Sen. Julie Gonzales

Under current law, a parent can voluntarily relinquish their child to a firefighter or hospital or community clinic emergency center staff member if the child is less than 72 hours old. The act allows a parent to voluntarily relinquish their child if the child is 30 days old or younger and requires the department of human services to adopt rules establishing a process for either parent of child who was relinquished to reunify with the child.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The bill prohibits an employer from:Subjecting an employee to an adverse employment action in response to the employee's disclosure of, or communication about, the employee's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression or to the employee's status as a transgender, nonbinary, or transitioning individual; orRetaliating against an employee who supports, assists, or advocates for a coworker, student, or client in exercising their right to nondiscrimination, including by referring to an individual by their chosen names, pronouns, or personal titles.The bill allows an employee to determine the names, pronouns, and personal titles that are used to refer to the employee in the workplace, and the bill requires an employer, upon notification by an employee, to update all internal and public-facing records to reflect the employee's chosen name. If an employee chooses a name other than the employee's legal name, an employer must use the employee's legal name only where such use is required by law.The bill prohibits an employer from having a workplace dress code that imposes different requirements on the basis of an individual's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. An employer must allow each employee access to a restroom and changing facility that corresponds with the employee's gender identity.An employer operating a public building must ensure that the building includes at least one restroom that is compliant with the federal "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990" and accessible to all individuals, regardless of the individual's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. An employer must provide private, nonbathroom spaces for nursing or pumping, which spaces are available to all parents regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.An employer must ensure equal access to certain employment benefits without regard to an employee's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.The bill requires every public employer to provide a voluntary, employee-initiated process for the development and implementation of a written transition plan for a transgender or transitioning employee. Upon request by an employee, a public employer shall promptly engage in good faith discussions with the employee, and, if applicable, the employee's designated union representative, to develop a transition plan. A transition plan may include consideration of:Internal and external communications regarding the employee's transition;Scheduling and approval of any absences related to the transition process;Procedures for updating and using the employee's chosen names, pronouns, and personal titles in employment contexts; andTraining or educational opportunities for coworkers, students, or other stakeholders to promote understanding of the experiences in the workplace of transgender individuals and individuals who are transitioning.An employee of a private employer may request to collaborate with their employer to develop and implement a transition plan.The bill requires an employer to permit an employee to use the employee's available sick or personal leave time for the purpose of changing the employee's legal name or obtaining gender-affirming medical care, including recovery time.The bill requires a public employer to provide annual training to all employees regarding inclusive workplaces and support for LGBTQ+ employees. The department of labor and employment (department), in consultation with labor unions and LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations, must develop and make available training materials for this purpose.The department may receive and investigate complaints alleging violations, issue findings and orders to provide relief, and refer cases involving egregious or willful violations to the Colorado civil rights division or to the attorney general. The types of relief that the department may order include a fine in an amount not to exceed $5,000 for each violation.The department is required to adopt rules to implement and enforce the bill.The bill takes effect June 1, 2028.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution officially designates April 2026 as National Donate Life Month in Colorado. The measure serves to raise public awareness about organ, eye, and tissue donation and honors the individuals who contribute to transplant programs. Additionally, the Senate will send a copy of this resolution to the Donor Alliance to support their outreach efforts.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution designates April 2026 as Second Chance Month in Colorado to raise awareness about the challenges faced by individuals with criminal records. The measure highlights how legal restrictions and social barriers, known as collateral consequences, often prevent formerly incarcerated people from finding employment, accessing housing, and participating fully in society. By honoring the efforts of various community groups and government agencies, the resolution encourages citizens to support programs that help these individuals reintegrate and contribute to their communities. The bill does not change any laws or policies but serves as a symbolic gesture to promote public understanding and compassion for those seeking a fresh start. Copies of the resolution are sent to state and federal leaders, as well as relevant organizations, to further spread the message of redemption and second chances.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Joint Resolution formally recognizes the 43rd anniversary of the sister-state relationship between Colorado and Taiwan while expressing support for their ongoing trade and academic exchanges. The bill highlights recent cooperation in emerging technologies such as quantum computing and semiconductors, and it advocates for Taiwan's participation in international organizations like the World Health Organization and the United Nations. Additionally, the resolution commends Taiwan's democratic system and supports the signing of a U.S.-Taiwan agreement on avoiding double taxation. As a non-binding legislative statement, it does not alter laws or budgets but serves to publicly endorse these diplomatic and economic ties.

Maddy summarySJM 1 is a joint memorial resolution honoring Senator Faith Winter, who died in November 2025. It recognizes her career as a Colorado legislator representing Adams, Broomfield, and Weld Counties, her work on environmental justice, women's leadership initiatives, and legislative achievements like the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act. The resolution expresses the legislature's condolences to her family and commemorates her legacy of advocacy for climate action, healthcare access, and community-centered policies. This procedural resolution does not create new laws or affect any policies.

The act requires that an applicant for a teacher license disclose misdemeanor convictions that occurred in the last 7 years, except traffic misdemeanors, unless:The misdemeanor was committed against an at-risk person or a child; or The department of education has specified that the misdemeanor is grounds for denial, annulment, suspension, or revocation of a license, certificate, endorsement, or authorization.     The act requires that an applicant for a teacher license disclose any misdemeanor conviction in the 2 above categories, regardless of the date of conviction.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act allows the state department of education (CDE) to issue a professional teacher license to a teacher with at least 3 years of successful teaching experience in another state or country for which CDE has granted reciprocity. The act eliminates the requirement that an applicant have the successful teaching experience within the previous 7 years.     The act creates a temporary licensing process for teachers from states that participate in the 'Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact' (Compact). The process requires that CDE:Issue an initial teacher license within 30 days of receiving a complete teacher license application from a person licensed by a Compact state when the applicant passes a criminal history record check and holds an unencumbered eligible license issued by a Compact state that is equivalent to an eligible license in Colorado; and Publish an annual table showing how out-of-state licenses correspond to Colorado endorsement areas.     The act repeals the temporary licensing process when CDE begins issuing licenses pursuant to the Compact.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Colorado law exempts the owner of a motor vehicle who is a member of the United States armed forces (member) from motor vehicle registration fees and sets the specific ownership tax at $1 while the member is serving outside the United States. This applies to personal motor vehicles and intrastate trucks, truck tractors, trailers, and semitrailers used to transport property. To qualify, the member must show the military order or evidence acceptable to the department of revenue (department) demonstrating that the member served outside the United States. The act repeals a requirement that the member sign an affidavit to qualify for the $1 specific ownership fee or to be exempt from the motor vehicle fee.     Colorado law exempts members from paying late fees for failing to renew a registration for a vehicle if the member was serving outside the state when the registration period expired. The act sets the requirement to qualify for a late fee exception by requiring the member to show the military order or evidence acceptable to the department demonstrating that the member served outside of the state.     The department will notify the member that the vehicle or motor vehicle must not be driven during deployment.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Current law requires the defense to furnish a copy of any report of examination of the defendant that is made at the instance of the defense to the prosecution in a reasonable amount of time in advance of trial. The act requires a copy of the report to also be furnished to the court who, upon receipt of the copy, shall provide a copy to the department of human services.     The act authorizes community placement of a defendant for treatment and rehabilitation.     For a defendant who was charged with a crime allegedly committed on or after July 1, 2026, the act clarifies the legal standard for a defendant's conditional or unconditional release from the department. The standard for unconditional release is that the defendant has no abnormal mental condition that would be likely to cause the defendant to be dangerous to the defendant's self or others or to the community in the reasonably foreseeable future, is capable of distinguishing right from wrong, and has substantial capacity to conform their conduct to the law. The standard for conditional release is that the defendant can satisfy the standard for unconditional release but with the imposition of and compliance with conditions. At an unconditional release hearing for a defendant who is on conditional release, if any evidence is introduced that shows the defendant is ineligible for unconditional release, the defendant has the burden of proving that the defendant meets the applicable test for unconditional release.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)