All Roll Calls
Yes: 226 • No: 101
ColoradoHB25-10012025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Enforcement Wage Hour Laws
Sponsored By: Chris Kolker (Democratic), Jessie Danielson (Democratic), Meg Froelich (Democratic), Monica Duran (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
Labor & Employment
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Employers face fines for misclassifying workers
Employers face fines per employee for treating workers as nonemployees when that may affect wage or hour payments or reporting. The fines come on top of other relief: $5,000 for a willful violation or $10,000 if unfixed 60 days after the division’s finding. A second or later willful violation within five years brings a $25,000 fine, rising to $50,000 if unfixed within 60 days. The director must adjust fines by January 1, 2028, and every two years afterward for any inflation increase over the prior two years. Adjustments use the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Consumer Price Index.
Shorter wait for workers’ wage-fund payments
Colorado shortens the wait for Wage Theft Enforcement Fund payments from six months to 120 days. The labor division may pay unpaid wages, compensation, or other monetary relief when an employer still has not paid. The 120 days run from the applicable determination, hearing officer decision, or end of a payment stay or postponement, whichever is later. Payments depend on available fund money and the division’s payment priorities.
Stronger pay protections for Colorado workers
Colorado employers cannot make payroll deductions that lower an employee’s pay below the applicable minimum wage. Wage laws also cover each person who owns or controls at least 25% of an employer. A minority owner is excluded if they show they fully delegated authority over day-to-day operations.
Workers can bring larger agency claims
Colorado’s labor division can handle wage claims up to $7,500 filed through June 30, 2026. The limit is $13,000 for claims filed July 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027. Beginning January 1, 2028, the director must set the limit annually by rule. Each year’s limit must rise by at least $1,000 over the prior year, or more to match inflation. Inflation is measured using the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers.
Workers gain stronger wage lawsuit rights
People claiming harm from Colorado wage-law violations can sue without first completing the state agency process. They can seek available court orders to prevent future violations or stop employers from keeping unfair gains. The law also limits when workers face an employer’s legal bills. An employer can receive reasonable costs and attorney fees only if it offered payment within 14 days after a written demand was sent or a lawsuit was served. The court must also find that employees receiving the offer pursued a case without substantial justification.
Stronger local enforcement of workers’ wages
Colorado cities and counties can pass and enforce wage-payment laws for work in their area without reducing state protections or benefits. The law also recognizes county-authorized people who prosecute crimes or enforce wage laws. The state labor division must publish public-record wage violations, including citations, determinations or written opinions, employer names, and whether violations were willful. It must report willful violations still unfixed 60 days after its finding to government bodies overseeing employer licenses or credentials. It may also refer other wage-law violations to those bodies.
Prompt wage payments can erase penalties
Colorado’s labor director can waive a penalty for failing to pay claimed wages within 14 days after a written demand. The employer must pay all claimed amounts within 14 days after the related agency claim is sent or served. No waiver is allowed for a second or later failure to pay that employee within five years. This can encourage faster wage payment, but workers may lose the added penalty.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Chris Kolker
Democratic • Senate
Jessie Danielson
Democratic • Senate
Meg Froelich
Democratic • House
Monica Duran
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Amy Paschal
Democratic • House
Cecelia Espenoza
Democratic • House
Gretchen Rydin
Democratic • House
Jamie Jackson
Democratic • House
Junie Joseph
Democratic • House
Julie McCluskie
Democratic • House
Jacque Phillips
Democratic • House
Kyle Brown
Democratic • House
Karen McCormick
Democratic • House
Lesley Smith
Democratic • House
Mandy Lindsay
Democratic • House
Meghan Lukens
Democratic • House
Rep. S. Bird
Affiliation unavailable
Steven Woodrow
Democratic • House
Tammy Story
Democratic • House
William Lindstedt
Democratic • Senate
Iman Jodeh
Democratic • Senate
Judy Amabile
Democratic • Senate
James Coleman
Democratic • Senate
Katie Wallace
Democratic • Senate
Lindsey Daugherty
Democratic • Senate
Matt Ball
Democratic • Senate
Marc Snyder
Democratic • Senate
Robert Rodriguez
Democratic • Senate
Tony Exum
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 5/7/2025
Senate amendments: Concur
Yes: 41 • No: 22
House vote • 5/7/2025
Senate amendments: Repass
Yes: 41 • No: 22
Senate vote • 5/6/2025
Third reading: Amend (l.041)
Yes: 35 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/6/2025
Third reading: Bill
Yes: 23 • No: 12
Senate vote • 4/30/2025
Adopt amendment J.003
Yes: 4 • No: 3
Senate vote • 4/30/2025
Refer House Bill 25-1001, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Yes: 4 • No: 3
Senate vote • 4/17/2025
Refer House Bill 25-1001 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Yes: 4 • No: 3
House vote • 4/2/2025
Third reading: Bill
Yes: 42 • No: 22
House vote • 3/25/2025
Refer House Bill 25-1001, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Yes: 6 • No: 3
House vote • 2/24/2025
Refer House Bill 25-1001, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Yes: 8 • No: 5
House vote • 2/24/2025
Adopt amendment L.005 (Attachment B).
Yes: 10 • No: 1
House vote • 1/30/2025
Refer House Bill 25-1001 to the Committee on Finance.
Yes: 8 • No: 5
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
5/22/2025HouseSigned by the Speaker of the House
5/13/2025HouseSigned by the President of the Senate
5/13/2025SenateSent to the Governor
5/13/2025HouseHouse Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
5/7/2025HouseSenate Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor
5/6/2025SenateHouse Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily
5/6/2025HouseSenate Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
5/5/2025SenateSenate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
5/2/2025SenateSenate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
4/30/2025SenateSenate Committee on Business, Labor, & Technology Refer Unamended to Appropriations
4/17/2025SenateIntroduced In Senate - Assigned to Business, Labor, & Technology
4/7/2025SenateHouse Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
4/2/2025HouseHouse Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
4/1/2025HouseHouse Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
3/27/2025HouseHouse Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
3/25/2025HouseHouse Committee on Finance Refer Amended to Appropriations
2/24/2025HouseHouse Committee on Business Affairs & Labor Refer Unamended to Finance
1/30/2025HouseIntroduced In House - Assigned to Business Affairs & Labor
1/8/2025House
Bill Text
Engrossed
Final Act
House Appropriations Preamend
House Finance Preamend
Introduced
Reengrossed
Rerevised
Revised
Senate Appropriations Preamend
Signed Act
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