CWBA 2025 Legislative Session Wrap-Up

Now that the 2025 Colorado legislative session is behind us, we’re proud to celebrate a season of hard-fought victories, strategic advocacy, and meaningful partnerships. 

Here's a look at the CWBA’s impact at the Capitol this year:

• 23 bills supported by the CWBA — only 2 failed, and 1 was vetoed (with a rare Senate override, though not sustained in the House).

• All 11 bills opposed by the CWBA failed.

✅ HB25-1138 – Protect Victims in Civil Sex Misconduct SuitsCWBA ran one bill this session: Our civil rape shield bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support (only 2 “no” votes!) and was signed into law in March. We co-led this effort with the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA). 

✅ Legislative Successes

CWBA supported and helped advance a broad slate of legislation this session using the lens of advocacy for the interests of women, children, and families:

👨‍👩‍👧 Protecting Families & Survivors

• ✅ HB25-1138 – Civil Rape Shield Law: CWBA, in partnership with CCASA, led this effort, which eliminates the previous allowance for admitting evidence of a victim's prior or subsequent sexual conduct with the defendant and prohibits using a victim's manner of dress, hairstyle, speech, or lifestyle as evidence pertaining to consent, credibility, or the extent of damages or harm. 

• ✅ SB25-116 – Spousal Maintenance Guidelines: CWBA worked with sponsors to amend the bill and preserve Colorado’s no-fault divorce framework while increasing protections for abuse survivors

• ✅ HB25-1185 – Parental Rights for Children Conceived Through Sexual Assault: Establishes a more compassionate process for survivors to relinquish parental rights

💜 Reproductive Justice, Women’s Health, & Gender Affirming Care

• ✅ SB25-129 – Legally Protected Health-Care Activity Protections: Strengthens Colorado’s shield law for abortion and gender-affirming care providers 

• ✅ SB25-130 – Emergency Medical Services: Requires hospitals to provide emergency abortion care without discrimination

• ✅ SB25-183 – Coverage for Pregnancy-Related Services: Implements Amendment 79 by expanding Medicaid and CHIP abortion care coverage

• ✅ HB25-1259 – In Vitro Fertilization Protection & Gamete Donation Requirements: Strengthens protections for fertility care in Colorado by updating licensure rules, reducing administrative burdens, and ensuring access to IVF and donor services.

• ✅ SB25-118 & SB25-296 – Health Insurance for Prenatal & Breast Cancer Care: Ensures no-cost sharing for preventive health screenings and prenatal visits 

• ✅ SB25-144 – Family Medical Leave for NICU Families: Extends paid leave for parents of infants receiving intensive care 

⚖️ Judiciary & Legal System Access

• ✅ SB25-024 – Judicial Officers: Adds 15 new judicial positions across Colorado to help reduce caseloads and increase access to justice

• ✅ HB25-1035 – Collaborative Management Program: Enhances service coordination for families and grants judges access to individualized support team records

🗳️ Democracy, Civil Rights, & Equity

• ✅ SB25-001 – Colorado Voting Rights Act: Prevents vote suppression and expands ballot access for historically marginalized groups

• ✅ SB25-014 – Repeal of Same-Sex Marriage Ban: Affirms Colorado’s commitment to marriage equality by removing an unenforceable statutory ban

• ✅ SB25-276 – Due Process for Immigrants: Limits ICE cooperation and strengthens rights for Coloradans regardless of immigration status

• ✅ SB25-050 – Racial Classifications on Government Forms: Requires state and local forms to include options for Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian identities—ensuring more accurate data collection and better representation in public policy.

📉 The Ones That Got Away

• ❌ SB25-086 – Protections for Social Media Users: Vetoed by Governor Polis after passing both chambers. The Senate voted to override the veto—the first override since 1988—but the House did not sustain it

• ❌ HB25-1194 – Protections for Victims of Economic Abuse: This bill would have strengthened consumer protections for survivors of economic abuse by halting coerced debt collection and expanding definitions in civil protection orders.

• ❌ SCR25-002 – Child Sexual Abuse Accountability Amendment: This proposed constitutional amendment aimed to eliminate the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims but did not receive the necessary support to move forward.

Take Action – Help Strengthen CWBA’s Impact!

✔ Support Our Lobbying Efforts: Donate to our Lobbyist Fund to help CWBA continue advocating at the Capitol. https://www.cwba.org/Lobbyist-Contribution 

✔ Contact Your Legislator: Let your representatives know you are a CWBA member and share the issues that matter to you. A personal message can make a real impact! Find your legislators here: https://leg.colorado.gov/find-my-legislator 

✔Join the CWBA Policy Action Committee: The Policy Action Committee monitors national, state, and local legislation affecting women and children, working closely with CWBA’s contracted lobbyists and our members to advocate for mission-aligned policies. Meetings typically held monthly on the first Monday of the month at Noon.

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Jessie Rember is an estate planning attorney located in Arvada, Colorado. Jessie Rember has been a member of the Colorado Bar for 35 years and has been an estate planning attorney for 9 years. Jessie attended Syracuse University in New York. In her spare time, Jessie enjoys all kinds of fiber arts, which includes knitting, spinning, sewing, quilting, cross stitch, and embroidery. She is also an avid reader of historical fiction, personal and professional growth, and anything that has high quality writing and a good story. Jessie and her husband have been married for 25 years and have two children who are young adults. Jessie is a member of the EmpowHERment and PublisHERS Committee of the CWBA.