Colorado House Approves Bill to Stock Abortion Pills on College Campuses

Colorado’s state House took a bold step Monday toward expanding abortion access by passing House Bill 1335, which would mandate that most public and private colleges with health centers stock abortion medications for students. The measure passed 41-22, with Democrats nearly unanimous in support and Republicans opposed, underscoring the partisan clash over reproductive rights.

If the bill becomes law, effective August 1, 2027, colleges with on-site pharmacies must offer the standard abortion pill regimen—typically mifepristone followed by misoprostol—either through direct dispensing or prescriptions. For campuses without pharmacies, health providers would supply the pills or prescriptions to be filled elsewhere. The bill includes exemptions for institutions citing religious objections or risk of losing grant funding, and it requires compliance with any future federal restrictions on abortion medications.

Rep. Lorena Garcia, the bill’s sponsor, emphasized that the legislation responds to student voices seeking reliable, nearby abortion care. Testimonies from students at University of Colorado and Colorado State University highlighted real struggles—travel, cost, and misinformation—that made accessing abortion care difficult and isolating. “This bill is nothing more than making sure that the constitutional right… is made accessible,” Garcia said.

Republicans criticized the bill, warning of potential side effects from abortion pills and pushing for adoption information to be equally promoted. Rep. Rebecca Keltie attempted to amend the bill to restrict funding for promoting abortion pill availability, a move that failed. The lone Democratic dissenter, Rep. Bob Marshall, argued that the bill was unnecessary given other access points for abortion pills.

On the same day, the House passed another bill, HB-1276, aimed at increasing transparency and oversight of immigration enforcement, including public disclosure when the state receives federal immigration subpoenas and limiting ICE access to nonpublic jail areas. Both bills now head to the Senate as Colorado continues to navigate contentious debates over civil rights and government accountability.

This legislation is a clear signal that, even as abortion rights face nationwide attacks, some states are doubling down on protections—especially for young people navigating complex health decisions on campus. The fight over HB-1335 is far from over, but Monday’s vote marks a significant victory for reproductive justice advocates in Colorado.