIX attacks on women’s access to safe abortion services at the Colorado legislature. Planned Parenthood Votes Colorado, in partnership with its partners defended against these attacks, defeating them all.
Please see our Colorado 2015 Legislative Scorecard for more information on reproductive health and education bills.
2014
Defeat of Amendment 67 (Fetal Personhood) – This ballot initiative to define “person” in the Colorado Constitution to include an “unborn human being,” would have endangered Colorado women’s access to safe abortion services and could have resulted in the criminalization of women who suffer miscarriages.
39 of 61 PPVC-endorsed candidates won their races. This included the re-election of a pro-choice governor, Governor John Hickenlooper, and the re-election of pro-choice majority in the Colorado House of Representatives. PPVC endorses candidates who take and receive 100% on a reproductive health and comprehensive sex education candidate survey, and if previously an elected official have a 100% record of voting in support of our issues.
Civil Damages for Unlawful Termination of Pregnancy (HB14-1388): This legislation joined HB13-1154, creating civil penalties for women who lose a pregnancy as the result of an intentional, knowing, or reckless act of another.
Reauthorization by the Colorado General Assembly of the breast and cervical cancer prevention and treatment program. (HB14-1045)
2013
Crimes Against Pregnant Women (HB13-1154): This legislation addressed a gap in Colorado statutes for women who lose a wanted pregnancy as a result of criminal acts, while still protecting access to abortion.
Comprehensive Sex Education (HB13-1081): This legislation established stronger definitions for comprehensive sex education taught in Colorado public schools.
Medicaid Expansion (SB13-200): This legislation expanded Medicaid eligibility to 160,000 additional Coloradans as authorized by the Affordable Care Act.
Please see our Colorado 2013 Legislative Scorecard for more information on reproductive health and education bills.