{"id":371915,"date":"2016-03-31T21:34:36","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:34:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/colorado-law\/colorado-abortion-laws.html"},"modified":"2024-07-12T17:55:47","modified_gmt":"2024-07-12T22:55:47","slug":"colorado-abortion-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/colorado-law\/colorado-abortion-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Colorado Abortion Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n \n
\n

Colorado Abortion Laws<\/h1>\n
\n
\n By John Mascolo, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by John Mascolo, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
\n

The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Abortion is legal in Colorado through all stages of pregnancy.<\/p>\r\n

Colorado Abortion Laws After <\/b>Dobbs<\/i><\/h2>\r\n

Few topics can create as heated a debate as a discussion on abortion<\/a>. People on both sides, whether pro-choice or pro-life, often feel adamant that state and federal reproductive laws should follow their moral or religious views.<\/p>\r\n

In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ended the federal constitutional right to abortion in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization<\/i><\/a>.<\/i> In the 6-3 decision, the majority overturned the precedent of Roe v. Wade<\/i>, the 1973 case that found that the U.S. Constitution contained a right to privacy that included decisions related to abortion. The Court’s decision returned the authority to restrict or ban abortion in America back to the individual states<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

But, the Dobbs<\/i> case had no impact on abortion services in Colorado. In 2022, Colorado lawmakers enacted a law that makes abortion legal in Colorado<\/a> at all stages of pregnancy.<\/p>\r\n

The Reproductive Health Equity Act<\/h2>\r\n

On April 4, 2022, Gov. Jared Polis signed the Reproductive Health Equity Act<\/a> into law. Democratic members in the state legislature had backed the law to head off the likely overturn of Roe<\/i> by the U.S. Supreme Court.<\/p>\r\n

Anticipating that the abortion issue would return to the states, Colorado followed the lead of many other states that put clear protections for abortion access into state law. The law says:<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  1. That every person has a fundamental right to make decisions about reproductive health care, including to use or refuse contraceptives.<\/li>\r\n
  2. A pregnant person has a fundamental right to continue a pregnancy and give birth or to have an abortion and to make decisions about how to exercise that right.<\/li>\r\n
  3. A fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus does not have independent or derivative rights under the state’s laws.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    The law also bans any public entity from interfering with or denying a person’s reproductive rights and bans prosecution of any natural or legal person for providing or assisting someone with reproductive health care.<\/p>\r\n

    In 2023, the state enacted further protections for those seeking abortion care. This included new laws that:<\/p>\r\n