HB26-1335 in Colorado calls for abortion medication access on college campuses. Colleges with a prescription drug outlet have to keep abortion medication stocked to dispense to students, and those that don’t must submit a prescription for abortion medication to an off-campus pharmacy or provide the medication through the student health centered if licensed to do so.
Republicans tried to warn of the dangers of abortion medication, but the measure passed after a vote of 41-22. Only one Democrat, Bob Marshall, joined Republicans in voting no.
Religious institutions are exempt under the bill, which now goes to the Senate for approval.
Student’s for Life tried to warn about the bill before it went to the General Assembly, saying that Colorado would be the fifth state to enact this mandate if it passed. States that already require abortion medication access on campus are California, Massachusetts, New York, and Illinois.
Nathan Fisher, associate director of the Colorado Catholic Conference, said there are concerns.
"We think that this bill ultimately hurts young women," Fisher tells AFN. "A lot of them are in distressing circumstances, and by encouraging an option like this, just to abortion, will likely cause long-lasting harm to them physically and psychologically and lead to, sadly, more destruction of human life in Colorado."
State Rep. Lorena Garcia is one of the prime sponsors of HB26-1335. She reminded members that abortion is a constitutional right in Colorado and that students asked for such a bill to give them access.
Fisher heard that as well, but he said it's not true that students lack access.
"There's a lot of private organizations that will help them travel for an abortion, reimbursements for an abortion," states Fisher. "This bill was truthfully about forcing our higher ed institutions to be abortion providers."
Fisher encouraged believers to stay in the fight, adding the battle has already been won.
"I'm hoping that the Lord will just soften people's hearts, especially our lawmakers," Fisher says.
