March 30, 2026 · 917 words · 5 speakers · 27 segments
I hereby call to order the review and comment hearing for the proposed initiative measures number 283, 284, and 285 concerning repealing the constitutional right to abortion ballot proposals. Today is Monday, March 30, 2026, and the time is 1 p.m. My name is Gerard Brown, Research Analyst with Legislative Council staff, and now we'll go around and identify ourselves for the record.
Chelsea Purcell with the Office of Legislative Legal Services.
Angela Eicher, co-proponent.
Faye Barnhart, co-proponent.
Colorado law requires the directors of the Colorado Legislative Council staff and the Office of Legislative Legal Services to review and comment on initiative petitions for proposed laws and amendments to the Colorado Constitution. The purpose of the review and comment requirement is to help proponents arrive at language that will accomplish their intent and to avail the public of knowledge of the contents of the proposal. As representatives of the legislative council staff and the office of legislative legal services our first objective is to make sure we understand your intent and objectives in proposing the law or amendment we hope that the statements and questions contained in the memorandum will provide a basis for discussion and understanding of your proposal this is meant to be an informal and conversational discussion of the memorandums submitted on tuesday march 24th 2026. before we get started are there any questions
No.
All right, and now each of us is going to, we're going to start with the substantive, the purpose first, and then the substantive comments and questions. I will read the first purpose. The purpose of the proposed amendment to the Colorado Constitution appears to be to repeal the constitutional right to abortion. Substantive comments and questions. The substance of the proposed initiative raises the following comments and questions. Number one, Article 5, Section 1, Subsection 5.5 of the Colorado Constitution requires all proposed initiatives to have a single subject. What is the single subject of proposed initiative number 283?
It is a direct repeal of Section 32 of Article 2 of the Colorado Constitution.
Number two, how does the repeal of Section 32 of Article 2 of the Colorado Constitution work with Section 25-6-403, subsection 2 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, which grants a pregnant woman the fundamental right to decide whether to continue a pregnancy and give birth or to have an abortion?
No effect.
Would you like to have the technical comments read aloud for the record?
Yes, please.
Number one, each proposed initiative must begin with an enacting clause shown in lowercase type and italicized. Then there's an example there. Number two, the amending clause for section one should say in the constitution of the state of Colorado repeal section 32 of article two as follows. Number three, every section of the Colorado constitution contains a head note. Head notes briefly describe the content of the section The head note should be included in the text of the proposed initiative For example in bold section 32 abortion period And then the struct text Number four, standard drafting language for an effective date clause is as follows. This act takes effect, parentheses, month, day, comma, year, in parentheses. Do you have any further comments or additional remarks you would like to make for the record? All right, moving on to number 284, also concerning a prohibition on the use of public funds for abortion services. purpose a major purpose of the proposed amendment to the colorado constitution appears to be to prohibit the use of public funds for abortion services substantive comments and questions the substance of the proposed initiative raises the following comments and questions number one article five section one subsection 5.5 of the colorado constitution requires all proposed initiatives to have a single subject what is the single subject of
proposed initiative number 284 no public funds shall be used for any procedure or
drug intended to cause death to a pre-born child number two what constitutes a pre-born child would you like to have the technical comments read aloud for the record
No, thank you.
Moving on to number 285 concerning repealing the limitation on the rights of a fertilized egg embryo or fetus the purpose for the major purpose of the proposed amendment to the colorado revised statutes appears to be to repeal the provision of law stating that a fertilized egg embryo or fetus does not have independent or derived rights under the laws of colorado substantive comments and questions the substance of the proposed initiative raises the following comments and questions Number one, Article 5, Section 1, Subsection 5.5 of the Colorado Constitution requires all proposed initiatives to have a single subject. What is the single subject of proposed initiative number 285?
It is a direct repeal of the listed subsection.
Number two, Colorado law sets various requirements for the use and implementation of fertilized eggs and embryos during in vitro fertilization. How does this proposed initiative impact those statutory requirements?
Thank you for the question, and we will consider that further.
Number three, what is the intended impact of this proposed initiative on individuals who must utilize in vitro fertilization to have a child?
And we will consider this question as well. Thank you.
Would you like to have the technical comments read aloud for the record?
No, thank you.
Do you have any further comments or additional marks you would like to make for the record?
No, thank you.
In that case, this meeting is hereby adjourned.