Colorado passes abortion funding, advances transgender bills

The state’s House of Representatives on Sunday passed a bill that would change state laws to match a recent constitutional amendment enshrining a right to abortion. The bill changes the definition of family planning services to include abortion, allowing state funding of abortion through Medicaid and for state employees. It also requires the state’s medical services board to include abortion in the schedule of healthcare services available to pregnant women. The bill now heads to the desk of Gov. Jared Polis, who has signed pro-abortion bills in the past.

After intense debate, the measure passed in a 40-21 vote. One Democrat, Rep. Bob Marshall, joined Republicans to vote against it. Colorado Republicans were frustrated that the majority invoked chamber rules to force votes to take place on Sunday and also to limit and stifle debate on what the state party called extreme bills.

What other measures did the state House pass on Sunday? The House also passed several other Democrat-led bills and referred them to the state Senate.

• One of the bills, House Bill 1309, would prevent health insurance providers from denying or limiting services deemed gender-affirming care. The bill defines that term as including social, psychological, or medical interventions for children and adults who identify as transgender, including cross-sex hormones and surgeries. It also prohibits the state’s prescription drug use monitors from tracking testosterone prescriptions. The bill passed on a 40-20 party-line vote with five abstaining, according to Colorado Politics.

• Another bill passed Sunday, House Bill 1312, would penalize “deadnaming” or “misgendering” in places of public accommodation and public and charter schools. The bill also labels such behavior as coercive control, making it a factor in child custody decisions. The bill also required schools to allow students to choose any dress code option regardless of gender. HB 1312 passed the House in 36-20 vote, with nine excused and Marshall again siding with Republicans, Colorado Politics reported.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s report on a new Title IX task force addressing complaints related to transgender athletes.