FC8193D01604515087258973006C1606 Hearing Summary

Senators Gonzales and Jaquez Lewis, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 23-188, concerning protections for accessing reproductive health care.  The bill sponsors explained how the bill shields legally protected providers. 

Committee members asked questions about the bill's necessity. 

Professor David Cohen, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. He discussed other state laws and constitutional concerns.

Lizzy Hinkley, representing the Center for Reproductive Rights, testified in support of the bill.  She discussed shield legislation in other states.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee about Constitutional requirements for extradition.

Dr. Thomas Perille, representing Democrats for Life of Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. He submitted written testimony to the committee (Attachment C).

Dr. Catherine Wheeler, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. She discussed the safety of certain health procedures. 

Brittany Vessely, representing the Colorado Catholic Conference, testified in opposition to the bill. She discussed federal law violations and religious organization exemptions.

Tamra Axworthy, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. She discussed protections for religious beliefs.

Nicole Hunt, representing Focus on the Family, testified in opposition to the bill.

Committee members asked questions about substandard care, First Amendment protections, and other provisions in the bill.  

Ms. Nadine Bridges, representing One Colorado, testified in support of the bill. She read testimony about access to critical health care.  

Lauren Miller, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.  She discussed travelling to Colorado for health care. 

Dr. Leilah Zahedi-Spung, representing Cobalt, testified in support of the bill.

Karen Middleton, representing Cobalt, testified in support of the bill.

Kathleen Riley, representing COLOR, testified in support of the bill.

Rebecca Cohen, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Nancy Fang, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Shannon Russell, representing Catholics for Choice, testified in support of the bill.

Scott Horak, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mrs Kristy Neeley, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

JoEllen Mitchell, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Pamela Anderson, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. She raised concerns about the lack of religious exemptions. 

Ian Rutherford, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. He discussed religious exemptions.  

Mr. Jeff Hunt, representing Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University, testified in opposition to the bill.

Briana Simmons, representing Soul 2 Soul Sisters, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Isadora Bielsky, representing National Council of Jewish Women, testified in support of the bill.

Jennifer White, representing Colorado Fertility Advocates and Bright Futures Families, testified in support of the bill.

Ms Ruby Lopez, representing Out Boulder County, testified in support of the bill.

Melisa Hidalgo-Cuellar, representing themself, testified to amend the bill.

Jack Teter, representing Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Sudria Twyman, representing National Women’s Law Center, testified in support of the bill.

They panelists answered questions from the committee.

Marilyn Gore, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Sandy Utes, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Laurelann Flahive, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Lori Goebel, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Joni Shepherd, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Commissioner Emma Pinter, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Anaya Robinson, representing ACLU of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Margaret Gomez, representing State Innovation Exchange, testified in support of the bill.

Katie Leonard, representing University of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Committee members asked questions to the panel about anti-trans laws in other states. 

Emma Pinter, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Leanna Gavin, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Dr Jonathan Hirshberg, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Yasaman Ahmadieh , representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Adora Bertero, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Maren Jacobsen, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Margo Harriman, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. 

 

Donna LaBelle, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Jennifer Allen, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Dobbs Steve, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment D).

Pelicanos, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Mrs. Ashley Blinkhorn, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Judith Hoechst, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Chelsea Augelli, representing Colorado Women's Bar Association, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Cassandra Roeca, representing Colorado Fertility Advocates, testified in support of the bill.

Adora Bertero, representing Colorado Women’s Bar Association, testified in support of the bill.

Dr Alison Wilson, representing Colorado Fertility Advocates, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Thalia Oster, representing Colorado League of Women Voters, testified in support of the bill.

Amanda, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Mrs. Maya Blasingame, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Kathleen Laird, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Written testimony about Senate Bill 23-188 may be found in Attachment E.

 

Senator Gonzales distributed and explained Amendment L.001, which provides clarifying language for insurance pruposes (Attachment F). 

Senator Jaquez Lewis distributed and explained  Amendment L. 003 regarding licensures (Attachment G).

Senator Gonzales distributed and explained Amendment L. 005 which addresses religious beliefs and practices (Attachment H). 

The bill sponsors made closing remarks.

Committee members made closing remarks.