# Colorado SB26-125: Disability Rights Protections in Public Schools Colorado SB26-125, Disability Rights Protections in Public Schools, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Chris Kolker (Democratic), Jacque Phillips (Democratic), Janice Marchman (Democratic) and 1 others; status signed, last action 2026-05-29 (Governor Signed); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-16). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-SB26-125-2026A - As of: 2026-10-16 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Colorado SB26-125 - State: Colorado - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Disability Rights Protections in Public Schools - Status: signed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-02-25 - Last action: 2026-05-29, Governor Signed - Sponsors: Chris Kolker (Democratic), Jacque Phillips (Democratic), Janice Marchman (Democratic), Jennifer Bacon (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 33 - Subjects: Civil Law - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 8 (158 yes, 48 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 13 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Students get inclusive classes and activities: benefit, high. Schools must educate qualified students with disabilities alongside other students as much as appropriate. Separate placement requires that regular education cannot work satisfactorily even with added supports, and schools must consider distance from home. Disability-focused facilities, services, a… - Language and disability access for parents: benefit, medium. Schools must make reasonable accommodations for parents with disabilities, including communication disabilities, to access programs connected to their children. Parents with limited English must get meaningful access to information about school programs, services, and activities. Schools must provi… - Students and families protected from retaliation: benefit, medium. Schools must promptly investigate possible disability-based harassment when they know, or reasonably should know, about it. When harassment creates a hostile environment, schools must stop it, prevent recurrence, and address its effects. A student's Section 504 or individualized education program t… - School complaint contacts and staff training: benefit, low. Schools must offer a prompt, fair Section 504 complaint process; separate procedures can handle identification, evaluation, placement, and individualized education program matters. Each provider must name a compliance employee, provide needed time, resources, and authority, and train that employee… - Schools risk funding for intentional violations: benefit, low. The State Board may withhold state money from providers that intentionally violate disability protections and show unwillingness to enter a corrective plan. Before proceedings begin, the Board must give written notice of violations and required fixes, with 60 days to respond. Providers may appeal t… - Free student services with payment limits: mixed, high. Schools must provide every qualified student in their jurisdiction a free appropriate public education, regardless of disability severity. Covered education and related services are free, including outside services arranged by the school. Outside-placement transportation cannot cost families more t… - School access protections with accommodation limits: mixed, high. Colorado public school providers cannot exclude qualified students or deny benefits because of disability, including through discriminatory policies or facility locations. Inaccessible or unsafe facilities cannot be a reason to deny access. Schools must make reasonable policy changes, but may refus… - Student communication aids and interpreter safeguards: mixed, high. Schools must communicate with qualified students with disabilities as effectively as with other students and supply needed communication aids. Schools must give primary consideration to student requests and provide suitable aids on time, protecting privacy and independence. Students cannot be requi… - Student evaluations and parent hearing rights: mixed, medium. Schools must annually locate qualified students with disabilities who are not receiving public education and notify parents of this duty. Initial evaluations require parent notice and consent; eligible students must be reevaluated at least every three years without requiring consent. Evaluations mu… - Student remedies with state authority limits: mixed, medium. The law authorizes the Colorado Department of Education to investigate complaints, monitor implementation, and enforce decisions through corrective orders. After finding a violation, it may order make-up services, restore denied benefits, or require audits, training, and policy changes. Orders set… - Family complaint deadlines and local-process waivers: mixed, low. State complaints must concern violations within one calendar year before filing, or be filed within 60 days after the specified local process ends. While the department accepts complaints, families must first pursue local resolution; third parties may file systemic claims or represent students as a… - Federal claims remain, state remedies vary: mixed, low. Public entities cannot use this state law as a defense against federal claims, including special-education and Section 504 claims. But the state education department may dismiss a substantially similar complaint if the federal Office for Civil Rights complaint came first. If a similar federal compl… - State school enforcement depends on funding: mixed, low. The state education department may seek gifts, grants, and donations and hire outside help to support enforcement. Its specified enforcement authority takes effect only after it receives enough funding to carry out those duties. The Commissioner must notify the Revisor of Statutes when that funding… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Chris Kolker (Democratic), Senate - Sponsor: Jacque Phillips (Democratic), House - Sponsor: Janice Marchman (Democratic), Senate - Sponsor: Jennifer Bacon (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Andrew Boesenecker (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Alex Valdez (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Bob Marshall (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Chad Clifford (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jamie Jackson (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kenny Nguyen (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Lori Goldstein (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Monica Duran (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Mandy Lindsay (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Meghan Lukens (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Manny Rutinel (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Regina English (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Sean Camacho (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Sheila Lieder (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Yara Zokaie (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Sen. A. Benavidez - Cosponsor: Cathy Kipp (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Dylan Roberts (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Iman Jodeh (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Judy Amabile (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: James Coleman (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Jessie Danielson (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Julie Gonzales (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Kyle Mullica (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Lisa Cutter (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Matt Ball (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Marc Snyder (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Mike Weissman (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Nick Hinrichsen (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Robert Rodriguez (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Tony Exum (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Tom Sullivan (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: William Lindstedt (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-05-13 | House | Third reading: Bill | pass | 47 | 18 | | | 2026-05-13 | Senate | House amendments: Concur | pass | 35 | 0 | | | 2026-05-13 | Senate | House amendments: Repass | pass | 24 | 11 | | | 2026-05-11 | House | Refer Senate Bill 26-125 to the Committee of the Whole. | pass | 9 | 2 | | | 2026-05-08 | House | Refer Senate Bill 26-125, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. | pass | 8 | 3 | | | 2026-05-07 | Senate | Third reading: Bill | pass | 24 | 11 | | | 2026-05-06 | Senate | Refer Senate Bill 26-125, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. | pass | 4 | 3 | | | 2026-03-11 | Senate | Refer Senate Bill 26-125, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. | pass | 7 | 0 | | ## Actions (15) - 2026-05-29: Governor Signed (House) - 2026-05-19: Signed by the President of the Senate (Senate) - 2026-05-19: Signed by the Speaker of the House (House) - 2026-05-19: Sent to the Governor (House) - 2026-05-13: House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments (House) - 2026-05-13: Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass (Senate) - 2026-05-12: House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor (House) - 2026-05-11: House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole (House) - 2026-05-08: House Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to Appropriations (House) - 2026-05-07: Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments (Senate) - 2026-05-07: Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary (House) - 2026-05-06: Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole (Senate) - 2026-05-06: Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor (Senate) - 2026-03-11: Senate Committee on Education Refer Amended to Appropriations (Senate) - 2026-02-25: Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education (Senate) ## Bill text - Engrossed: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/115938/download) - Final Act: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/116517/download) - House Judiciary Preamend: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/116271/download) - Introduced: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/112610/download) - Reengrossed: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/116012/download) - Rerevised: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/116457/download) - Revised: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/116406/download) - Senate Appropriations Preamend: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/115923/download) - Senate Education Preamend: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/113194/download) - Signed Act: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/116825/download) ## Related bills - HB26-1250: Procedures Related to Civil Asset Forfeiture (signed) - HB26-1298: Background Checks for Child Welfare Placements (signed) - HB26-1414: Medical Record Requests (signed) - SB26-155: Increase Access Homeowner's Insurance Enterprise (signed) - HB26-1429: County Administration Public Assistance Programs (signed) - HB26-1430: Transportation Funding Adjustments (signed) ## Sources - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/115938/download) - [Final Act (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/116517/download) - [House Judiciary Preamend (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/116271/download) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/112610/download) - [Reengrossed (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/116012/download) - [Rerevised (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/116457/download) - [Revised (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/116406/download) - [Senate Appropriations Preamend (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/115923/download) - [Senate Education Preamend (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/113194/download) - [Signed Act (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/116825/download) ## Related - [HB26-1250: Procedures Related to Civil Asset Forfeiture](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB26-1250-2026A) - [HB26-1298: Background Checks for Child Welfare Placements](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB26-1298-2026A) - [HB26-1414: Medical Record Requests](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB26-1414-2026A) - [SB26-155: Increase Access Homeowner's Insurance Enterprise](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-SB26-155-2026A) - [HB26-1429: County Administration Public Assistance Programs](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB26-1429-2026A) - [HB26-1430: Transportation Funding Adjustments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB26-1430-2026A) - [Colorado bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/colorado/bills) - [Colorado state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/colorado) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-SB26-125-2026A (as of 2026-10-16).