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HB 25-1256

Life-Sustaining Treatment Minors Parent Rights

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Brandi Bradley and 1 co-sponsor

HB 25-1256 ensures parents must consent to DNR orders for minors, protecting their rights in medical decisions and requiring providers to facilitate care transfers.

House Committee on Health & Human Services Postpone Indefinitely
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Bill Summary · HB 25-1256

Summary of HB 25-1256: Life-Sustaining Treatment Minors Parent Rights

Bill Overview

Bill Number: HB 25-1256
Introduced On: February 12, 2025
Status: Postponed Indefinitely by the House Committee on Health & Human Services on March 4, 2025
Prime Sponsors: Rep. Bradley, Sen. Pelton R.
Fiscal Note Date: June 17, 2025

The purpose of HB 25-1256 is to regulate the implementation of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders for minors, ensuring that parents or legal guardians have the authority to consent to such orders before they are enacted.

Key Provisions

  • Consent Requirement: Health care providers are prohibited from implementing a DNR order for an unemancipated minor without written consent from a parent or legal guardian, except in specific circumstances.
  • Emergency Circumstances: If a provider cannot contact a parent or guardian after 72 hours of diligent efforts, they may proceed with a DNR order.
  • Revocation of Consent: Parents or guardians can revoke their consent in writing, which must be documented in the minor's medical records.
  • Life-Sustaining Treatment: The bill mandates that providers cannot hinder or delay life-sustaining treatment unless there is a complete failure of the minor's circulatory, respiratory, and brain functions.
  • Court Authority: Courts cannot mandate the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment against the wishes of a parent or guardian unless the minor is declared deceased in the aforementioned manner.
  • Transfer of Care: Providers must not interfere with a parent or guardian seeking a second medical opinion or transferring the minor to another facility. They are required to facilitate the transfer and ensure continuity of care.
  • Disclosure of Policies: Health care providers must disclose any policies related to resuscitation or life-sustaining measures upon request.

Impact

  • Affected Parties: The bill primarily impacts health care providers, parents, and legal guardians of minors. It emphasizes parental rights in medical decision-making for minors.
  • Minimal State Workload: The fiscal note indicates that the bill would result in a minimal increase in workload for the Department of Regulatory Agencies to conduct outreach regarding the new requirements.
  • No Financial Impact: The bill does not require any appropriations and is projected to have no significant fiscal impact on state revenue or expenditures.

Effective Date

If enacted, the bill would take effect 90 days after the adjournment of the General Assembly, assuming no referendum petition is filed. It would apply to health care provided on or after that date.

Conclusion

HB 25-1256 aimed to strengthen parental rights concerning life-sustaining treatment decisions for minors. However, the bill was postponed indefinitely, meaning it will not advance further in the legislative process at this time.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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