Colorado lawmakers table bill to define embryos as people
DENVER (KDVR) — After the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos created through in vitro fertilization are legally considered children, it has led to a nationwide conversation — including one in Colorado.
On Feb. 8, Colorado House Bill 24-1224, “Personhood of Living Unborn Human Child,” was introduced by Rep. Scott Bottoms, the main sponsor and a Republican from El Paso County.
Democratic lawmakers ramp up efforts to protect IVF
The bill summary reads as follows:
The bill defines “person” to include a living unborn human child at any stage of development, from fertilization at the fusion of a human spermatozoon with a human ovum, as “person” relates to a private right of action and neglect provisions and current homicide and assault provisions.
The bill declares that any existing state law relating to prenatal neglect, homicide, or assault, or regulating abortion or abortion facilities, is superseded to the extent it conflicts with or is inconsistent with the bill.
The bill states that the defense of duress is available for an offense of murder in the first degree if the victim is a living unborn human child and the defendant is the child’s mother.
The bill authorizes the state to disregard any federal court decision that purports to enjoin or void the bill and subjects a Colorado judge to impeachment or removal if the judge purports to enjoin, stay, overrule, or void the requirement.
HB24-1224
The bill aims to define a living person as an unborn child in any stage of development, including through IVF. The proposed bill would then subject the child’s mother to murder charges if she gets an abortion, and a judge who overrules could be impeached.
The bill was postponed indefinitely on March 4 in an 8-3 vote by the State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs committee.
“Abortion and IVF treatments are safe, legal, and protected in Colorado – we will not let Republicans legislate away our fundamental rights,” state Rep. Jenny Willford, a Democrat from Adams County, said in a press release.
Decisions around IVF treatment are still circling the nation.
Meanwhile, Democrats worry the recent Alabama ruling threatens the practice and want to protect it at the federal level. Republicans in Congress are blocking legislation that aims to protect access to IVF.
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