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DENVER, CO – The House today passed two bills, sponsored by Representatives Regina English and Junie Joseph, to improve health outcomes for Coloradans, especially Black women. HB26-1044 passed by a vote of 49-13 and would improve Black maternal health care in Colorado. HB26-1135 passed by a vote of 42-20 and would require a warning label on haircare products that may include known carcinogens or chemicals that could cause infertility or birth defects.
“Black women face the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation; it’s clear we need to do more to protect our mothers and their children,” said Rep. Regina English, D-Colorado Springs. “This bill calls for improvements to our maternal health surveys to better capture concerns from community members, specifically women of color who are pregnant or postpartum. We also passed legislation to require a warning label on certain cancer-causing haircare products. By improving communication, demanding cultural competency, and pushing back against discrimination in health care, we can reduce the impacts of maternal mortality and save lives in Colorado.”
“Implicit and explicit bias in obstetric care, including delayed treatment and the dismissal of symptoms, can be a major barrier for Black birthing patients," said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder. “This bill urges cultural competency and equity training to be included in continued education requirements for providers to help prevent harm. We also passed the Hair Product Transparency and Safety Act to require a clear warning on haircare products that contain carcinogenic materials. By addressing health disparities, these bills bring us closer to improving health and safety outcomes for women of color.”
HB25-1044 aims to build upon Colorado’s work to improve maternal health care, especially for women of color. This bill requires the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) to report on maternal health outcomes for Black birthing parents and known causes of any disparate outcomes.
To boost equity in maternal care, this bill requires health care providers to undergo cultural competency training as part of their Continuing Medical Education (CME). Under HB26-1044, birthing facilities would also be required to provide information to patients who request it about their rights, which include the right to culturally sensitive, evidence-based care and the right to have a birthing companion and family member during the birth.
In 2023, the maternal mortality rate for Black women was more than three times higher than white women. In addition, Black and American Indian and Alaska Native infants are at least two times more likely to die than white infants. Research also shows that pregnancy-related mortality of Black women persists across education and income levels, and Black women are at a significantly higher risk for severe maternal morbidity, which includes conditions such as preeclampsia.
The House also passed the Hair Product Transparency and Safety Act (HB26-1135). To inform consumers, this bill would require that hair relaxers or synthetic hairpieces that contain a carcinogen or reproductive toxicant be labeled by the manufacturer. Research shows that these products are disproportionately marketed to and used by communities of color. This bill aims to improve the health and well-being of Coloradans by increasing awareness and exposure to certain products that may contain harmful chemicals.
To improve maternal health care in Colorado, especially for women of color, Colorado Democrats championed HB24-1262. This important law modified the midwife licensure process, collected more data on mistreatment during the perinatal period, and required advance notice to a patient when a facility reduces or ends maternal health care services.