The Colorado Legislative Council Staff and Office of Legislative Legal Services held a review and comment hearing on Initiative #226, a proposed ballot initiative that would define 'living human being' as beginning from the moment of fertilization under Article 2, Section 25 of the Colorado Constitution. Proponents acknowledged the initiative would create an inherent conflict with the existing constitutional right to abortion under Section 32, and that IVF implications had not been fully thought through.
Chelsea Princel raised that preserving the right to life with due process for all living human beings from the moment of fertilization 'seems to be at odds' with the constitutional right to end a pregnancy under Section 32, and asked whether the conflict was intended and how proponents want to proceed with both provisions in the Constitution. Proponents countered that their initiative addresses Section 25 only and does not address Section 32, while also explicitly acknowledging on the record: 'it would create an inherent conflict in the Colorado Constitution' that they believe would be resolved through the constitutional process and the courts.
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“To be honest and be on the record, it would create an inherent conflict in the Colorado Constitution. Ours is specifically dealing with Amendment 25, but by the nature of 32, there would be a conflict. But we believe that that would be resolved through the constitutional process in the courts.”
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Sign in to subscribeI hereby call to order the review and comment hearing for the proposed initiative. Measure number 226 concerning a living human being's right to life from the time of conception Ballot Proposal Today is Thursday, February 5, 2026 and the time is 1pm My name is Gerard Brown, Research analyst with Legislative Council Staff. And now we'll go around and identify ourselves with the record. My name is Chelsea Princel. I am a staff attorney with the Office of Legislative Legal Services. My name is Mark Landis. I'm the pastor of Norwood Bible Church in Colorado Springs. I'm Dr. Sean Cole. I'm the lead pastor of Emanuel Baptist Church in Sterling, Colorado and an adjunct instructor at Colorado Christian University. Colorado Law requires requires the directors of the Colorado Legislative Council staff and the Office of Legislative Legal Services to review and comment on initiative petitions for proposed laws and amendments to the Colorado Constitution. The purpose of the review and comment requirement is to help proponents arrive at language that will accomplish their intent and to avail the public of knowledge of the contents of the proposal. As representatives of the of Legislative Legal Counsel staff and the Office…
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