Colorado’s HB 25-1251, introduced in the 2025 session, is sparking a serious conversation about who gets to call the shots for kids’ healthcare. Filed under “Children & Domestic Matters,” this bill says no surgeries or medical treatments for minors without parental consent—period. There are exceptions, like emergencies, court orders, or cases where social services steps in, but at its core, it’s about ensuring parents stay in the driver’s seat. And honestly, that’s a principle worth defending.
Imagine this: your child undergoing a major procedure—something life-changing like surgery or hormone therapy—and you’re not even told. It’s a gut punch to think someone else could make that call without you. Supporters, largely conservatives, say parents have a basic right to guide their kids’ medical paths, especially on big decisions. The bill’s exceptions cover urgent situations—no one’s arguing a kid bleeding out should wait for a signature. But Democrats are pushing back, worried it could block teens from “confidential care” they might seek on their own. They’re hinting at things like gender-affirming treatments, where some kids might want to skip the family discussion altogether.
It’s a tricky balance. Some teens do face tough home lives, and protecting them matters. But HB 25-1251 isn’t about abusive parents—it’s about stopping a system that could let outsiders decide for our kids without us. Critics might frame it as limiting youth freedom, but to a lot of families, it feels like the state’s trying to edge them out of their own children’s lives. That’s where the fire comes in: why should parents have to fight to stay involved?
The bill’s not perfect, but it’s a wake-up call. Parents deserve a say in choices that shape their kids’ futures, and kids deserve their families’ input. Oddly, the media’s been quiet on this one, despite how much is at stake. As the session rolls on, keep an eye on it—and keep asking: why’s it so hard to agree that parents should be in the loop? Our kids’ well-being hangs in the balance.
