Colorado governor signs bill guaranteeing the right to an abortion regardless of SCOTUS decision
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As GOP states across the country make moves to ban abortion and restrict residents from obtaining essential health care services, some Democratic states are making moves of their own. Colorado’s governor signed HB 22-1279 on Monday to ensure that Coloradans who want reproductive care, including abortions, will be able to get it in the state. The bill will guarantee abortion access—regardless of whether the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade.
“In the State of Colorado, the serious decision to start or end a pregnancy with medical assistance will remain between a person, their doctor, and their faith,” Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement after signing the bill into law on Monday.
“This bill simply maintains the status quo regardless of what happens at the federal level and preserves all existing constitutional rights and obligations,” he added.
It took about 24 hours to pass the bill when it was proposed, according to House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar.
“It’s more important now than ever to protect women and people who choose to be pregnant or choose not to be pregnant across the state,” Esgar said.
Blue states are racing to pass legislation guaranteeing abortion protections, and GOP-majority states are passing their own bans as the Mississippi law makes its way to the Supreme Court. The Mississippi law has the ability to limit abortion rights across the country by overturning Roe v. Wade.
Similar to those of at least 15 other states that have codified the right to access abortion services, Colorado’s “Reproductive Health Equity Act” bans both local and state governments from interfering in reproductive health care.
Because of bans in other states, officials in Colorado are also planning for the possibility that neighboring state residents will travel across borders to seek care.
Across the country, GOP majority states have taken to targeting reproductive rights, with many passing their own versions of the Heartbeat Bill or similar abortion bans that severely limit when abortions are possible but disregard unusual circumstances, including rape.
The latest state to join this horrific trend is Oklahoma, whose lawmakers passed a bill to ban all abortions unless necessary to save a pregnant person’s life, beginning 30 days after conception. In addition to banning doctors from performing abortion procedures, the legislation passed Tuesday allows citizens to sue abortion providers for up to $10,000 if they help end a pregnancy, The Washington Post reported.