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ColoradoHB25-10312025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Law Enforcement Whistleblower Protection

Sponsored By: Byron Pelton (Republican), Chad Clifford (Democratic), Dylan Roberts (Democratic), Jennifer Bacon (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Civil LawCrimes, Corrections, & Enforcement

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Colorado officer whistleblowers can seek damages

Covered officers harmed by retaliation can sue their employer after completing applicable internal procedures provided to them in writing. Agencies must offer another reporting route when procedures require reporting to the person accused of retaliation. Agencies must finish the internal process within 180 days after a report or disclosure. Officers satisfy this requirement if the agency has no procedure or misses that deadline. Agencies can ask courts to pause cases for delays beyond their control, such as open criminal or critical-incident investigations. The filing deadline is two years after the latest harmful job action; that clock pauses during the internal process. Courts can award reinstatement with preserved seniority, back pay with interest, other corrective relief, damages for financial and emotional harm, and reasonable attorney fees and costs. Officers can request a hearing after judgment on reinstatement or attorney fees. The employer can defeat the claim by showing it more likely than not took the same action for a legitimate, nonretaliatory reason. Colorado’s Governmental Immunity Act does not apply to these claims.

Workplace protections for Colorado officer whistleblowers

Colorado protects covered peace officers and noncertified deputy sheriffs from retaliation for good-faith reports to the proper supervising authority. Officers must reasonably believe their report concerns a public health or safety danger or another officer’s alleged law violation. Banned retaliation includes firing, discipline, lost promotions, harmful transfers, harassment, reduced pay or hours, and false information harming future job opportunities. Protection excludes knowingly false or reckless reports, failures to follow applicable reporting procedures, and reports about the officer’s own negligence or misconduct. Normal agency operations, including temporary suspensions during investigations, and discipline for unrelated reasons remain allowed. By January 1, 2026, agencies employing state-certified peace officers must provide employee training, an accessible, readable workplace notice, or both. Agencies that train current employees must train later hires during orientation.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Byron Pelton

    Republican • Senate

  • Chad Clifford

    Democratic • House

  • Dylan Roberts

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jennifer Bacon

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Andrew Boesenecker

    Democratic • House

  • Amy Paschal

    Democratic • House

  • Alex Valdez

    Democratic • House

  • Brandi Bradley

    Republican • House

  • Bob Marshall

    Democratic • House

  • Brianna Titone

    Democratic • House

  • Carlos Barron

    Republican • House

  • Cecelia Espenoza

    Democratic • House

  • Dusty Johnson

    Republican • House

  • Dan Woog

    Republican • House

  • Eliza Hamrick

    Democratic • House

  • Emily Sirota

    Democratic • House

  • Jarvis Caldwell

    Republican • House

  • Jamie Jackson

    Democratic • House

  • Junie Joseph

    Democratic • House

  • Javier Mabrey

    Democratic • House

  • Julie McCluskie

    Democratic • House

  • Jacque Phillips

    Democratic • House

  • Jenny Willford

    Democratic • House

  • Kyle Brown

    Democratic • House

  • Karen McCormick

    Democratic • House

  • Katie Stewart

    Democratic • House

  • Lorena Garcia

    Democratic • House

  • Lesley Smith

    Democratic • House

  • Max Brooks

    Republican • House

  • Michael Carter

    Democratic • House

  • Monica Duran

    Democratic • House

  • Meg Froelich

    Democratic • House

  • Mandy Lindsay

    Democratic • House

  • Meghan Lukens

    Democratic • House

  • Manny Rutinel

    Democratic • House

  • Naquetta Ricks

    Democratic • House

  • Regina English

    Democratic • House

  • Ryan Gonzalez

    Republican • House

  • Rebecca Keltie

    Republican • House

  • Ron Weinberg

    Republican • House

  • Rep. S. Bird

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Sean Camacho

    Democratic • House

  • Sheila Lieder

    Democratic • House

  • Steven Woodrow

    Democratic • House

  • Tammy Story

    Democratic • House

  • Ty Winter

    Republican • House

  • William Lindstedt

    Democratic • Senate

  • Yara Zokaie

    Democratic • House

  • Cathy Kipp

    Democratic • Senate

  • Chris Kolker

    Democratic • Senate

  • Dafna Michaelson Jenet

    Democratic • Senate

  • Sen. F. Winter

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Iman Jodeh

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jeff Bridges

    Democratic • Senate

  • James Coleman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Julie Gonzales

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kyle Mullica

    Democratic • Senate

  • Katie Wallace

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lisa Cutter

    Democratic • Senate

  • Matt Ball

    Democratic • Senate

  • Marc Snyder

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mike Weissman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Nick Hinrichsen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Tony Exum

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 239 • No: 3

House vote • 4/15/2025

Senate amendments: Repass

Yes: 64 • No: 0

House vote • 4/15/2025

Senate amendments: Concur

Yes: 63 • No: 1

Senate vote • 4/14/2025

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 33 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/9/2025

Refer House Bill 25-1031, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.

Yes: 7 • No: 0

House vote • 3/31/2025

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 63 • No: 0

House vote • 3/25/2025

Refer House Bill 25-1031, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 9 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Governor Signed

    6/3/2025House

  2. Sent to the Governor

    5/2/2025House

  3. Signed by the Speaker of the House

    5/1/2025House

  4. Signed by the President of the Senate

    5/1/2025Senate

  5. House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass

    4/15/2025House

  6. Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    4/14/2025Senate

  7. Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee

    4/11/2025Senate

  8. Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole

    4/9/2025Senate

  9. Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary

    4/3/2025Senate

  10. House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    3/31/2025House

  11. House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

    3/28/2025House

  12. House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee

    3/27/2025House

  13. House Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole

    3/25/2025House

  14. Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary

    1/8/2025House

Bill Text

  • Engrossed

    PDF

  • Final Act

    PDF

  • House Judiciary Preamend

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

  • Reengrossed

    PDF

  • Rerevised

    PDF

  • Revised

    PDF

  • Senate Judiciary Preamend

    PDF

  • Signed Act

    PDF

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