The Colorado House adopted Senate Bill 183 on third reading April 6, 2025, requiring the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to cover abortion care services with state funds for Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus enrollees and requiring state and local government employee health plans to include abortion coverage.

Supporters said the bill implements Amendment 79 by making reproductive care accessible to people who rely on public programs. Representative Brooks, speaking in explanation of the bill, said the measure “requires what we refer to as HCPF, the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, to cover abortion care services for Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus participants using state funds” and cited an appropriation of roughly $3,000,000 in initial funding in the fiscal note.

Opponents argued that the ballot language for Amendment 79 did not make clear that taxpayer dollars would be used and raised fiscal and moral objections. Representative Johnson said, “I rise in strong opposition to this bill,” and urged that voters did not anticipate automatic state funding; several other members warned of ongoing costs and potential impacts on state budgeting and Medicaid priorities.

Debate focused on several recurring points: whether Amendment 79 required state-funded coverage (several speakers noted the constitutional change removed a prohibition but did not mandate spending), the accuracy and methodology of the fiscal note and the legislative council’s estimates about “averted births,” and whether the bill could increase state expenditures by shifting federal funding mixes. Representative Weinberg framed the question as one of access and equity, arguing that “a right is only a right if it is actually accessible.” Representative Richardson and others questioned whether the bill abandons the Legislature’s annual appropriations role by authorizing ongoing expenditures.

Members also raised nonfiscal concerns: the effect on faith-based employers (the bill includes limited opt-outs for some religious employers), public perception of the ballot measure used to enact Amendment 79, and whether the state should first invest in prenatal care, adoption services, and parenting supports. Multiple members urged more time, transparency, or sending the issue back to voters; others argued that the will of the voters required statutory implementation.

On the final vote, the House adopted the bill. The formal action recorded in the House minutes shows an affirmative third‑reading passage.

Votes at a glance: Senate Bill 183 — Adopted on third reading (final passage). (See actions and provenance below for recorded tally and linked transcript excerpts.)

Background: Amendment 79, passed by Colorado voters in 2024, repealed a prior constitutional prohibition on use of public funds for abortion; several speakers noted the amendment’s ballot language and debated whether passage of SB183 was required to implement the amendment or represented an additional policy choice.

What’s next: The bill was adopted by the House on April 6, 2025; the text and implementing rules will be handled by the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing and subject to any subsequent fiscal process required by law.