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Senate backs maternal-health bill after amending rights language and codifying task force
Summary
Senators adopted amendment L-008 to House Bill 10-44, replacing a proposed statement of rights with a required notice and broadening task-force representative language; floor debate emphasized racial disparities in maternal mortality and the bill’s training, reporting and data provisions.
The Colorado Senate adopted House Bill 10-44 on April 2 after approving amendment L-008, which altered the bill’s language on birthing-parent rights and adjusted the maternal health task force membership language.
Senator Exum described the amendment as a response to concerns from the governor’s office that the original language might create new legal rights for birthing parents. "This amendment modifies the statement of rights in the bill to a required notice which is informed birthing mothers about how to file complaints if they feel like they've been mistreated or discriminated against," Exum said, describing the change as addressing the governor’s concerns.
Sponsor discussion framed the bill as an effort to reduce deep racial disparities in maternal outcomes. Senator Benavidez cited national and state figures: "In 2023 ... out of 100,000 births ... for black mothers ... there's 50.3 deaths," Benavidez said, emphasizing how the bill would strengthen provider training, require data collection and reporting, and codify a 50-member maternal health task force within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to report to the General Assembly every three years.
The amendment L-008 was adopted by voice vote and sponsors asked for an aye vote on final passage; the bill was adopted on third reading. Supporters said the measure focuses on provider education, respectful maternity care and transparency; the bill includes reporting requirements on maternal health outcomes and specific language to ensure representation of populations with worse outcomes. Opponents and concerns cited in debate centered on legal implications of rights language and Governor's Office feedback that prompted the amendment.
The Senate passed the bill and moved on to other calendar items.
