Today, Governor Jared Polis signed into law two pieces of legislation to reduce insurance premiums and the cost of prescription drugs. < Back May 10, 2023 Signed! Legislation to Reduce Insurance Premiums, Costs of Prescription Drugs AURORA, CO - Today, Governor Jared Polis signed into law two pieces of legislation to reduce insurance premiums and the cost of prescription drugs. HB23-1224 , sponsored by Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, and Reps. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora, and Kyle Brown, D-Louisville, lowers insurance premiums and makes it easier for consumers to shop for high value standardized health plans that work for them and their families. The bill strengthens the Department of Insurance’s (DOI) ability to hold carriers accountable for the premium rate reduction requirements on Colorado Option Standardized Plans by granting the DOI the authority to: Limit factors such as as excessive profit and administrative expenses; Structure the public hearing process efficiently while ensuring all parties have the opportunity to participate; Help consumers easily find and compare plans that could lower their out-of-pocket costs. “Too many Coloradans are forced to choose between preventative health care services and paying the bills,” Jodeh said. “By reducing premium rates for Colorado Option plans and strengthening cost-saving requirements over Pharmacy Benefit Managers, our new laws will protect Colorado patients, pharmacies, and businesses from unfair practices while saving them money on health care.” “Every Coloradan, no matter where they live, deserves to have access to the life-saving health care they need,” said Roberts. “Colorado has led the way in lowering costs of health care by creating the Colorado Option. This bill builds on the first year of success of that plan and makes changes that will ensure that next year and in the years to come, even more Coloradans, particularly in the rural communities like those I represent, will be able to access more affordable and higher quality insurance options.” “The Colorado Option has been very successful, creating $14 million in savings for Colorado patients on health care plans, in its first year in the market,” Brown said. “With this new law, we’re making improvements to the Colorado Option to save Coloradans even more money on health care. I’m proud of the work that we’ve done to cut down on health care costs and pass savings down to Colorado consumers.” The second bill, HB23-1227 , ensures that Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM) follow through on critical cost savings reforms that the legislature has passed in recent years to save consumers money. Sponsored by Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, and Perry Will, R-New Castle, and Reps. David Ortiz, D-Littleton, and Jodeh, the bill provides the DOI with more direct oversight over PBMs by requiring them to register and specifying that the DOI has the ability to enforce those reforms. “As a pharmacist I know firsthand how critical it is for Coloradans to be able to afford their prescription drugs, but too many of our families are still getting squeezed by high costs of medication,” said Jaquez Lewis. “HB1227 is part of a multi-year effort to keep Colorado prescription drug prices affordable. I’m thrilled to see this critical bill to save families even more money on life-saving medications signed into law.” “Addressing the cost of prescription drugs is a critical part of creating an equitable and accessible health care system,” said Ortiz. “This new law will give us the tools to hold Pharmacy Benefit Managers to the cost-saving measures that Colorado Democrats have passed to improve access to affordable, quality health care for all.” The bipartisan bill grants the Insurance Commissioner the power to investigate and impose penalties on PBMs for failing to comply with consumer protections such as charging pharmacies fees to adjudicate claims, clawing back money from pharmacies inappropriately, and discriminating against independent pharmacies versus PBM-affiliated pharmacies. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation into law that brings down costs for Coloradans by cracking down on corporate price gouging for everyday necessities like groceries and toiletries. < Back May 9, 2025 Democrats Save Coloradans Money with New Law that Cracks Down on Price Gouging DENVER, CO - Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation into law that brings down costs for Coloradans by cracking down on corporate price gouging for everyday necessities like groceries and toiletries. “Price gouging hurts hardworking Coloradans and mom-and-pop businesses, which is why I sponsored this law that will hold bad actors accountable,” said Rep. Yara Zokaie, D-Fort Collins. “No one should have to choose between putting food on the table and paying rent, and as a mom to three young children, I have personally felt the pressure facing so many of our Colorado families. With this bill being signed into law today, Colorado Democrats are standing up against corporate price gouging to reduce the cost of everyday necessities.” “This bill is about putting public welfare and consumer protection ahead of corporate greed,” said Senator Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “Time and time again, we have seen bad actors use disasters as an excuse to raise prices on necessities and line their own pockets. It’s time for us to step in and ensure that Colorado families can purchase the things they need – like groceries and diapers – at prices they can afford during times of crisis.” “With corporate bad actors driving prices higher on groceries and everyday necessities, Colorado Democrats are taking action to stop price gouging and save Coloradans money,” said Rep. Kyle Brown, D-Louisville. “While the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation and supply chain issues have impacted prices, bad-acting corporations have taken advantage of these factors to jack up prices just to increase their profits. While Republicans in the legislature sided with wealthy corporations, our majority passed this law to help tackle the rising cost of living, put an end to corporate price gouging and make Colorado a more affordable place to live for all.” HB25-1010 prohibits price gouging of goods or services necessary for the health, safety, and welfare of Coloradans, like groceries and toiletries, during a declared emergency. In this law, price gouging is defined as a price increase of 10 percent or above the average cost of the product or good that is not attributable to seasonal pricing. Necessities include goods and services essential for the health, safety, and welfare of the public, like groceries and toiletries. A 2024 Federal Trade Commission report stated that the three largest grocers accelerated and distorted the negative effects associated with supply chain disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Colorado Democrats passed a 2024 law , also sponsored by Rep. Brown and Sen. Weissman, to prevent price gouging on rent after a natural disaster. The law was inspired after rents skyrocketed for Coloradans who lost their homes after the Marshall Fire, pricing vulnerable Coloradans out of their communities. Another law created the Prescription Drug Affordability Board to limit Big Pharma price gouging of life-saving prescription drugs, helping lower out-of-pocket prescription drug costs. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed a bill aimed at building strong career pathways for students. < Back May 23, 2024 Bill to Create Strong Career Pathways for Students Signed into Law ENGLEWOOD, CO – Governor Jared Polis today signed a bill aimed at building strong career pathways for students. HB24-1364, sponsored by Speaker Julie McCluskie and Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, will streamline career pathways for high school graduates. “With this law, we’re strengthening career pathways that will make it easier for Coloradans to secure good-paying jobs in communities they love,” said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. “This law improves student access to high school programs that offer college credits, college credits, industry credentials, or quality work-based learning experiences. Together, we’re investing in our workforce, boosting local economies, and making it easier for our learners to find and succeed in a career that will help them not just get by, but thrive in a well-paying job.” “To meet Colorado’s workforce and education demands, we need to make it easier for our learners to plan and succeed for their next career steps,” said Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver . “This law creates a data system that will make it easier for Colorado learners, school districts and higher education to connect to college credit, apprenticeship and other work-based learning programs. Our law invests in learners by connecting them to careers that have significant growth and earning potential.” HB24-1364 will implement recommendations from the 1215 Task Force to help meet workforce demands and foster career pathways for Coloradans. HB24-1364 will create a detailed study to uncover the cost benefits of streamlining the administration and financing of postsecondary workforce readiness programs to state and local education providers. This law also lays the foundation of a data system to measure the impact and outcomes of education and workforce programs. The data collected by this program will be more accessible to learners, families, and other decision-makers when it comes to choosing a career pathway. Previous Next

< Back Rep. Froelich: Keeping the Craig coal power plant open will only hurt Colorado rate payers Jan 8, 2026 See more This op-ed was originally published in the Denver Post here . The president’s eleventh hour executive order to keep the coal-fired Unit 1 at the Craig Station in operation is the combination of this administration’s signature way of governing: disregard for science, climate change denial, dismissal of economic impact to rate-payers, misunderstanding of history, attempts to roll back progress, and overall imperiousness. Unit 1 was on track to cease operations at the end of 2025. While this was a win for the public health and the environment, the five utilities that own it had decided in 2016 that the cheapest option was to retire and replace the aging plant. In the decade since utilities decided to retire Craig 1, they have been busy building new resources to replace the plant. Our Colorado health and safety, as well as affordability of power for consumers, is dependent on making steady progress towards our clean energy goals: retiring dirty and expensive coal plants and moving towards a clean, breathable future. Colorado has transition plans in place that have been negotiated with our utilities, environmental advocates, workers, and residents. The Public Utilities Commission’s decisions and the energy-generation plans of our utilities are carefully considered to take into account the costs to rate-payers, just transitions for workers, and the necessary steps towards a clean energy future. The Trump Administration doesn’t appear to care about any of that. As with the recent similarly ill-conceived and heavy-handed veto of the Arkansas Valley Conduit clean water project funding, Trump prioritizes superficial, punitive, Executive actions. All of us suffer from his callousness and idiocy whether our Congresspeople are from his party or not, whether we voted for him or not. Our beautiful Colorado air, land and water must be protected. Our children don’t deserve record asthma rates, our residents deserve clean drinking water, and our outdoor enthusiasts deserve safe recreation. Trump’s actions are not well thought-out, careful policy decisions. From dismantling scientific research institutions in Colorado to increasing our utility rates, his revenge tour will have real impacts on people’s lives, including those who voted for him. It is worth noting that Venezuelan crude oil will not lower energy costs. We are years away from having the capacity to refine this very heavy, dirty petroleum and we do not use oil to power our electric grid. Our environmental organizations have sought legal recourse and will continue to do so. As Legislators we will also continue to protect our State from his disastrous whims. Meg Froelich is a state representative in the Colorado General Assembly and Mike Weissman is a state senator. Previous Next

HB23-1071 would allow psychologists to prescribe limited mental health medications < Back February 27, 2023 Bill to Increase Access to Mental Health Treatment Heads to Governor Polis HB23-1071 would allow psychologists to prescribe limited mental health medications DENVER, CO – The House today approved Senate changes to HB23-1071, sending the bill to Governor Polis for his signature. This bill, sponsored by Representative Amabile, would allow psychologists to prescribe limited mental health medications after receiving additional education and training. “Colorado is experiencing a mental health crisis, and many patients across our state are waiting weeks or months for their appointment with a licensed prescriber,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder . “This bill will give prescribing authority to psychologists who receive additional training and education so Coloradans can get the mental health treatment they need, when they need it. We know psychologists often have well-established relationships with their patients and a deep understanding of how to treat mental illness. This bill bridges a gap in mental health care access by helping Coloradans receive treatment faster.” HB23-1071 , also sponsored by Representative Mary Bradfield, establishes rigorous standards and education requirements that a psychologist must undertake before being able to prescribe medication to treat mental health illnesses. The House repassed the amended version of HB23-1071 by a vote of 57 to 5. Only licensed Ph.D. psychologists who receive an additional master’s degree in psychopharmacology, pass a national board exam, complete a preceptorship for up to two years, 750 hours of practicum work, and spend two additional years prescribing under the supervision of trained licensed prescribing clinicians or specialty provider if wanting to work with the pediatric or geriatric population will be able to prescribe. Once licensed, psychologists would work in conjunction with the patient’s primary care provider or general practitioner team to ensure that any prescribed medication is being monitored and working effectively for whole care health. Under this bill, these licensed psychologists will not be authorized to prescribe narcotic drugs. Currently, if medication is part of the patient’s care plan, the patient must meet with a doctor or psychiatrist to have the prescription issued. Few of the only 800 psychiatrists throughout Colorado accept Medicaid. Patients often struggle to find an available psychiatrist within their insurance network, forcing them to choose between large out-of-pocket costs or waiting months for the medication they need. Allowing psychologists limited prescribing authority to provide immediate access to medication can save the patient time and money. Psychologists work closely with their patients to determine how to best address their mental health needs. When patients meet with a doctor or psychiatrist, it’s often their first time discussing their mental health issues and telehealth appointments can make it difficult to accurately assess the patient’s condition. Allowing licensed psychologists who often meet monthly or even more frequently with patients and are more familiar with their mental health condition to prescribe medication, streamlines access to effective health care and leads to more appropriate care. Previous Next

Meeting the moment and governing responsibly in a crisis. Colorado Democrats passed responsible laws to protect the health and safety of hardworking Coloradans and get our state back on track. DOWNLOAD

The House Health & Insurance Committee today passed legislation to improve oversight of Pharmacy Benefit Managers to reduce the cost of prescription drugs. It passed by a vote of 9-1. < Back March 14, 2023 Bill to Reduce the Cost of Prescription Drugs Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House Health & Insurance Committee today passed legislation to improve oversight of Pharmacy Benefit Managers to reduce the cost of prescription drugs. It passed by a vote of 9-1. “Pharmacy Benefit Managers act as the middleman between health insurers, employers and patients, giving them a lot of power in determining the cost of prescription drugs,” said Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora . “Strengthening the Division of Insurance’s ability to enforce the cost-saving legislation we’ve passed in recent years will hold Pharmacy Benefit Managers accountable for not following the rules. Colorado Democrats are committed to finding solutions that drive down costs so all Coloradans can afford their essential medication.” “Colorado Democrats have made significant strides in making quality health care more affordable, but these cost-saving measures are not as effective when Pharmacy Benefit Managers don’t act in accordance with the law,” said Rep. David Ortiz, D-Littleton . “This legislation will require Pharmacy Benefit Managers to register with the state and create new tools to ensure that they follow the cost-saving measures and consumer protections we’ve created to save Coloradans money. Affordable access to prescription drugs and health care is essential in creating an equitable health care system.” HB23-1227 will ensure that Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM) follow through on critical cost savings reforms that the legislature has passed in recent years to save consumers money. This bill will provide the Division of Insurance (DOI) with more direct oversight over PBMs by requiring them to register and specifying that the DOI has the ability to enforce those reforms. This bill would grant the commissioner the power to investigate and impose penalties on PBMs for failing to comply with consumer protections such as charging pharmacies fees to adjudicate claims, clawing back money from pharmacies inappropriately, and discriminating against independent pharmacies versus PBM affiliated pharmacies. Previous Next

< Back February 27, 2020 ENERGY CONSUMER PROTECTIONS BILL PASSES COMMITTEE DENVER, CO– Representative Mike Weissman’s bill to ensure that energy consumers who rely on retail electric coops for their power have a neutral, in-state arbiter to make judgements on disputes related to their rates was approved by the House Energy and Environment Committee. The bill would clarify the Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC) existing jurisdiction to make decisions on certain complaints received by retail electric coops against wholesale electric coops. The bill was approved by a vote of 9-2.. “Retail electric coops provide increasingly greener, more affordable, and more local power to consumers across our state, including many rural Coloradans,” said Rep. Weissman, D-Aurora. “Our aim is to ensure fairness for energy consumers by clarifying and affirming the PUC’s jurisdiction to make decisions in specific disputes. I was proud to see the committee stand with consumers today.” HB20-1225 would affirm existing statute that gives the PUC authority to hear complaints related to unjust rates, charges, and tariffs. By clarifying this authority, the bill would prevent jurisdictional gaps and ensure that Colorado disputes are handled by Colorado regulators, instead of being taken to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in Washington, D.C.. This bill does not impact investor-owned utilities or municipal utilities. Previous Next

Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation to support immigrant communities and increase oversight of immigration detention facilities. < Back June 4, 2026 JOINT RELEASE: Bill to Support Immigrant Communities Amid ICE Overreach Becomes Law DENVER, CO — Governor Jared Polis today signed legislation to support immigrant communities and increase oversight of immigration detention facilities. “Coloradans who look like me are being forcefully detained, injured and even killed by federal law enforcement,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “We won’t let the federal government operate dangerous and inhumane detention centers without oversight, and our bill ensures facilities are regularly inspected. All Coloradans deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, and this law establishes some important guardrails for detention centers and safeguards Coloradans’ privacy.” “The Trump Administration is abducting members of our community and holding them in secretive, unhealthy, and dangerous facilities. One of them is right in my district,” said Sen. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora. “That’s why we are taking action to improve transparency and oversight of these facilities. We all deserve the freedom to keep our families together and have due process under the law.” “Across the country, we’ve witnessed illegal detainments, mass deportations, and young children, even infants, being forcefully ripped from their families. Enough is enough,” said Rep. Lorena García, D-Unincorporated Adams County. “In Colorado, we’re strengthening existing privacy protections that we expect the governor to honor, and setting some much-needed parameters on federal detention centers. Under our new law, detention centers will be subject to frequent and regular inspections to not only promote better health and safety, but also more transparency for our community.” “As state legislators, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to keep our communities safe from the violent and unconstitutional overreach of ICE,” said Sen. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora. “We hear all too often about death, sickness, overcrowding, and other unacceptable conditions in ICE detention facilities, but there is almost no transparency. This law is about increasing oversight, ensuring frequent inspections, and protecting health and safety.” Last year, Democratic lawmakers passed SB25-276 to strengthen existing data privacy protections and clarify constitutional protections for immigrants. Importantly, HB26-1276 requires more oversight over detention facilities.This law also: Requires reporting on conditions in immigration detention facilities through frequent and regular inspections of the health and safety of facilities, in addition to unannounced inspections. Directs the Attorney General’s office to develop a model policy for sharing information with federal authorities when required by federal law. Requires current law enforcement to receive training on Colorado’s immigration laws to ensure they enforce state laws properly. This law is especially important now, as smaller detention centers that were previously used for short-term detention are now housing people for long periods of time without basic necessities. In a letter from the Colorado Democratic delegation to the Acting Director of ICE, the members stated that an individual was kept in a temporary holding cell for as long as 39 days. A report from earlier this year exposed the ICE facility in Aurora for dangerous, unhealthy living conditions. The report found that medical conditions are often ignored by immigration officers and 22 percent of respondents are food insecure. Governor Polis also signed HB26-1283 into law yesterday. This law, sponsored by Representatives Junie Joseph, D-Boulder and Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora, and Senators Janice Marchman, D-Loveland and Adrienne Benavidez, D-Commerce City, will prohibit employers from confiscating and sharing an employee’s government-issued identification card with federal law enforcement agencies except when otherwise required by state or federal law. Additionally, if an employer holds an employee’s ID or personal document with the intent of harassing or intimidating the employee, they could be charged with a bias-motivated crime. This law will help protect immigrant communities, especially workers employed in the service, hospitality, agriculture and construction industries. Previous Next

The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Javier Mabrey and Judy Amabile that would increase the success of eligible individuals referred from the criminal justice system by connecting them to an individualized care coordination plan in an effort to divert them from incarceration. HB24-1355 passed by a vote of 55-8. < Back April 26, 2024 Legislation to Reduce Competency Waitlist, Connect Coloradans to Mental Health Services Passes DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation sponsored by Representatives Javier Mabrey and Judy Amabile that would increase the success of eligible individuals referred from the criminal justice system by connecting them to an individualized care coordination plan in an effort to divert them from incarceration. HB24-1355 passed by a vote of 55-8. “The waitlist for competency services is so long that people who have not yet been found guilty of a crime are in jail longer than people who are convicted,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver. “This legislation will help address Colorado’s broken competency system so we can provide mental health services to people who need them. Not only will this better serve our most vulnerable, but it will also make our communities safer.” “People with mental health struggles are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system, and they desperately need services,” said Rep. Judy Amabile, D-Boulder. “When a mental health disorder is left untreated, Coloradans are often sent to jail for a relatively low offense, limiting their ability to rehabilitate. Routing people to diversion programs instead of the competency system connects them to mental health services that can help prevent a crisis and reduce recidivism.” HB24-1355 would create the Bridges Wraparound Care Program to refer eligible individuals with mental health struggles from the criminal justice system into wraparound care services. A defendant can be eligible for the Bridges Wraparound Care Program if they consent to participate in the program, the district attorney and defense counsel agree that there is a reasonable cause to believe that the defendant will be found incompetent, and the defendant is not charged with a class 1, 2, or 3 felony, a level 1 and 2 drug felony, a sex offense, a crime of violence, or any offense described in C.R.S. 24-4.1-302 (1), unless the district attorney waives this requirement in the interest of justice. If the defendant is eligible and agrees to enter the program, the court will assign a coordinator within the program who will screen and access the defendant to create a plan for the defendant. After 182 days of care, the care coordinator will review the defendant’s progress and if the court finds the defendant is compliant with their care plan, the charges must be dropped. If the defendant has not complied with the individualized care plan but is engaged in the process, the court may continue the case for up to 91 more days. If the defendant is not engaged, the district attorney may end the defendant’s placement in the program and begin prosecuting the case. The bill would also require each judicial district to enter into a memorandum of understanding regarding the Bridges Wraparound Care Program with district attorneys, public defenders, the Department of Human Services, the Behavioral Health Administration, treatment providers, local behavioral health case management programs, and local behavioral health case management programs to come up with how they will provide treatment to individuals found eligible for this program. Previous Next

The House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee today passed a bipartisan bill that would make state grant programs and tax credits more accessible. HB24-1287 passed unanimously by a vote of 8-0. < Back March 7, 2024 Bipartisan Rural Grant and Tax Credit Accessibility Bill Passes Committee DENVER, CO - The House State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Committee today passed a bipartisan bill that would make state grant programs and tax credits more accessible. HB24-1287 passed unanimously by a vote of 8-0. “From workforce to wildfire mitigation, we’ve created numerous grant programs and tax credits with the basic benefits of being a Colorado resident which frequently are unknown and unused,” said Rep. Bob Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch. “Through this legislation, we’re making grant program and tax credit information more accessible to everyone, especially in our rural communities, so we can connect more Coloradans with these resources.” HB24-1287 , also sponsored by Representative Matt Soper, R-Delta, would require state-funded or state-administered grant and tax credit opportunities to be made publicly accessible on a website. The bill would also create the Grant Assistance to Rural Communities Program to assist rural Coloradans in finding and applying for grants and tax credits. Previous Next

Bill will prohibit deceptive advertising by anti-abortion centers < Back March 9, 2023 JOINT RELEASE: Democrats Introduce Legislation to Crack Down on Deceptive Practices by Anti-Abortion Centers Bill will prohibit deceptive advertising by anti-abortion centers DENVER, CO – Democrats today introduced legislation sponsored by Senator Faith Winter, D-Westminster, and Senator Janice Marchman, D-Loveland, that will protect Coloradans seeking reproductive health care by prohibiting the use of deceptive advertising by anti-abortion centers (AACs). SB23-190 , also sponsored in the House by Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont, and Rep. Elisabeth Epps, D-Denver, further makes prescribing, offering, or facilitating an “medication abortion reversal” unprofessional conduct for licensed or certified health care providers. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists describes “medication abortion reversal” as “unproven and unethical,” and says that “claims regarding abortion ‘reversal’ treatment are not based on science and do not meet clinical standards'' of care. “We’ve made tremendous progress in Colorado to protect reproductive rights, but marginalized communities like people of color, low-income folks, young people, LGBTQIA+ communities, and immigrants still struggle to obtain the care they need - and AACs only make matters worse,” said Winter. “AACs use deceptive advertising practices to lure folks in and steer people away from abortions and other time-sensitive care by not providing them with the full, medically accurate spectrum of options. I’m proud of this legislation to crack down on AACs’ deceptive practices and make reproductive health care more attainable and equitable for all Coloradans.” “Every patient deserves access to accurate medical information and the ability to make their own informed decisions about their reproductive health care,” said McCormick. “This bill protects Coloradans from anti-abortion clinics that offer misleading, deceptive and inaccurate claims about reproductive health care and ‘medication abortion reversal’ - a dangerous practice that has been proven ineffective. Coloradans shouldn’t have to question whether or not the reproductive health care services they’re receiving are based on facts and science.” “Anti-abortion centers present themselves as legitimate family planning reproductive health care clinics, but these fake clinics use deceptive advertising to draw in vulnerable people seeking care to harass them with biased and inaccurate information about abortions and contraceptives,” Marchman said. “People who go to these clinics looking for help report being shamed and lied to – the exact opposite of the safe and accurate care we are beholden to protect as elected officials. The Safe Access to Reproductive Health Care Package is a proactive step we can take towards a future where Coloradans’ freedom to access essential and affirming reproductive health care is truly protected.” “Anti-abortion centers are predatory and often target communities of color, creating substantial barriers for people trying to access reproductive health care. These deceptive practices exacerbate the already disproportionate lack of access to critical health services for lower-income Coloradans,” said Epps. “The anti-abortion movement is spreading dangerous disinformation on abortion and reproductive health care. People should be able to trust their health care provider and anti-abortion clinics stand in the way of safe, factual reproductive health care." In Colorado, AACs outnumber abortion-providing clinics 51 to 20. Further, AACs particularly target locations that may lack a comprehensive clinic, often posting Spanish-language billboards in neighborhoods with large immigrant populations and offering free services to low-income communities. Anti-abortion centers are the on-the-ground presence of the national anti-abortion movement. Also known as crisis pregnancy centers, anti-abortion counseling centers, or fake clinics, AACs pose as comprehensive reproductive health care clinics to intercept patients seeking abortion care, provide false information, and prevent people from seeking abortions. Previous Next