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HB 25-1251

Parental Consent to Treatment of a Minor

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Scott Bottoms

House Bill 25-1251 required parental consent for minors' medical treatment, enhancing parental rights but was postponed indefinitely, halting its proposed changes.

House Committee on Health & Human Services Postpone Indefinitely
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Bill Summary · HB 25-1251

Summary of House Bill 25-1251: Parental Consent to Treatment of a Minor

Bill Number: HB 25-1251
Introduced On: February 12, 2025
Status: Postponed Indefinitely by House Committee on Health & Human Services on March 5, 2025
Prime Sponsor: Rep. Bottoms

Purpose and Intent

House Bill 25-1251 aimed to establish a requirement for parental or legal guardian consent before any medical or mental health services could be provided to minors. The bill sought to enhance parental rights regarding the healthcare decisions of their children, ensuring that parents are involved in significant medical decisions affecting their minors.

Key Provisions

The bill included several critical provisions:

  • Consent Requirement: It prohibited any individual or entity from soliciting, arranging, or performing medical or mental health services for a minor without obtaining written or verbal consent from a parent or legal guardian.

  • Exceptions to Consent: Parental consent would not be required in specific circumstances:

    • In cases of medical emergencies.
    • When the minor is in the custody of a department of human or social services.
    • If a court order directs the provision of medical services.

  • Amendments to Existing Laws: The bill proposed amendments to existing statutes that currently allow minors to consent to certain treatments, including:

    • Substance use treatment.
    • Select mental health care.
    • Contraception and sexually transmitted infection treatment.
    • Prenatal care.

  • Repeal of Certain Rights: It aimed to repeal specific legal protections and rights related to hospitalization and involuntary feeding for minors.

Impact

The bill was projected to have several impacts:

  • State and Local Government: Increased workload for the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) and the Judicial Department due to the enforcement of the new consent requirements. Local governments, particularly school districts, would also need to adjust their policies and operations to comply with the new law.

  • No Financial Appropriations Required: The fiscal note indicated that no additional appropriations were necessary for the implementation of the bill.

  • Workload Increase: DORA anticipated a need for additional resources to update materials, conduct outreach, and promulgate rules. The Judicial Department might experience a minimal increase in civil cases related to noncompliance with the bill.

Procedural Aspects

  • Effective Date: If passed, the bill would take effect 90 days after the adjournment of the General Assembly, assuming no referendum petition was filed.

  • Postponement: The bill was postponed indefinitely by the House Committee on Health & Human Services, meaning it will not advance further in the legislative process.

Conclusion

HB 25-1251 was designed to reinforce parental authority over minors' medical treatment decisions, with specific exceptions for emergencies and legal circumstances. However, its indefinite postponement means that the proposed changes will not be enacted at this time.

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

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