Abhortion · State legal snapshot
Protected; no gestational limit. Colorado has no gestational limit on abortion; the right is protected by both statute and the state constitution, and abortion is legal at all stages…
§ I · Gestational limit
│ Abortion legal at all stages · Colo. Const. art. II, § 32
§ II · Restriction inventory — 15 checked, 1 in force
●Gestational banNone
●In-person visitsNone
●Method-specific banNone (state)
●Physician-only lawNone
◐Parental notificationIn force
●Telehealth prescribing banNone
●Waiting periodNone
●Spousal consent or noticeNone
●Abortion trafficking lawNone
●Scripted counselingNone
●Civil bounty (SB8-style)None
●Private insurance restrictionNone
●Ultrasound requirementNone
●Pill-mailing banNone
●Self-managed abortion crimeNone
§ III · Access
Criminal exposure
Procedure
Coverage & interstate
Available now
Yes
Pregnant person
Expressly exempt
Waiting period
0 hours
Medicaid
Broader than Hyde
Medication · telehealth
Legal · telehealth allowed
Self-managed
Not a crime
Compelled visits
0 in person
Private insurance
No state restriction
Who may perform
Physicians & APCs
Provider max penalty
None
Minors
Parental notification
Shield state
Yes
Mailing pills
Not banned
Fetal homicide law
Yes · abortion carved out
Judicial bypass
Available
Major pending change
Yes · see p. 2
✓ Abolition-aligned — forbids abortion or imposes liability◐ Partial — a hurdle, an enjoined law, or a carve-out● No restriction○ Unclear or not applicable
§ IV · Why it is legal — governing authorities
Colorado Constitution Article II, Section 32, Colo. Const. art. II, § 32 — Enshrines the right to abortion in the Colorado Constitution, prohibiting government…
■Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA), C.R.S. §§ 25-6-401 to -407 — Codifies the fundamental statutory right to abortion, defines its scope, and prohibits…
■Offenses Against Pregnant Women, C.R.S. §§ 18-3.5-101 to -110 — Criminalizes third-party violence causing pregnancy loss while expressly exempting…
“The right to abortion is hereby recognized. Government shall not deny, impede, or discriminate against the exercise of that right, including prohibiting health insurance coverage for abortion.”— Colo. Const. art. II, § 32
Fetal personhood — how the law treats the unborn
● C.R.S. § 25-6-403(3)
“A fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus does not have independent or derivative rights under the laws of this state.”
No fetal personhood; express denial
→
● Exempt · pregnant woman
Expressly exempt from prosecution
● Carved out · abortion
Abortion is not chargeable under the homicide statutes.
✓ Reached · third parties
Fetal homicide, but no personhood
Colorado's treatment of fetal personhood is internally consistent in a way that few states have achieved. Wrongful death: Available for viable fetus only.
§ V · Criminal exposure by actor
●
Pregnant woman
Expressly exempt from prosecution
●
Physician
No criminal exposure
●
Non-physician prescriber
No criminal exposure
●
Helpers · funds
No criminal exposure
●
Travel helpers
Legal; no travel restrictions
●
Civil bounty
No civil bounty law
✓ the actor faces criminal or civil exposure under state law · ● no exposure · ○ unclear or theoretical
Penalties on the books — top 3
§ VI · How the law got here ● court ■ statute ◆ executive / agency
Governor Polis signed HB22-1279, the Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA), codifying the fundamental right to…
6 Jul 2022◆Governor Polis issued Executive Order D 2022-013, directing state agencies to protect access to reproductive health…
14 Apr 2023■Governor Polis signed SB23-188, the interstate shield law, barring Colorado agencies from assisting out-of-state…
14 Apr 2023■Governor Polis signed SB23-189, requiring large-employer health benefit plans to cover the total cost of abortion…
5 Nov 2024■Colorado voters approved Amendment 79 by 61.97%, enshrining the right to abortion in the Colorado Constitution (art.
13 Feb 2025■SB25-129, strengthening Colorado's shield law with clawback civil actions, subpoena safeguards, and…
6 Mar 2025■SB25-183, expanding Medicaid to cover abortion care and appropriating nearly $3 million from the general fund, passed…
§ VII · Exceptions matrix
Named in law: ◐ the exception is written into the ban · ✓ no such exception · ● no ban for an exception to operate against. Verified (neutral): ✓ quoted text confirmed at source · ◐ semi-verified · ○ verify before publication · — not applicable.
§ VIII · Shield law & interstate
● Shield state
Robust shield protections
● Travel unrestricted
Travel fully permitted
● Telehealth prescribing allowed
Telehealth fully permitted
● Pill mailing not banned
Legal; no mailing prohibition
● Funding help protected
Legal; no funding restrictions
● Providing information
Legal; First Amendment protected
Interstate postureColorado has enacted comprehensive shield laws protecting providers, patients, and helpers from out-of-state investigations, subpoenas, extradition, professional discipline, and civil actions related…
§ IX · Who pays
Medicaid covers abortion
Life
Hyde · federal
Rape
Hyde · federal
Incest
Hyde · federal
Medically necessary
State-only funds
Insurance must cover abortion
ACA plans must cover abortion
●State funds abortion providers
§ X · Pending changes status and effect as recorded — no forecast
Cohen v. ColoradoPending; motion to dismiss filed by defendants. Plaintiffs assert that the parental notification requirement…
If successful, could invalidate Colorado's parental notification requirement for minors, removing the last remaining abortion restriction in Colorado law.
Ballot measureInitiative #226 (2025-2026)Title Board set ballot title on February 18, 2026; motion for rehearing filed. Has not yet gathered…
Would amend the Colorado Constitution to provide that 'all human beings, from the moment of fertilization until birth, shall not be deprived of life without due process…
§ XI · Key authorities ● case ■ statute ◆ agency
■Colorado Constitution Article II, Section 32 Colo. Const. art. II, § 32
■Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA) C.R.S. §§ 25-6-401 to -407
■Offenses Against Pregnant Women C.R.S. §§ 18-3.5-101 to -110
■Colorado Parental Notification Act C.R.S. §§ 13-22-701 to -708
■Interstate Shield Law (SB23-188) C.R.S. §§ 24-116-101 to -102
■Medication Abortion Cross-Border Shield C.R.S. § 18-13-133
■Insurance Coverage Mandate (SB23-189) C.R.S. § 10-16-104(26)(a)
■Medicaid Abortion Coverage (SB25-183) SB25-183, 2025 Colo. Sess. Laws
●Espadero v. Feld 649 F. Supp. 1480 (D. Colo. 1986)
●Planned Parenthood of Rocky Mountains Services Corp.… 287 F.3d 910 (10th Cir. 2002)
■Amendment 79 (2024) Colorado Amendment 79, Right to Abortion and Health…