HB 1044 Colorado House · 2026 Regular Session

Measures to Improve Black Maternal Health Equity

Summary

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; andBeginning 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.)

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Signed May 5, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 6 comparisons

What changed between versions

Final Act → Signed Act · 5 edits · May 5, 2026

MODERATE

This bill amends Colorado statutes to improve equity in maternal health by updating continuing medical education requirements for physicians to include topics on health disparities and bias. It mandates that health facilities provide birthing parents with a notice outlining their rights to respectful, equitable, and evidence-based care, including the right to a companion and informed consent. Additionally, the bill expands the membership of the maternal mortality review committee to include specific input from organizations representing pregnant individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of continuing medical education for physicians to explicitly require training on health disparities and bias. It also broadens the scope of the maternal mortality review committee's input requirements to focus on racial and ethnic minority groups.

REQUIREMENT

Updated physician continuing medical education rules to require specific credit hours on health disparities, outcomes data, reproductive health, and implicit bias.

Added a new requirement for health facilities to electronically and in print provide birthing parents with a notice detailing their rights to respectful care, freedom from mistreatment, and effective communication.

Added a new requirement for the maternal mortality review committee to incorporate feedback from multidisciplinary organizations representing pregnant individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups.

Modified the anonymous survey of birthing parents to allow for additional topics beyond those previously specified.

TECHNICAL

Corrected various typos and formatting inconsistencies in the text of the statutes, such as fixing misspelled words and inconsistent capitalization.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 14, 2026 · House Mar 3, 2026

How they voted

47–15

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 64

Apr 14, 2026

D Democratic42

41 Yea 1

97% Yea

R Republican22

6 Yea 15 Nay 1

68% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 5, 2026

Signed into law

Governor Signed

executive

May 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by the President of the Senate

upper

May 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by the Speaker of the House

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Introduced

House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (47-15-2)

senate

Apr 7, 2026

Introduced

House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily

lower

Apr 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

upper

Mar 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human Services

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

lower

Feb 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Jan 14, 2026

Introduced

Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services

lower

5 primary · 41 co-sponsors