House approves expansion of 'Right to Try' for individualized genetic treatments

The Colorado House adopted House Bill 12-70 to extend Right‑to‑Try access to individualized genetic treatments for patients with life‑threatening conditions. Sponsor Minority Leader Puglisi told the chamber the bill aims to close a gap in current law so patients — including children with rare disorders who have exhausted approved treatments and cannot join clinical trials — may request access to certain investigational therapies.

Puglisi described a mother’s account presented in committee in which one child had died while another was flown abroad for an investigational drug that had not cleared the U.S. Food and Drug Administration process. Puglisi said the bill “closes this loophole for individualized genetic treatments” while leaving existing Right‑to‑Try mechanisms and liability protections intact. The sponsor emphasized the bill does not impose mandates on insurers and does not create new liability for physicians.

Representative Gilchrist, a co-sponsor, urged support and said: “Right to Try is already law in Colorado. It’s already law at the federal level,” adding that the bill “is a critical step to ensure this population has all the available treatment options they need.” Representative Johnson offered personal testimony in favor, saying she had seen families turned away from investigational treatments and that expanding access could offer hope to patients and families.

There were no committee amendments and no extended floor opposition recorded. The chamber voice‑voted, and members recorded the bill as adopted during the floor sequence.