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HB26-1044 • 2026

Measures to Improve Black Maternal Health Equity

The act 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 requ

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Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

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. Mabrey, Rep. J. McCluskie, Rep. K. Nguyen, Rep. J. Phillips, Rep. M. Rutinel, Rep. E. Sirota, Rep. T. Story, Rep. B. Titone, Rep. A. Valdez, 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
2026-05-05
Official status
Governor Signed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date for the hospital notice requirement is specified as January 1, 2027, while other reporting changes begin October 1, 2026.

Measures to Improve Equity in Maternal Health

This law requires medical boards to consider training on cultural competence, allows health surveys for more parents if funding exists, and mandates that hospitals share information about patient rights during childbirth.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Colorado Medical Board to consider requiring continuing education hours on cultural competence and equity in maternal care as part of its stakeholder process.
  • Directs the State Board of Nursing to adopt rules emphasizing attention to cultural competence and equity in health-care services for nurses.
  • Authorizes the Department of Public Health and Environment to survey additional birthing parents if funding is available.
  • Requires hospitals providing labor and childbirth services to make a written or electronic statement on patient rights, including freedom from harm and informed consent, available to birthing parents and their companions by January 1, 2027.
  • Ensures at least one advocate representing populations with the worst maternal mortality outcomes serves on the Maternal Health Task Force if federal grant funding is available.
  • Changes the reporting schedule for the Colorado Maternal Mortality Review Committee to occur every three years starting in October 2026, including data on specific health outcomes.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Physicians and nurses who may face new continuing education requirements or rules.
  • Health facilities that provide labor and childbirth services.
  • Birthing parents and their companions or family members present during birth.
  • The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Terms To Know

Continuing Medical Education (CME)
Ongoing training that doctors must complete to keep their medical licenses active.
Maternal Health Task Force
A group established by the state department of health and a collaborative partner to study maternal health outcomes, funded through federal grants.
Cultural Competence
The ability of healthcare providers to understand and respect different cultural backgrounds when giving care.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Some actions, like expanding health surveys or staffing the task force with specific advocates, depend on available funding.
  • This law does not allow birthing parents to sue hospitals for failing to provide the required notice of rights.
  • The requirements do not apply to individuals who are in custody while giving birth.

Amendments

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

L.001

HOU Health & Human Services

Passed [*]

Plain English: This amendment updates the rules for Colorado doctors' continuing education to require a formal review of training on health disparities, reproductive care, and cultural equity in maternal healthcare.

  • The medical board must start a process with stakeholders to decide if all doctors need specific training hours on health differences and outcomes data.
  • Doctors may be required to take classes covering reproductive, sexual, and gender-based health topics as well as how to treat patients fairly regardless of their background.
  • New rules will specifically focus on cultural competence and equity when providing care during pregnancy and childbirth.
  • The amendment requires the board to consider these training requirements, but it does not set a specific number of hours or make them mandatory until final rules are written.
  • Some technical legal references were removed from the bill text that cannot be fully explained without seeing the original version.
L.002

HOU Health & Human Services

Passed [*]

Plain English: This amendment requires health facilities to provide birthing parents with a clear list of their rights regarding respectful care, starting by January 1, 2027.

  • Health facilities must make a statement of rights available electronically and in print if requested for birthing parents and their companions or family members.
  • The required document must explain the right to be free from harm, have privacy, give informed consent, and receive care that is fair and culturally sensitive.
  • Hospitals must also provide contact information so patients can reach out with questions or concerns.
  • The amendment text does not explain what happens if a hospital fails to follow these new rules.
  • It is unclear from this specific text how the electronic system for sharing these documents will be set up by hospitals.
L.003

HOU Health & Human Services

Passed [*]

Plain English: This amendment removes several specific sections of the bill that were intended to improve Black maternal health equity.

  • Removes a requirement for the Colorado medical board regarding continuing education on page 4.
  • Deletes text from lines 22 through 27 on page 6.
  • Strikes out all of pages 7 through 12 entirely.
  • Removes three lines at the top of page 13 and two additional lines further down that same page.
  • The official text only lists which parts to delete but does not explain what those deleted sections said or why they were removed.
  • Because the specific content being struck is missing from this document, it is unclear exactly how removing these pages changes the final law.
L.005

HOU Health & Human Services

Passed [*]

Plain English: This amendment adds conditions that require available grant money before funding certain tasks and changes who receives future reports.

  • It requires the task force to only receive funds if there is enough grant money available for it.
  • It updates instructions so that after a specific time, the department must send its report directly to the House of Representatives.
  • The amendment text does not explain what happens if no grant funding is found or how much money might be available.
  • The exact date when the new reporting rule starts is not defined in this short excerpt.
L.006

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: This amendment changes when the state health department must send reports about Black maternal health equity to the House.

  • The first report is now due by July 1, 2025.
  • The text only shows a change to dates and does not explain what happens between October 1, 2026, and the next three-year cycle.
  • It is unclear if this amendment removes any other reporting requirements that were in the original bill.
L.008

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: This amendment changes the bill to require a specific notice for birthing parents about how to report discrimination, unsafe conditions, and other problems during their care.

  • Changes the title of a section from 'Statement of rights' to 'Required notice to birthing parents'.
  • Lists specific issues that must be included in the notice, such as discrimination based on race or disability, unprofessional medical conduct, unsafe conditions, and privacy law violations.
  • Updates language throughout the bill to focus specifically on populations known to have the worst maternal mortality outcomes in Colorado instead of just mentioning Black mothers.
  • The amendment text does not explain exactly how or when this notice must be given to patients, only what it should contain.
  • Some technical line numbers and formatting changes are included but do not affect the main meaning for readers.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-05 Governor

    Governor Signed

  2. 2026-05-01 Governor

    Sent to the Governor

  3. 2026-05-01 Senate

    Signed by the President of the Senate

  4. 2026-05-01 House

    Signed by the Speaker of the House

  5. 2026-04-14 House

    House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass

  6. 2026-04-07 House

    House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily

  7. 2026-04-06 Senate

    Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  8. 2026-04-02 Senate

    Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor

  9. 2026-04-01 Senate

    Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 04/02/2026 - No Amendments

  10. 2026-03-31 Senate

    Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 04/01/2026 - No Amendments

  11. 2026-03-26 Senate

    Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole

  12. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human Services

  13. 2026-03-03 House

    House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  14. 2026-03-02 House

    House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor

  15. 2026-02-25 House

    House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole

  16. 2026-01-14 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services

Official Summary Text

The act 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 complete continuing medical education on 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 additional birthing parents, beyond those currently surveyed, and to compile the data if surveyed;
Requiring a health facility that provides labor and childbirth services to make available to a birthing parent and a birthing parent's companion, electronically or in writing, a statement on respectful labor and childbirth regarding 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 alleging discrimination in labor and childbirth services;
Subject to available federal grant funding for the maternal health task force (task force) established by CDPHE, ensuring that the maternal health task force includes at least one advocate representing populations with the worst maternal mortality outcomes in the state; and
Beginning October 1, 2026, with respect to CDPHE's Colorado maternal mortality review committee, changing the reporting to the general assembly every 3 years concerning maternal health outcomes and equity from July to October and requiring the reporting of certain maternal health outcomes for populations known to have the worst maternal mortality outcomes in the state.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HOUSE BILL 26-1044
BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) English and Joseph, Ricks, Bacon,
Boesenecker, Brown, Camacho, Carter, Clifford, Duran, Goldstein,
Jackson, Lieder, Lindsay, Nguyen, Phillips, Rutinel, Sirota, Story, Titone,
Velasco, Willford, McCluskie, Mabrey, Valdez;
also SENATOR(S) Exum and Benavidez, Amabile, Ball, Bridges, Cutter,
Danielson, Daugherty, Gonzales J., Hinrichsen, Jodeh, Kipp, Kolker,
Marchman, Mullica, Roberts, Rodriguez, Snyder, Wallace, Weissman,
Coleman.
CONCERNING MEASURES TO IMPROVE EQUITY IN MATERNAL HEAL TH.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-240-130.5, amend
(7) introductory portion and (7)(b )(11) as follows:
12-240-130.5. Continuing medical education - requirement -
compliance -legislative declaration -rules -definitions.
(7) The board shall prnmnlgate ADOPT rules necessary to implement
a physician CME requirement in accordance with this section. In addition
to any other rules, the board shall adopt rules:
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material added to existing law; dashes
through words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law and such material is not part of
the act.
(b) (II) The board shall initiate a stakeholder process to consider
requiring, for general practice and for all specialties, specific CME credit
hours relating to health disparities and outcomes data; reproductive, sexual,
and gender-based health care; CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND EQUITY IN
MATERNAL CARE; and explicit and implicit bias, including the number and
frequency of CME credit hours.
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 12-255-129 as
follows:
12-255-129. Continuing education -rules.
In addition to any other authority conferred upon the board by this
part 1, the board is authorized to require no more than twenty hours of
continuing education every two years as a condition of renewal of licenses
and to establish procedures and standards for the educational requirements.
The board shall, to assure that the continuing education requirements
imposed do not have the effect of restraining competition among providers
of the education, recognize a variety of alternative means of compliance
with the requirements. The board shall adopt rules that are necessary to
carry out the prnvisions of this section in accordance with article 4 of title
24, INCLUDING RULES THAT EMPHASIZE ATTENTION TO CULTURAL
COMPETENCE AND EQUITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 12-30-119.
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-1.5-701, add (3) as
follows:
25-1.5-701. Health survey for birthing parents.
(3) IN ADDITION TO THE MULTIYEAR SURVEY DESCRIBED IN
SUBSECTIONS (1) AND (2) OF THIS SECTION, SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE
APPROPRIATIONS, THE DEPARTMENT MAY IMPLEMENT A STANDARDIZED,
ANONYMOUS SURVEY OF ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUALS IN COLORADO WHO HA VE
RECENTLY GIVEN BIRTH. THE SURVEY MAY COVER HEALTH AND SAFETY
TOPICS, AS DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION ( 1) OF THIS SECTION, OR ADDITIONAL
TOPICS. THEDEPARTMENTSHALLDETERMINETHEFORMATFORTHESURVEY
AND MAY DESIGN THE SURVEY SO THAT THE SURVEY MAY BE TAKEN, AND
RESULTS MAY BE COMPILED, ELECTRONICALLY.
PAGE 2-HOUSE BILL 26-1044
SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-3-126, add (1.5) as
follows:
25-3-126. Health facilities - health-care practitioners -
requirements related to labor and childbirth - rules - definitions.
(1.5) Required notice to birthing parents.
(a) No LATER THAN JANUARY 1, 2027, A HEALTH FACILITY SHALL
MAKE ELECTRONICALLY AVAILABLE TO A BIRTHING PARENT AND A BIRTHING
PARENT'S COMPANION OR FAMILY MEMBER, IF APPLICABLE, AND IN PRINT IF
REQUESTED:
(I) A REQUIRED NOTICE TO BIRTHING PARENTS OF THE COMPONENTS
OF RESPECTFUL LABOR AND CHILDBIRTH, INCLUDING:
(A) A BIRTHING PARENT'S RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM HARM AND
MISTREATMENT;
(B) RESPECT FOR A BIRTHING PARENT'S DIGNITY, PRIVACY, AND
CONFIDENTIALITY;
(C) A BIRTHING PARENT'S RIGHT TO INFORMED CHOICE AND
CONSENT;
(D) THE RIGHT TO HAVE A BIRTHING COMPANION AND A FAMILY
MEMBER WITH THE BIRTHING PARENT DURING BIRTH;
(E) EQUITABLE AND HIGH-QUALITY CARE FOR A BIRTHING PARENT
THAT IS EVIDENCE-BASED, FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION, AND CULTURALLY
SENSITIVE; AND
(F) EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, DURING WHICH HEALTH-CARE
PRACTITIONERS INTRODUCE THEMSELVES, EXPLAIN THEIR ROLES, AND
WELCOME QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS FROM A BIRTHING PARENT OR THE
BIRTHING PARENT'S BIRTHING COMPANION OR FAMILY MEMBER; AND
(II) INFORMATION, INCLUDING TELEPHONE CONTACT INFORMATION,
CONCERNING WHERE TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE APPROPRIATE ST A TE OR
FEDERAL OFFICE OR AGENCY RELATING TO THE BIRTHING PROCESS THAT
PAGE 3-HOUSE BILL 26-1044
ALLEGES THE FOLLOWING:
(A) DISCRIMINATION BASED ON DISABILITY, RACE, CREED, COLOR,
SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, GENDER EXPRESSION,
MARITAL STATUS, NATIONAL ORIGIN, ANCESTRY, OR AGE;
(B) UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCTOR NEGLIGENT MEDICAL CARE FROM
A LICENSED HEALTH-CARE PRACTITIONER, INCLUDING FAILURE TO PROVIDE
INFORMED CONSENT;
(C) .UNSAFE CONDITIONS OR FAILURE TO ALLOW VISITATION RIGHTS
SPECIFIED IN SECTION 25-3-125, INCLUDING ALLOWING A BIRTHING
COMPANION OR DOULA IN ADDITION TO A PARTNER OR SPOUSE TO BE
PRESENT DURING LABOR AND BIRTH, AT A LICENSED HEALTH FACILITY; OR
(D) VIOLATIONOFSTATEORFEDERALPRIVACY ANDSECURITYLAWS,
INCLUDING THE FEDERAL "HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1996", PUB.L. 104-191, AS AMENDED, AND ITS
IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS.
(b) THE REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN THIS SUBSECTION ( 1.5):
(I) Do NOT APPLY TO LABOR AND CHILDBIRTH POLICIES DESCRIBED
IN SUBSECTION (2) OF THIS SECTION RELATING TO A BIRTHING INDIVIDUAL
WHO IS IN CUSTODY; AND
(II) Do NOT CREATE A PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION AGAINST A HEALTH
FACILITY, A HEALTH FACILITY EMPLOYEE, A PERSON WITH WHOM THE
HEALTH FACILITY HAS A CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP, OR A LICENSED
HEALTH-CARE PRACTITIONER FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THIS
SUBSECTION ( 1.5).
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-52-104, amend
(5)(c)(II), (5)(c)(III), and (6)(a) introductory portion; and add (5)(c)(IV),
(5.3), and (6)(a)(VI) as follows:
25-52-104. Colorado maternal mortality review committee -
creation -members -duties -report to the general assembly -maternal
health task force.
PAGE 4-HOUSE BILL 26-1044
(5) The department shall:
( c) Incorporate input and feedback from:
(II) Multidisciplinary, nonprofit organizations representing per sons
INDIVIDUALS who are pregnant or in the postpartum period, with a focus on
persons INDIVIDUALS from racial and ethnic minority groups; and
(Ill) Multidisciplinary, community-based organizations that provide
support or advocacy for persons INDIVIDUALS who are pregnant or in the
postpartum period, with a focus on persons INDIVIDUALS from racial and
ethnic minority groups; AND
(IV) THE MATERNAL HEALTH TASK FORCE DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION
(5.3) OF THIS SECTION;
(5.3) AS PART OF THE FEDERAL GRANT THAT THE DEPARTMENT
ADMINISTERS THROUGH THE STATE MATERNAL HEALTH INNOVATION AND
DATA CAPACITY PROGRAM OF THE HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION IN THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, THE
DEPARTMENT HAS ESTABLISHED THE MATERNAL HEALTH TASK FORCE,
REFERRED TO IN THIS SUBSECTION (5.3) AS THE "TASK FORCE", WHICH IS
CONVENED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND THE PERINATAL QUALITY
COLLABORATIVE. SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE GRANT FUNDING FOR THE TASK
FORCE, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ENSURE THAT AT LEAST ONE MATERNAL
HEALTH ADVOCATE REPRESENTING POPULATIONS KNOWN TO HA VE THE
WORST MATERNAL MORTALITY OUTCOMES IN COLORADO SERVES ON THE
TASK FORCE. IN ADDITION TO OTHER DUTIES, THE TASK FORCE PROVIDES
INPUT AND FEEDBACK TO THE DEPARTMENT AND TO THE COMMITTEE
CONCERNING POPULATIONS KNOWN TO HA VE THE WORST MATERNAL
MORTALITY OUTCOMES IN COLORADO AND THE SUSPECTED OR KNOWN
CAUSES OF THOSE OUTCOMES.
(6) (a) No later than July 1, 2020, and July 1 every three years
thereafter THROUGH JULY 1, 2025, AND, COMMENCING OCTOBER 1, 2026,
AND OCTOBER 1 EVERY THREE YEARS THEREAFTER, the department shall
submit a report to the house of representatives committees on public and
beha\1 ior al health and human set vices and health and insurance HEAL TH AND
HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE and the senate committee on health and
human services COMMITTEE, or their successor committees. The report must
PAGE 5-HOUSE BILL 26-1044
include:
(VI) CERTAIN MATERNAL HEALTH OUTCOMES THAT ARE IDENTIFIED
FOR POPULATIONS KNOWN TO HAVE THE WORST MATERNAL MORTALITY
OUTCOMES IN COLORADO.
SECTION 6. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for
PAGE 6-HOUSE BILL 26-1044
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state
institutions.
Ju~
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES
\}~ ~
Vanessa Reilly
CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES
James Rashad Coleman, Sr.
PRESIDENT OF
THE SENATE
Esther van Mourik
SECRETARY OF
THE SENATE
APPROVED oh iV'LSol~ '(\t\"-f S~ W2--fo ~-\ ):~
(Date and ime) \
TATE OF COLORADO
PAGE 7-HOUSE BILL 26-1044