It’s time to prioritize life, not fund its end.
Senate Bill 25-183, introduced in the 2025 Colorado legislative session, aims to expand health care coverage under state-funded programs like Medicaid and the Children’s Basic Health Plan to include pregnancy-related services, with a specific focus on abortion care. This legislation follows the passage of Amendment 79 in November 2024, a voter-approved measure that enshrined the “right to abortion” in the state constitution and mandated that public health insurance plans cannot exclude abortion coverage. SB25-183 seeks to implement these changes by requiring the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to authorize Medicaid reimbursements for abortion services and integrate them into the schedule of health-care services for pregnant individuals under the children’s plan. As of April 8, 2025, the bill remains under consideration in the House Committee of the Whole, reflecting ongoing deliberation.
A cornerstone of SB25-183 is its repeal of a long-standing state constitutional provision that prohibited the use of public funds for abortions. This shift means that tax dollars—estimated at over $2 million annually—would now be allocated to cover abortion procedures through Medicaid. Research from the Lozier Institute projects that this change could increase the annual number of abortions in Colorado by approximately 1,840, raising the state’s abortion rate from 8.61 to 10.13 per thousand women of childbearing age. This bill, therefore, not only alters funding mechanisms but also has significant implications for abortion access and state budgetary priorities.
The factual implications of SB25-183 are clear, but the consequences of this bill demand a resounding rejection from Colorado’s lawmakers. This legislation is a moral, fiscal, and democratic travesty that must not be allowed to pass—for the sake of taxpayers, unborn lives, and the state’s already strained resources.
First, consider the precedent set by the Hyde Amendment, a federal legislative provision in place since 1976. The Hyde Amendment prohibits federal funding for abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is endangered. This commonsense restriction has protected taxpayers from funding elective abortions for nearly five decades, reflecting a broad consensus that public money should not underwrite procedures many find morally objectionable. Colorado should align with this principle. Using state tax dollars—up to $2 million annually—to pay for abortions flouts the spirit of the Hyde Amendment, forcing every Coloradan to foot the bill for a practice that violates the conscience of many. If federal funds are restricted, why should state funds flow freely to this end?
Worse still, taxpayers were never given a direct say on SB25-183 itself. While Amendment 79 passed by voter approval, it was a broad constitutional change—not a specific mandate to redirect millions in tax dollars to abortion funding. This bill, which could increase tax burdens to cover its costs, was crafted behind closed doors by legislators, not put to a public vote. Coloradans deserve transparency and a voice on how their hard-earned money is spent, especially on such a divisive issue. To bypass their input is an affront to democratic principles.
The leadership pushing this bill, including Speaker Julie McCluskie (D), appears to be sending a chilling message: abortion is the cheaper, state-preferred option for Coloradans on Medicaid. Instead of investing in organizations that support new parents—offering resources for struggling families or babies already born—McCluskie and much of the Colorado Democratic Party seem intent on incentivizing abortion as a cost-saving measure. The Lozier Institute’s projection of 1,840 additional abortions annually underscores this grim reality: SB25-183 could turn Medicaid into a pipeline for terminating pregnancies rather than nurturing life. One X user’s outrage encapsulates this sentiment: “The Dems reasoning? It’s cheaper to abort them than pay to raise them. Seriously, they said that out loud. Sick.” This is not a policy of compassion—it’s a cold calculation that devalues human potential.
Colorado’s financial state makes this bill even more indefensible. The state is grappling with over $1 billion in debt, with Medicaid already the largest driver of budgetary strain. Every dollar diverted to fund elective abortions is a dollar stolen from critical needs—like supporting the intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) community, aiding struggling families, or caring for babies already born. As one concerned citizen put it, “SB25-183 forces taxpayers to fund elective abortions with dollars that should help” those truly in need. In a time of fiscal crisis, why prioritize an immoral procedure over the vulnerable who are already here?
The broader context of Colorado’s leadership compounds the urgency to stop this bill. The state’s trajectory—full-term abortions already legal, rising crime rates, and a slew of rights-restricting laws—paints a picture of a government out of touch with its people. Colorado is lost… They are stripping away our most basic rights and charging us out the ass for the privilege. SB25-183 is not just a funding issue; it’s a symptom of a deeper erosion of values and accountability. With the bill reportedly moving to Governor Jared Polis’ desk, the stakes are higher than ever.
Colorado stands at a crossroads. SB25-183 threatens to entrench a policy that undermines moral integrity, fiscal responsibility, and democratic will. Lawmakers must heed the Hyde Amendment’s wisdom, respect taxpayers’ voices, and reject this bill outright. The state cannot afford—literally or figuratively—to let this pass. It’s time to prioritize life, not fund its end.
