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ColoradoHB26-12722026 Regular SessionHouse

Extreme Temperatures Worker Protections

Sponsored By: Elizabeth Velasco (Democratic), Lisa Cutter (Democratic), Meg Froelich (Democratic), Mike Weissman (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Labor & Employment

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Worker protections reach more contract labor

Colorado’s worker-protection law covers migratory field labor contractors and crew leaders as responsible employers. Its broader coverage includes employees and people working for entities that contract with at least five independent contractors in Colorado annually. Covered entities also include agricultural employers and state and local governments. These coverage rules extend the law’s reach beyond traditional private-sector employment.

Colorado funds tracking of workplace temperature injuries

By January 15, 2027, Colorado’s labor division must host a website for reporting workplace temperature injuries, illnesses, and emergencies. It must also obtain heat-related data from the state health department’s health-event tracking system. The division must coordinate data collection with workers’ compensation officials and the Center for Improving Value in Health Care at least twice annually. The law provides $63,382 from the General Fund for labor-standards implementation in state fiscal year 2026–27. That funding assumes 0.4 additional full-time-equivalent staff positions and is not a payment to households.

New temperature safety duties for employers

Colorado’s labor division must publish a model workplace temperature safety plan by July 1, 2028. It must cover free cool drinking water, cooling or warming rest areas, temperature checks, training, and emergency response. It must also cover helping new or returning workers adjust to temperatures during their first 14 assignment days. The division must review and update the model at least every five years and may include added requirements or exemptions. Employers with workers exposed to extreme temperatures must submit their own plans by September 1, 2028, and provide appropriate training; they can adopt or adapt the model.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Elizabeth Velasco

    Democratic • House

  • Lisa Cutter

    Democratic • Senate

  • Meg Froelich

    Democratic • House

  • Mike Weissman

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Andrew Boesenecker

    Democratic • House

  • Alex Valdez

    Democratic • House

  • Chad Clifford

    Democratic • House

  • Emily Sirota

    Democratic • House

  • Jennifer Bacon

    Democratic • House

  • Jamie Jackson

    Democratic • House

  • Javier Mabrey

    Democratic • House

  • Jenny Willford

    Democratic • House

  • Kyle Brown

    Democratic • House

  • Karen McCormick

    Democratic • House

  • Kenny Nguyen

    Democratic • House

  • Lorena Garcia

    Democratic • House

  • Lesley Smith

    Democratic • House

  • Monica Duran

    Democratic • House

  • Mandy Lindsay

    Democratic • House

  • Manny Rutinel

    Democratic • House

  • Naquetta Ricks

    Democratic • House

  • Regina English

    Democratic • House

  • Sean Camacho

    Democratic • House

  • Sheila Lieder

    Democratic • House

  • Tammy Story

    Democratic • House

  • Yara Zokaie

    Democratic • House

  • Sen. A. Benavidez

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Cathy Kipp

    Democratic • Senate

  • Chris Kolker

    Democratic • Senate

  • Iman Jodeh

    Democratic • Senate

  • Judy Amabile

    Democratic • Senate

  • James Coleman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jessie Danielson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Julie Gonzales

    Democratic • Senate

  • Janice Marchman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Katie Wallace

    Democratic • Senate

  • Tony Exum

    Democratic • Senate

  • Tom Sullivan

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 178 • No: 101

House vote • 5/13/2026

Senate amendments: Repass

Yes: 43 • No: 22

House vote • 5/13/2026

Senate amendments: Concur

Yes: 43 • No: 22

Senate vote • 5/13/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 21 • No: 14

Senate vote • 5/11/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1272, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 4 • No: 3

Senate vote • 5/7/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1272 to the Committee on Appropriations.

Yes: 3 • No: 2

House vote • 5/5/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 43 • No: 22

House vote • 5/4/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1272, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 8 • No: 3

House vote • 3/18/2026

Adopt amendment L.003 (Attachment N).

Yes: 5 • No: 8

House vote • 3/18/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1272, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.

Yes: 8 • No: 5

Actions Timeline

  1. Governor Signed

    6/4/2026House

  2. Signed by the Speaker of the House

    6/3/2026House

  3. Signed by the President of the Senate

    6/3/2026Senate

  4. Sent to the Governor

    6/3/2026House

  5. Senate Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

    5/13/2026Senate

  6. Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    5/13/2026Senate

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

    5/13/2026House

  8. Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole

    5/11/2026Senate

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

    5/11/2026Senate

  10. Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Refer Unamended to Appropriations

    5/7/2026Senate

  11. House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    5/5/2026House

  12. Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs

    5/5/2026Senate

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

    5/4/2026House

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

    5/4/2026House

  15. House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to Appropriations

    3/18/2026House

  16. Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services

    2/19/2026House

Bill Text

  • Engrossed

    PDF

  • Final Act

    PDF

  • House Appropriations Preamend

    PDF

  • House Health & Human Services Preamend

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

  • Reengrossed

    PDF

  • Rerevised

    PDF

  • Revised

    PDF

  • Senate Appropriations Preamend

    PDF

  • Signed Act

    PDF

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