Advancing Life and Liberty Through Action

Feb 6, 2026

Colorado: 2 Statutory Amendments Promoting Biological Truth

Note: A pro-life initiative was also proposed in Colorado; however, on January 8, 2026, it was denied its title setting (specifically, the CO Supreme Court affirmed the actions of the Title Board, which determined “it did not have jurisdiction because Initiative 149 contained more than one subject”).

1. The “Protect Children from Irreversible Sex Change Surgery Act”
Proposed Initiative #110, “Prohibit Certain Surgeries on Minors,” amending state statute

Text of Ballot Language / Question
Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes modifying existing law by prohibiting surgery on a minor for the purpose of altering the minor’s biological sex characteristics, and, in connection therewith, prohibiting any health-care professional or other person from knowingly performing, prescribing, administering, or providing any surgery to a minor for the purpose of altering the minor’s biological sex characteristics and prohibiting the use of state or federal funds, Medicaid reimbursement, or insurance coverage to pay for this type of surgery?

For more information on the ballot language, see the Colorado Secretary of State website here.

For the full text of the proposed statutory language, see the Colorado Secretary of State's website here.

What It Does: Decoding the Text

If passed, the initiative would amend Colorado Statute to:
  • Prohibit sex-rejecting surgeryon minor children (17 and under).
    • Treatment for those born with medically verifiable sex development disorders is permitted.
    • Male circumcision is also permitted.
  • Prohibit the use of state and federal funds, including Medicaid reimbursements, for sex-rejecting surgeries on minors.
Fiscal Impact
  • Overall, the measure is expected to have a minimal impact on state revenue and expenditures.
  • A legislative fiscal summary states that expenditures for the Department of Health Care policy and Financing may decrease, but notes that if the surgeries are required by federal law under Medicaid costs could increase if patients need to be transported out of state. (Currently this is not the case, as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid issued a rule in June of 2025 “removing sex-trait modification, known as gender-affirming care, from the federal list of Essential Health Benefits,” meaning the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) does not have to cover these services.)
  • The same fiscal summary outlines that state employee health insurance plans may also see a decrease and “economic activities in the health care sector” will decrease, “with impacts concentrated on providers who specialize in the services prohibited by the measure.”
Current Status & Next Steps
  • Submitted as an (citizens) initiated state statute. Signature campaigns were completed and submitted in early 2026 
  • State officials verified enough signatures. It has qualified for the November 2026 ballot
HOW TO TAKE ACTION
 
Join the efforts of Protect Kids Colorado, with opportunities to carry a petition, help with fundraising, make phone calls, pray, and more!

2. The “Protect Women and Girls Sports Act”

Proposed Initiative #109, “Male and Female Participation in School Sports,” amending state statute

Text of Ballot Language / Question

Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes creating new law restricting participation in all K-12 and collegiate school sports based on the participant’s sex as determined by certain aspects of their biological reproductive system, and, in connection therewith, requiring a school, institution of higher education, or athletic association to designate each school or intramural athletic team or sport as male, female, or coeducational; only allowing participants to compete on the team or sport of their designated sex or to compete on a coeducational team; creating an exception to allow a female to participate on a male-designated team or sport if there is no female team available; prohibiting a government entity, licensing or accrediting organization, or athletic association from entertaining a complaint, opening an investigation, or taking other adverse action against a school for maintaining separate teams or sports for females; and providing the commissioner of education with the authority to enforce the proposed initiative for K-12 school districts?

For more information on the ballot language, see the Secretary of State website here.

For the full text of the proposed statutory language, see the Colorado Secretary of State's website here.

What It Does: Decoding the Text

The proposal amends state statute to:
  • Require athletic teams or sports or athletic associations sponsored by a school or athletic association to “be expressly designated” as either male, female or co-ed, based on the definition of biological sex.
    • It allows an exception for a female to participate on a male team if there is no female team offered in that sport.
    • It would apply ‘to all K-12, higher education institutions, and private athletic leagues that fall under the jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Education.”
  • While not explicit, by implication it would protect girls from male invasion of locker rooms and bathrooms (per a fact sheet on the measure, “If a male is not participating on the female team, they will not be in the female locker room”).
Fiscal Impact

Overall, the measure is expected to have a minimal impact on state revenue and expenditures.

Current Status & Next Steps
HOW TO TAKE ACTION

Join the efforts of Protect Kids Colorado, with opportunities to carry a petition, help with fundraising, make phone calls, pray, and more!
TAKE ACTION