New Law Guarantees Emergency Room Care for Coloradans, Including Abortion Care, Despite Trump Administration Withdrawing Federal Protections
Bill Sponsors Weigh In on SB 25-130, Federal Action
Denver – Thanks to a new state law passed earlier this year, Coloradans are still guaranteed emergency room care, including abortion care, despite the Trump Administration announcing yesterday it rescinded guidance protecting hospitals that provide emergency abortions under federal law.
Gov Polis signed SB 25-130, “Providing Emergency Medical Services”, into law on May 14. It guarantees emergency room care in Colorado, including abortion and miscarriage care, regardless of current uncertainty at the federal level. The legislation also includes enforcement mechanisms that ensure Colorado isn’t beholden to the Trump Administration when enforcing laws related to emergency medical service, including abortion care. Colorado is the first state in the nation to have independent enforcement of this federal law.
“Just as we did with the Reproductive Health Equity Act in advance of the Dobbs decision, we took proactive action to ensure Coloradans are protected regardless of what happens at the federal level,” said Cobalt President Karen Middleton. “Colorado voters gave us a mandate in November on reproductive health care, and SB 130 reflects that mandate. We should be proud of Colorado’s leadership on ensuring everyone can get the health care they need and deserve in the emergency room.”
“As someone who lives in rural Colorado, it matters that we are able to get the same standard of emergency care as everyone else,“ said Cobalt Political Director Kiera Hatton Sena. “People should be guaranteed the health care they need at the nearest ER without having to worry about a facility’s religious affiliation or the individual beliefs of a provider. With the chaos in the courts, the federal government abandoning its commitment to enforce federal law, and nothing protecting pregnant people in the ER in Colorado law, Colorado had to take action to ensure patients here are protected, no matter where they live.”
SB 25-130 was sponsored by Senadora Julie Gonzales and Senator Mike Weissman in the Senate and Representatives Meg Froelich and Yara Zokaie in the House.
According to Sen Gonzales, “It’s a terrible feeling to get confirmation that Trump chose cruelty when faced with the opportunity to protect American women seeking reproductive healthcare in emergency rooms. Knowing that Trump’s abandonment of the federal EMTALA guidance will mean needless pain, suffering, and death for American women who live in states where these protections do not exist spurred us to be bold and relentless in our efforts to proactively pass SB25-130. Trump chose chaos; Colorado instead chose care. I’m proud of our work here at the state level, but if I’m being honest I’m also furious that we had to do it in the first place.”
Sen Weissman: “This inevitable backward move in terms of access to emergency abortion care was entirely foreseeable from the reactionary federal administration and it’s exactly why we brought forth Senate Bill 130 in the state legislature this year. With individual rights of all kinds continually under attack from Washington, Colorado can and must continue to act to preserve them in state law for all of our residents. I am proud to have been part of passing SB 130 this year and I will continue to stand forward to protect abortion rights from federal attacks.”
Said Rep Froelich: “It is imperative that we safeguard Coloradans from disastrous and cruel Federal actions. Senate Bill 230 protects pregnant Coloradans seeking emergency care from this dangerous Executive Order.”
Concluded Rep Zokaie: “By ending enforcement of the EMTALA, the Trump administration is letting extremist government bureaucrats block doctors from saving the lives of their patients. We knew that Republican attacks on reproductive rights were coming and that’s why we passed SB 25-130, guaranteeing all patients the right to emergency medical services, regardless of race, gender, documentation status, or income. Amidst nationwide MAGA attacks on abortion care, Colorado will continue to protect the bodily autonomy of all people.”
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Cobalt is a grassroots, statewide Colorado organization that advances abortion access and reproductive rights. Our organization began in 1967 when Colorado became the first state to allow safe, legal abortion. Cobalt believes nothing should stand between you and your health decisions, which is why we are dedicated to fighting for systems, structures and policies that protect reproductive rights and guarantee comprehensive, universal access to reproductive healthcare, including abortion.