HB26-1044 • 2026

Measures to Improve Black Maternal Health Equity

The bill requires measures to improve equity in maternal health, including: Requiring the Colorado medical board to consider, as part of its stakeholder process for continuing medical education, a req

Education Healthcare Privacy

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Rep. R. English, Rep. J. Joseph, Sen. A. Benavidez, Sen. T. Exum, Rep. N. Ricks, Rep. J. Bacon, Rep. A. Boesenecker, Rep. K. Brown, Rep. S. Camacho, Rep. M. Carter, Rep. C. Clifford, Rep. M. Duran, Rep. L. Goldstein, Rep. J. Jackson, Rep. S. Lieder, Rep. M. Lindsay, Rep. J. McCluskie, Rep. K. Nguyen, Rep. J. Phillips, Rep. M. Rutinel, Rep. E. Sirota, Rep. T. Story, Rep. B. Titone, Rep. E. Velasco, Rep. J. Willford, Sen. J. Amabile, Sen. M. Ball, Sen. J. Bridges, Sen. J. Coleman, Sen. L. Cutter, Sen. J. Danielson, Sen. L. Daugherty, Sen. J. Gonzales, Sen. N. Hinrichsen, Sen. I. Jodeh, Sen. C. Kipp, Sen. C. Kolker, Sen. J. Marchman, Sen. K. Mullica, Sen. D. Roberts, Sen. R. Rodriguez, Sen. M. Snyder, Sen. K. Wallace, Sen. M. Weissman
Last action: 2026-04-07
Official status: House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text includes additional details on penalties for non-compliance that were not present in the candidate explanation.

Measures to Improve Black Maternal Health Equity

This bill requires healthcare providers and facilities in Colorado to take steps that improve maternal health equity for Black birthing parents.

What This Bill Does

Requires physicians, nurses, and nurse aides whose primary practice is obstetrics to complete at least one continuing education credit hour on cultural competence and equity in maternal care.
Authorizes the state's public health department to provide a health survey to additional new mothers beyond those currently surveyed.
Mandates hospitals providing labor and childbirth services to make available information about respectful maternity care principles, including rights and components such as freedom from harm, privacy, informed consent, and allowing birthing companions.
Requires the maternal health task force established by CDPHE to include at least one Black maternal health advocate.
Mandates annual reporting on maternal health outcomes and equity, focusing particularly on disparities for Black birthing parents.

Who It Names or Affects

Healthcare providers who work with pregnant women in Colorado
Hospitals and other healthcare facilities that provide childbirth services
New mothers and their companions in Colorado

Terms To Know

Cultural competence: Understanding, respecting, and effectively working with people from different cultural backgrounds.
Maternal health equity: Ensuring that all pregnant women receive fair and equal healthcare regardless of their background or circumstances.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the new requirements will be enforced.
It is unclear if there are enough resources to implement all aspects of the bill effectively.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

L.001

HOU Health & Human Services

Passed [*]

Plain English: The amendment changes Colorado law to require the medical board to create rules that emphasize cultural competence and equity in maternal care as part of continuing medical education for doctors.

Adds a requirement for the Colorado medical board to consider specific CME credit hours related to health disparities, reproductive health, gender-based health care, cultural competence and equity in maternal care, and bias during its stakeholder process.
Modifies existing rules to include an emphasis on cultural competence and equity in accordance with another section of law.

The exact number and frequency of CME credit hours are not specified in the amendment text.

L.002

HOU Health & Human Services

Passed [*]

Plain English: The amendment changes the bill to require health facilities to provide birthing parents with a statement of their rights by January 1, 2027.

Replaces 'OR ALL PEOPLE' with 'INDIVIDUALS'.
Adds new section (1.5) requiring health facilities to electronically and in print upon request, provide birthing parents and their companions or family members a statement of rights by January 1, 2027.
Removes existing lines on page 5 and specific lines on page 6.

The exact details removed from pages 5 and 6 are not provided in the amendment text.

L.003

HOU Health & Human Services

Passed [*]

Plain English: The amendment removes specific parts of the bill related to maternal health equity requirements.

Removes certain sections from pages 4, 6, and 13 that were part of the original bill text.
Eliminates all content on pages 7 through 12.
Strikes out specific lines on page 14.

The exact details removed from the bill are not provided, making it hard to know what was in those sections before removal.

L.005

HOU Health & Human Services

Passed [*]

Plain English: The amendment changes how a specific section of the bill is worded to include funding conditions for a task force and alters where a report should be submitted.

Changes 'THE' to 'SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE GRANT FUNDING FOR THE TASK FORCE, THE' in the bill text on page 14, line 2.
Removes lines 10 and 11 of page 14 and replaces them with new wording that specifies where a report should be submitted.

The amendment's technical changes might not clearly explain the full impact on the bill's requirements without additional context.
It is unclear what specific lines are being removed or their exact content, which limits understanding of the full scope of the change.

L.006

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes when certain reports about maternal health must be submitted to the House.

Changes the reporting deadline for a specific period from an unspecified date to July 1, 2025.

The original text is incomplete and unclear, making it hard to fully explain all changes without guessing.

L.008

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes the bill to require health facilities to provide birthing parents with a notice about their rights and protections during childbirth.

Replaces 'Statement of rights of' with 'Required notice to' in the bill text.
Modifies the content of the required notice to include information on discrimination, unprofessional conduct or negligent medical care, unsafe conditions, violation of privacy laws, and specific visitation rights for birthing companions or doulas.
Adds a requirement for the Colorado maternal mortality review committee to represent populations with the worst maternal mortality outcomes in Colorado.

The amendment text is complex and includes many detailed changes that may be difficult to summarize fully without additional context.

Bill History

2026-04-07 House
House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily
2026-04-06 Senate
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
2026-04-02 Senate
Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor
2026-04-01 Senate
Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 04/02/2026 - No Amendments
2026-03-31 Senate
Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 04/01/2026 - No Amendments
2026-03-26 Senate
Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
2026-03-06 Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human Services
2026-03-03 House
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
2026-03-02 House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
2026-02-25 House
House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
2026-01-14 House
Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services

Official Summary Text

The bill requires measures to improve equity in maternal health, including:
Requiring
the Colorado medical board to consider, as part of its stakeholder process for continuing medical education, a requirement that
a physician
nurse, or nurse aide whose primary practice is in the area of obstetrics to
complete
at least one
continuing
medical
education
credit hour
on the topic of cultural competence and equity in maternal care;

Requiring the state board of nursing rules relating to continuing education to include rules relating to health-care provider attention to cultural competence and equity in providing health-care services;
Authorizing the department of public health and environment (CDPHE), subject to available appropriations, to provide a health survey to
all

additional
birthing parents,
beyond those currently surveyed,
and to compile the data;
Requiring a health facility that provides labor and childbirth services to
publicly display in birthing areas

make available to a birthing parent and a birthing parent's companion, electronically or in writing,
a statement on respectful maternity care regarding
principles

rights
and components, including freedom from harm, privacy and confidentiality, informed consent, and allowing a birthing parent to have a birthing companion present at the birth, and
to make available information, including telephone contact information, for the appropriate state or federal agency to receive a complaint that alleges discrimination in labor and childbirth services;

Subject to available federal grant funding for the

requiring that the
maternal health task force established by CDPHE,
ensuring that the maternal health task force
includes at least one Black maternal health advocate; and
Requiring CDPHE to report
annually
to the general assembly
rather than
every 3 years concerning maternal health outcomes and equity, including outcomes for Black birthing parents and suspected or known causes of any disparate outcomes for Black birthing parents.

In addition, the bill requires a health facility to report to CDPHE incidents of severe maternal morbidity or death of a birthing parent for which there is reasonable cause for the health facility to believe that racial discrimination, implicit or explicit bias, negligent clinical decision-making, denial of care, or other inequitable treatment (discriminatory or negligent misconduct) contributed to the severe maternal morbidity or death. CDPHE is required to investigate such incidents and report to the applicable regulatory board (regulator) if the investigation reveals that a health-care practitioner may have engaged in the discriminatory or negligent misconduct.

In addition to other penalties, the bill authorizes a regulator to impose and collect monetary penalties against a health-care practitioner that is found to have engaged in the discriminatory or negligent misconduct that led to severe maternal morbidity or death.

If a health facility has engaged in discriminatory practices, failed to follow evidence-based standards of obstetric care, or refused to act on known symptoms that resulted in severe maternal morbidity or death, CDPHE may revoke or suspend the health facility's license and impose and collect a monetary penalty of up to $250,000 per violation.

Those monetary penalties are deposited into the maternal health equity improvement fund created in the bill and will be used to provide support to families after preventable severe maternal morbidity or death and for other activities that are intended to reduce adverse maternal health outcomes.

The bill requires CDPHE's office of health equity to report aggregated and de-identified data concerning the incidents of discriminatory or negligent misconduct that resulted in preventable severe maternal morbidity or death.
(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REREVISED
This Version Includes All Amendments
Adopted in the Second House
LLS NO. 26-0029.01 Brita Darling x2241 HOUSE BILL 26-1044
House Committees Senate Committees
Health & Human Services Health & Human Services
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING MEASURES TO IMPROVE EQUITY IN MATERNAL HEALTH.101
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill requires measures to improve equity in maternal health,
including:
! Requiring a physician, nurse, or nurse aide whose primary
practice is in the area of obstetrics to complete at least one
continuing education credit hour on the topic of cultural
competence and equity in maternal care;
! Authorizing the department of public health and
environment (CDPHE), subject to available appropriations,
SENATE
3rd Reading Unamended
April 6, 2026
SENATE
Amended 2nd Reading
April 2, 2026
HOUSE
Amended 2nd Reading
March 2, 2026
HOUSE
3rd Reading Unamended
March 3, 2026
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
English and Joseph, Ricks, Bacon, Boesenecker, Brown, Camacho, Carter, Clifford,
Duran, Goldstein, Jackson, Lieder, Lindsay, McCluskie, Nguyen, Phillips, Rutinel, Sirota,
Story, Titone, Velasco, Willford
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Exum and Benavidez, Amabile, Ball, Bridges, Coleman, Cutter, Danielson, Daugherty,
Gonzales J., Hinrichsen, Jodeh, Kipp, Kolker , Marchman, Mullica, Roberts, Rodriguez,
Snyder, Wallace, Weissman
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
to provide a health survey to all birthing parents and to
compile the data;
! Requiring a health facility that provides labor and
childbirth services to publicly display in birthing areas a
statement on respectful maternity care regarding principles
and components, including freedom from harm, privacy,
informed consent, and allowing a birthing parent to have a
birthing companion present at the birth;
! Requiring that the maternal health task force established by
CDPHE includes at least one Black maternal health
advocate; and
! Requiring CDPHE to report annually to the general
assembly, rather than every 3 years, concerning maternal
health outcomes and equity, including outcomes for Black
birthing parents and suspected or known causes of any
disparate outcomes for Black birthing parents.
In addition, the bill requires a health facility to report to CDPHE
incidents of severe maternal morbidity or death of a birthing parent for
which there is reasonable cause for the health facility to believe that racial
discrimination, implicit or explicit bias, negligent clinical
decision-making, denial of care, or other inequitable treatment
(discriminatory or negligent misconduct) contributed to the severe
maternal morbidity or death. CDPHE is required to investigate such
incidents and report to the applicable regulatory board (regulator) if the
investigation reveals that a health-care practitioner may have engaged in
the discriminatory or negligent misconduct.
In addition to other penalties, the bill authorizes a regulator to
impose and collect monetary penalties against a health-care practitioner
that is found to have engaged in the discriminatory or negligent
misconduct that led to severe maternal morbidity or death.
If a health facility has engaged in discriminatory practices, failed
to follow evidence-based standards of obstetric care, or refused to act on
known symptoms that resulted in severe maternal morbidity or death,
CDPHE may revoke or suspend the health facility's license and impose
and collect a monetary penalty of up to $250,000 per violation.
Those monetary penalties are deposited into the maternal health
equity improvement fund created in the bill and will be used to provide
support to families after preventable severe maternal morbidity or death
and for other activities that are intended to reduce adverse maternal health
outcomes.
The bill requires CDPHE's office of health equity to report
aggregated and de-identified data concerning the incidents of
discriminatory or negligent misconduct that resulted in preventable severe
maternal morbidity or death.
1044-2-
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-240-130.5,2
amend (7) introductory portion and (7)(b)(II) as follows:3
12-240-130.5. Continuing medical education - requirement -4
compliance - legislative declaration - rules - definitions.5
(7) The board shall promulgate ADOPT rules necessary to6
implement a physician CME requirement in accordance with this section.7
In addition to any other rules, the board shall adopt rules:8
(b) (II) The board shall initiate a stakeholder process to consider9
requiring, for general practice and for all specialties, specific CME credit10
hours relating to health disparities and outcomes data; reproductive,11
sexual, and gender-based health care; CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND12
EQUITY IN MATERNAL CARE; and explicit and implicit bias, including the13
number and frequency of CME credit hours.14
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 12-255-12915
as follows:16
12-255-129. Continuing education - rules.17
In addition to any other authority conferred upon the board by18
this part 1, the board is authorized to require no more than twenty hours19
of continuing education every two years as a condition of renewal of20
licenses and to establish procedures and standards for the educational21
requirements. The board shall, to assure that the continuing education22
requirements imposed do not have the effect of restraining competition23
among providers of the education, recognize a variety of alternative24
means of compliance with the requirements. The board shall adopt rules25
that are necessary to carry out the provisions of this section in accordance26
1044-3-
with article 4 of title 24, INCLUDING RULES THAT EMPHASIZE ATTENTION1
TO CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND EQUITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION2
12-30-119.3
4
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-1.5-701, add (3)5
as follows:6
25-1.5-701. Health survey for birthing parents.7
(3) I N ADDITION TO THE MULTIYEAR SURVEY DESCRIBED IN8
SUBSECTIONS (1) AND (2) OF THIS SECTION , SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE9
APPROPRIATIONS, THE DEPARTMENT MAY IMPLEMENT A STANDARDIZED,10
ANONYMOUS SURVEY OF ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUALS IN COLORADO WHO11
HAVE RECENTLY GIVEN BIRTH . THE SURVEY MAY COVER HEALTH AND12
SAFETY TOPICS, AS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (1) OF THIS SECTION , OR13
ADDITIONAL TOPICS. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DETERMINE THE FORMAT14
FOR THE SURVEY AND MAY DESIGN THE SURVEY SO THAT THE SURVEY MAY15
BE TAKEN, AND RESULTS MAY BE COMPILED, ELECTRONICALLY.16
SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-3-126, add (1.5)17
as follows:18
25-3-126. Health facilities - health-care practitioners -19
requirements related to labor and childbirth - rules - definitions.20
(1.5) Required notice to birthing parents.21
(a) NO LATER THAN JANUARY 1, 2027, A HEALTH FACILITY SHALL22
MAKE ELECTRONICALLY AVAILABLE TO A BIRTHING PARENT AND A23
BIRTHING PARENT'S COMPANION OR FAMILY MEMBER, IF APPLICABLE, AND24
IN PRINT IF REQUESTED:25
(I) A REQUIRED NOTICE TO BIRTHING PARENTS OF THE26
COMPONENTS OF RESPECTFUL LABOR AND CHILDBIRTH, INCLUDING:27
1044-4-
(A) A BIRTHING PARENT'S RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM HARM AND1
MISTREATMENT;2
(B) RESPECT FOR A BIRTHING PARENT'S DIGNITY, PRIVACY, AND3
CONFIDENTIALITY;4
(C) A BIRTHING PARENT'S RIGHT TO INFORMED CHOICE AND5
CONSENT;6
(D) THE RIGHT TO HAVE A BIRTHING COMPANION AND A FAMILY7
MEMBER WITH THE BIRTHING PARENT DURING BIRTH;8
(E) EQUITABLE AND HIGH-QUALITY CARE FOR A BIRTHING PARENT9
THAT IS EVIDENCE-BASED, FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION, AND CULTURALLY10
SENSITIVE; AND11
(F) E FFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, DURING WHICH HEALTH -CARE12
PRACTITIONERS INTRODUCE THEMSELVES, EXPLAIN THEIR ROLES , AND13
WELCOME QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS FROM A BIRTHING PARENT OR THE14
BIRTHING PARENT'S BIRTHING COMPANION OR FAMILY MEMBER; AND15
(II) I NFORMATION, INCLUDING TELEPHONE CONTACT 16
INFORMATION, CONCERNING WHERE TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE17
APPROPRIATE STATE OR FEDERAL OFFICE OR AGENCY RELATING TO THE18
BIRTHING PROCESS THAT ALLEGES THE FOLLOWING:19
(A) DISCRIMINATION BASED ON DISABILITY, RACE, CREED, COLOR,20
SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION , GENDER IDENTITY , GENDER EXPRESSION ,21
MARITAL STATUS, NATIONAL ORIGIN, ANCESTRY, OR AGE;22
(B) U NPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OR NEGLIGENT MEDICAL CARE23
FROM A LICENSED HEALTH-CARE PRACTITIONER, INCLUDING FAILURE TO24
PROVIDE INFORMED CONSENT;25
(C) U NSAFE CONDITIONS OR FAILURE TO ALLOW VISITATION26
RIGHTS SPECIFIED IN SECTION 25-3-125, INCLUDING ALLOWING A BIRTHING27
1044-5-
COMPANION OR DOULA IN ADDITION TO A PARTNER OR SPOUSE TO BE1
PRESENT DURING LABOR AND BIRTH, AT A LICENSED HEALTH FACILITY; OR2
(D) V IOLATION OF STATE OR FEDERAL PRIVACY AND SECURITY3
LAWS, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL "HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND4
ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1996", PUB.L. 104-191, AS AMENDED, AND ITS5
IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS.6
7
(b) THE REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN THIS SUBSECTION (1.5): 8
(I) DO NOT APPLY TO LABOR AND CHILDBIRTH POLICIES DESCRIBED9
IN SUBSECTION (2) OF THIS SECTION RELATING TO A BIRTHING INDIVIDUAL10
WHO IS IN CUSTODY; AND11
(II) D O NOT CREATE A PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION AGAINST A12
HEALTH FACILITY, A HEALTH FACILITY EMPLOYEE, A PERSON WITH WHOM13
THE HEALTH FACILITY HAS A CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP, OR A LICENSED14
HEALTH-CARE PRACTITIONER FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THIS15
SUBSECTION (1.5).16
17
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-52-104, amend18
(5)(c)(II), (5)(c)(III), and (6)(a) introductory portion; and add (5)(c)(IV),19
(5.3), and (6)(a)(VI) as follows:20
25-52-104. Colorado maternal mortality review committee -21
creation - members - duties - report to the general assembly -22
maternal health task force.23
(5) The department shall:24
(c) Incorporate input and feedback from:25
(II) Multidisciplinary, nonprofit organizations representing26
persons INDIVIDUALS who are pregnant or in the postpartum period, with27
1044-6-
a focus on persons INDIVIDUALS from racial and ethnic minority groups;1
and2
(III) Multidisciplinary, community-based organizations that3
provide support or advocacy for persons INDIVIDUALS who are pregnant4
or in the postpartum period, with a focus on persons INDIVIDUALS from5
racial and ethnic minority groups; AND6
(IV) T HE MATERNAL HEALTH TASK FORCE DESCRIBED IN7
SUBSECTION (5.3) OF THIS SECTION;8
(5.3) A S PART OF THE FEDERAL GRANT THAT THE DEPARTMENT9
ADMINISTERS THROUGH THE STATE MATERNAL HEALTH INNOVATION AND10
DATA CAPACITY PROGRAM OF THE HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES11
ADMINISTRATION IN THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, THE12
DEPARTMENT HAS ESTABLISHED THE MATERNAL HEALTH TASK FORCE ,13
REFERRED TO IN THIS SUBSECTION (5.3) AS THE "TASK FORCE", WHICH IS14
CONVENED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND THE PERINATAL QUALITY15
COLLABORATIVE. SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE GRANT FUNDING FOR THE TASK16
FORCE, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ENSURE THAT AT LEAST ONE 17
MATERNAL HEALTH ADVOCATE REPRESENTING POPULATIONS KNOWN TO18
HAVE THE WORST MATERNAL MORTALITY OUTCOMES IN COLORADO19
SERVES ON THE TASK FORCE . IN ADDITION TO OTHER DUTIES , THE TASK20
FORCE PROVIDES INPUT AND FEEDBACK TO THE DEPARTMENT AND TO THE21
COMMITTEE CONCERNING POPULATIONS KNOWN TO HAVE THE WORST22
MATERNAL MORTALITY OUTCOMES IN COLORADO AND THE SUSPECTED OR23
KNOWN CAUSES OF THOSE OUTCOMES. 24
(6) (a) No later than July 1, 2020, and July 1 every three years25
thereafter THROUGH JULY 1, 2025, AND, COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2026,26
AND OCTOBER 1 EVERY THREE YEARS THEREAFTER, the department shall27
1044-7-
submit a report to the house of representatives committees on public and1
behavioral health and human services and health and insurance HEALTH2
AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE and the senate committee on health3
and human services COMMITTEE, or their successor committees. The4
report must include:5
(VI) C ERTAIN MATERNAL HEALTH OUTCOMES THAT ARE6
IDENTIFIED FOR POPULATIONS KNOWN TO HAVE THE WORST MATERNAL7
MORTALITY OUTCOMES IN COLORADO.8
9
SECTION 6. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,10
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate11
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for12
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state13
institutions.14
1044-8-