Colorado Amendment 79, Right to Abortion and Health Insurance Coverage Initiative (2024)

In this video, we discuss Colorado Amendment 79, the Right to Abortion and Health Insurance Coverage Initiative, an initiated constitutional amendment that Colorado voters will decide on Nov. 5.

A “yes” vote on Amendment 79 supports creating a right to abortion in the state constitution and allowing state health insurance coverage of abortion.

A “no” vote opposes creating a right to abortion in the state constitution and opposes repealing a constitutional provision that bans the use of public funds for abortion.

Let’s take a look at the current status of abortion in Colorado:
Colorado is one of 10 states that does not restrict abortion after a specific point in a pregnancy.

In 1984, Coloradans voted 50.4% to 49.6% to ban public funding of abortion except for cases where the mother's life is in danger. The provision prevented state health insurance from covering abortions for government employees and others on state health insurance plans such as Medicaid.
The measure was challenged in 1988 and was upheld by voters. In 1998, Coloradans voted 55% to 45% to require parents to be notified if their minor children seek an abortion and voted 51% to 49% to reject a ban on partial-birth abortion. In 2000, Colorado voters rejected a measure that would have required women to be given certain information from a physician at least 24 hours in advance of an abortion. Coloradans defeated three measures (in 2008, 2010, and 2014) that would have defined person to include fetuses or unborn human beings. In 2020, voters rejected an initiative that would have banned abortions after 22 weeks.

Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom is leading the campaign in support of the initiative. Other supporters include:
Democratic Party of Colorado
ACLU of Colorado, and
the League of Women Voters of Colorado

Pro-Life Colorado Fund, Coloradans for the Protection of Women and Children, and Vote No on 79 are leading the campaign opposing the initiative. Other opponents include:
March for Life

Campaign finance reports through October 2024 show us that Colorado Amendment 79 supporters have raised $8.8 million dollars and Amendment 79 opponents have raised almost $300,000 dollars.

As of October 9, 2024, 11 statewide ballot measures related to abortion have been certified in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New York, Nevada, and South Dakota for the general election ballot in 2024. This is the most on record for a single year. Keep an eye out for our videos about the measures in each state.

For more information about Colorado Amendment 79, including its full text, campaign finance information, and more arguments for and against it, click on the link below. And make sure to check back with us for more nonpartisan, fact-based information on America’s politics and elections.


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