Senate Joint Resolution 25-004
Page 1, Line 101Concerning the designation of January 22 as "Reproductive
Page 1, Line 102Rights and Justice Day".
Page 1, Line 1WHEREAS, On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court of the
Page 1, Line 2United States found in Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), that the United States Constitution protects the right to abortion; and
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Page 1, Line 4WHEREAS, On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United
Page 1, Line 5States overturned the precedent established by Roe v. Wade (1973) and
Page 1, Line 6Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pa. v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 (1992),
Page 1, Line 7ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, 142 S. Ct.
Page 1, Line 82228 (2022) that the United States Constitution "does not confer a right
Page 1, Line 9to abortion" and that "the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives"; and
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Page 2, Line 1WHEREAS, Justices Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan issued a
Page 2, Line 2dissenting opinion in Dobbs, stating, "Whatever the exact scope of the
Page 2, Line 3coming laws, one result of today's decision is certain: the curtailment of women's rights, and of their status as free and equal citizens"; and
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Page 2, Line 5WHEREAS, The surest protection against that curtailment of
Page 2, Line 6rights is now offered only by state legislatures and within state constitutions; and
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Page 2, Line 8WHEREAS, Upon the Dobbs decision and again on the following
Page 2, Line 9anniversary of the 1973 Roe ruling, tens of thousands of Coloradans
Page 2, Line 10across the political spectrum took to the streets throughout the state to express their disappointment and rage; and
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Page 2, Line 12WHEREAS, Overturning Roe has resulted in significant physical
Page 2, Line 13and mental trauma to, as well as significant financial burden on, people
Page 2, Line 14no longer able to access abortion care where they live and who must seek care elsewhere; and
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Page 2, Line 16WHEREAS, Marginalized groups have been systemically denied
Page 2, Line 17equal access to abortion even before Roe was overturned, especially
Page 2, Line 18Black, Latina, and Indigenous people of color; people with lower incomes; and people in remote, rural, or underserved areas; and
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Page 2, Line 20WHEREAS, On April 4, 2022, to secure the statutory right to
Page 2, Line 21abortion free from government interference in the face of the pending
Page 2, Line 22Dobbs decision, Governor Polis signed into law House Bill 22-1279
Page 2, Line 23passed by the Colorado General Assembly, titled the "Reproductive Health Equity Act" or "RHEA"; and
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Page 2, Line 25WHEREAS, On April 14, 2023, Governor Polis signed into law
Page 2, Line 26the package of three bills passed by the Colorado General Assembly titled
Page 2, Line 27the "Safe Access to Protected Health Care Package" or "SAPHC Package", which included Senate Bills 23-188, 23-189, and 23-190; and
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Page 2, Line 29WHEREAS, Senate Bill 23-188 codified protections for
Page 2, Line 30Colorado's patients, providers, and helpers of abortion and
Page 2, Line 31gender-affirming care against out-of-state prosecutions, civil lawsuits, investigations, and extradition claims; and
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Page 2, Line 33WHEREAS, Senate Bill 23-189 mandated that abortion be a
Page 2, Line 34covered service without deductibles, copays, or coinsurance under private
Page 3, Line 1health insurance plans, which protects Coloradans on private plans but
Page 3, Line 2not the hundreds of thousands of Coloradans on publicly funded insurance plans; and
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Page 3, Line 4WHEREAS, Senate Bill 23-190 categorized the deliberate false advertising of abortion services as a deceptive trade practice; and
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Page 3, Line 6WHEREAS, Colorado voters defeated fetal personhood
Page 3, Line 7amendments, which are total abortion bans, by 30% (Amendment 67) in
Page 3, Line 82014, by 41% (Amendment 62) in 2010, and by 46% (Amendment 48) in 2008; and
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Page 3, Line 10WHEREAS, In 2020, Colorado voters defeated Proposition 115,
Page 3, Line 11a 22-week abortion ban, by 18%, with more votes cast opposing it than President Biden received on the same ballot; and
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Page 3, Line 13WHEREAS, 61.97% of Colorado voters overwhelmingly approved
Page 3, Line 14the constitutional right to abortion, solidifying its protection and demonstrating strong public support; and
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Page 3, Line 16WHEREAS, Coloradans deserve the right to the full spectrum of
Page 3, Line 17reproductive health care and we must now enact the will of the voters; and
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Page 3, Line 19WHEREAS, We must enshrine the federal "Emergency Medical
Page 3, Line 20Treatment and Labor Act" (EMTALA) into state law to ensure that all
Page 3, Line 21Coloradans have access to essential, life-saving medical care, regardless
Page 3, Line 22of federal actions or policy changes, and to prevent gaps in care that could
Page 3, Line 23disproportionately impact vulnerable populations, including those
Page 3, Line 24experiencing medical emergencies or pregnancy-related complications; and
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Page 3, Line 26WHEREAS, We must strengthen our Shield Law to provide robust
Page 3, Line 27protections for individuals seeking, providing, or supporting abortion care
Page 3, Line 28in Colorado, ensuring their safety and privacy in the face of increasing threats and legal challenges from other states; and
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Page 3, Line 30WHEREAS, Enhanced protections are necessary to safeguard
Page 3, Line 31against the chilling effect of out-of-state legal actions, prevent the sharing
Page 3, Line 32of private health information across jurisdictions, and affirm Colorado's commitment to reproductive freedom; and
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Page 4, Line 1WHEREAS, Colorado was the first state in the nation to legalize
Page 4, Line 2abortion, and Colorado has since led the nation, at the ballot box and in
Page 4, Line 3the legislature, and should continue to lead the nation in protecting abortion access without restriction; and
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Page 4, Line 5Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Seventy-fifth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:
Page 4, Line 6That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly:
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Page 4, Line 8(1) Affirm Colorado will continue to protect reproductive rights
Page 4, Line 9and access to essential medical care, reaffirming its role as a national leader in advancing and safeguarding these fundamental freedoms; and
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Page 4, Line 11(2) Hereby designate January 22 of each year as "Reproductive Rights and Justice Day".