House Committee Passes Legislation to Protect Civil Rights

The House Judiciary Committee today passed legislation to protect civil rights and Colorado’s immigrant communities. SB25-276 would strengthen existing data privacy protections and clarify constitutional protections for immigrants.

“Colorado is stronger when everyone can live, work and contribute to our economy,” said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs. “The Trump administration’s attacks on our civil liberties have caused chaos and sparked fear among Colorado’s immigrant community while disrupting businesses and hurting our economy. This important bill strengthens Colorado laws around personal data sharing and reaffirms our existing protections to ensure fair treatment under the law for all who reside in Colorado.” 

“Our bill upholds the civil and constitutional rights for everyone who lives in Colorado,” said Rep. Lorena García, D-Unincorporated Adams County. “Our immigrant communities are living in fear of the Trump administration’s overreach on immigration as it defies court orders, raids private data, and conducts sweeping and untargeted deportations that have included American citizens. With this bill, we are limiting personal data sharing with the federal government and clarifying  protections for immigrants in public spaces to create a future where everyone can participate and contribute to our communities without fear.”  

This legislation would build on existing data privacy law by prohibiting public employees from sharing personally-identifying information related to immigration status with federal immigration enforcement. To further deter unwarranted data collection by federal enforcement agencies, the bill would also repeal outdated affidavit requirements to access a Colorado driver’s license or in-state tuition.

The bill would clarify protections for immigrants at public locations, including hospitals, schools, public institutions of higher education, public health care facilities, libraries, and public child care centers. It reaffirms current law that the continued detention of an individual after bond is posted and processed is considered an unconstitutional and warrantless arrest. Additionally, the bill would ensure that local and state resources are not commandeered and utilized by federal immigration enforcement except in situations explicitly required by law.

SB25-276 passed committee by a vote of 7-4.