Epilepsy-Related Mortality Awareness and Prevention Bill

Detected March 11th, 2026

Summary

Colorado Bill SB26-077 proposes new requirements for the department of public health and environment to increase awareness and prevention of epilepsy-related mortality. The bill mandates information dissemination, training for death investigation professionals, public health campaigns, and reporting to a registry.

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What changed

Colorado Bill SB26-077, introduced for the 2026 Regular Session, mandates significant actions by the Department of Public Health and Environment concerning epilepsy-related mortality. Key provisions include gathering and disseminating information on sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) to families and practitioners, ensuring death investigation professionals are trained on the latest recommendations, conducting a statewide public awareness campaign, and reporting all epilepsy-related deaths to a SUDEP registry. Furthermore, death investigations must determine if epilepsy or a seizure was the direct cause, and death certificates must identify epilepsy as a contributing factor if consistent with SUDEP.

This bill, if passed, will impose new operational requirements on state health agencies and death investigation professionals. Healthcare providers will receive new information, and public awareness efforts will be enhanced. The primary implication for regulated entities is the potential for increased scrutiny and standardized reporting of epilepsy-related deaths. Compliance officers should monitor the bill's progress through the legislative process and prepare for potential implementation of these new mandates.

What to do next

Monitor the progress of Colorado Bill SB26-077 through the legislative process.
Review proposed requirements for information dissemination, professional training, public awareness campaigns, and death certificate reporting related to epilepsy-related mortality.
Prepare for potential implementation of new state-level mandates concerning epilepsy-related death investigations and reporting.

Source document (simplified)

SB26-077

Epilepsy-Related Mortality Awareness

| Type | Bill |
| --- | --- |
| Session | 2026 Regular Session |
| Subjects | Health Care & Health Insurance State Government |
Concerning epilepsy-related mortality awareness.

Recent Bill (PDF) Recent Fiscal Note (PDF) Bill Summary:

The bill requires the department of public health and environment (department) to do the following in relation to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy and other epilepsy-related mortalities:

Gather and provide to families and health-care practitioners information on sudden unexpected death in epilepsy and other epilepsy-related mortalities;
Ensure that all death investigation professionals are aware of the latest epilepsy-related death investigation recommendations from a nationally recognized and reputable organization of medical examiners and a nationally recognized and reputable organization of medicolegal death investigators;
Conduct a statewide public health campaign to expand public awareness of and educate the public about epilepsy and its associated mortality risks; and
Report all epilepsy-related deaths to a sudden unexpected death in epilepsy registry. The bill also requires that investigations regarding the cause and manner of a death suspected to be or determined to be caused by epilepsy or a seizure must include a determination of whether the death was a direct result of a seizure or epilepsy. If there is a determination that the cause and manner of an individual's death was consistent with the definition of known or suspected sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, a death investigation professional shall ensure that the individual's death certificate identifies epilepsy as the contributing cause or suspected cause of death.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Prime Sponsors

Senator

Iman Jodeh

Committees

Senate

Health & Human Services

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Status

Under Consideration

Introduced

Under Consideration

Upcoming Schedule

1 meeting

Wed

Mar 11

Senate Third Reading of Bills - Final Passage - Consent Calendar

9:00 AM Senate Chamber

Related Documents & Information

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/10/2026 | Engrossed | PDF |
| 01/28/2026 | Introduced | PDF |

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/06/2026 | PA1 | PDF |

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/06/2026 | Fiscal Note Memorandum | PDF |
| 03/03/2026 | Initial Fiscal Note | PDF |

| Activity | Vote | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Refer Senate Bill 26-077, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. | The motion passed on a vote of 9-0. | Vote summary |
Committee Report: PDF
| Date | Amendment Number | Committee/ Floor Hearing | Status | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 03/05/2026 | L.005 | SEN Health & Human Services | Passed [*] | PDF |
* Amendments passed in committee are not incorporated into the measure unless adopted by the full House or Senate.

** The status of Second Reading amendments may be subsequently affected by the adoption of an amendment to the Committee of the Whole Report. Refer to the House or Senate Journal for additional information.

| Date | Location | Action |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/10/2026 | Senate | Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee |
| 03/05/2026 | Senate | Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole |
| 01/28/2026 | Senate | Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human Services |
Prime Sponsor

Sen. I. Jodeh

Sponsor

(None) Co-Sponsor

(None)