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HB25-1239 will expand protections under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act
DENVER, CO - Governor Polis today signed a new law to strengthen Colorado’s anti-discrimination laws.
HB25-1239, sponsored by Senators Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, and Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada, and Representatives Yara Zokaie, D-Fort Collins, and Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins, will expand protections under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA) to protect vulnerable communities, especially Coloradans with disabilities.
“People with disabilities should have the same rights to seek damages after experiencing discrimination as any other protected group,” said Weissman. “This bill ensures that people with disabilities can be compensated for attorney fees, emotional distress, and other noneconomic harms if they experience discrimination or violation of their civil rights.”
“Under threat from the Trump Administration, it’s more important now than ever that we strengthen Colorado’s anti-discrimination laws,” said Zokaie. “When someone is wronged, we have a duty to create a pathway to justice. With this new law, we’re upholding our shared values of fairness, dignity, and equality under Colorado law and better protecting Coloradans who experience discrimination.”
“The cost of hiring an attorney prevents many Coloradans from pursuing justice after facing discrimination,” said Daugherty. “People with disabilities who are denied housing or turned away from public spaces deserve a clear path to hold wrongdoers accountable and access the support they need to move forward.”
“This law addresses unreasonable deadlines, barriers to financial compensation and other gaps in the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act to strengthen protections for Coloradans who experience discrimination,” said Boesenecker. “From housing discrimination to inaccessible building entrances, Coloradans with disabilities have faced barriers to access for far too long. This law provides crucial recourse to people with disabilities and other victims of discrimination to ensure they can receive the justice they deserve.”
This law comes from a task force established by the legislature in 2023 to study the rights of Coloradans with disabilities and make recommendations. HB25-1239 is the largest expansion of CADA enforcement rights since CADA was passed nearly 70 years ago.
This new law will allow victims of discrimination to receive monetary compensation for unfair housing practices, discrimination in places of public accommodation, or a violation of their civil rights under the CADA for all protected classes. Under the law, victims will be able to recover attorney’s fees and costs, and either recovery of actual monetary damages, non-economic damages of up to $50,000, or a statutory fine of $5,000 per violation per aggrieved party.
Awards for damages for non-economic loss or injury will be limited to $50,000. A defendant will be entitled to a 50 percent reduction of the amount of the non-economic loss or injury if the defendant corrects the violation within 30 days of the complaint and did not knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly cause the violation.