Last week, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed into law a significant Democratic measure that mandates the state’s universities to function as pharmacies for distributing abortion medications, including mifepristone. This move is seen as a way to motivate young women in college to seek abortions.
House Bill 1335, put forth by Democratic state Representative Lorena Garcia, actually requires all Colorado taxpayers to contribute to funding abortions.
- All 32 universities in Colorado that have student health facilities will “provide abortion pills to every student enrolled at their institutions.”
- Campus pharmacies are expected to keep abortion medications in stock for students.
- For universities lacking on-site pharmacies, they can either send prescriptions to local pharmacies or dispense these medications through their Student Health Centers.
This legislation is set to become effective on August 1, 2027.
One of the organizations that criticized the bill and urged Polis to veto it was the Colorado Catholic Conference, labeling HB 1335 a “violation of the sanctity of unborn life.”
The Colorado Catholic Conference stated that “ mandating universities to stockpile abortion pills would lead to more lives lost and could inflict significant physical, emotional, and psychological damage on many young women.” They also raised concerns about religious freedom for insurance companies that choose not to cover abortion.
Lydia Davis, a spokesperson for Students for Life of America, expressed alarm about the risks associated with abortion pills.
Davis remarked that “These lethal drugs have led to the deaths of millions of infants, harmed women, and contributed to environmental hazards by contaminating water systems.” She voiced that this bill would transform college campuses into places for the distribution of abortion drugs.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported that between September 2000 and December 2024, there have been at least 36 fatalities associated with mifepristone.
Additionally, numerous adverse events were recorded involving 2,740 women who used mifepristone to terminate pregnancies. From November 2012 to December 2024, 288 women required hospitalization after taking mifepristone, and 190 experienced blood loss serious enough to necessitate transfusions, as stated in a report from the Department of Agriculture.
Rebecca Weaver, Advocacy Director for the American Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists Association, noted in her written testimony that the bill “places extensive requirements without establishing basic medical safeguards, introduces significant risks to women’s health, and undermines care standards.”
Lloyd Benes, a Coloradan who spoke against the bill earlier this year, echoed concerns about the lack of a requirement for informed consent at campus clinics, which raises worries regarding oversight. He pointed out that without mandatory ultrasounds, ectopic pregnancies might go unnoticed, and there are no guidelines for the disposal of fetal remains.
After signing the bill, Representative Garcia stated that “the new law will simplify access to constitutionally protected reproductive health care rights for college students. With their lives centered around campuses, this legislation facilitates medical abortions through student clinics and pharmacies.”
State Representative Kenny Nguyen added that “College students shouldn’t face hurdles in obtaining their constitutionally guaranteed right to an abortion. This law improves accessibility to life-saving medical care.”
It should be noted that Regis University, a private Catholic institution in Denver, is exempt from this law.
