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SB26-160 • 2026

Personal Protective Equipment & Meatpackers

The bill prohibits employers from making deductions from the wages or compensation of an employee for personal protective equipment. The bill also requires an employer with 500 or more employees who a

Agriculture Labor
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Sen. R. Rodriguez
Last action
2026-04-10
Official status
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Business, Labor, & Technology
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text specifies a maximum fine of $100 per employee for each violation, but it does not specify how fines will be enforced or collected.

Personal Protective Equipment and Meatpacker Restroom Access

This bill stops employers from deducting money for personal protective equipment from employees' paychecks and requires large meatpacking companies to provide reasonable restroom access.

What This Bill Does

  • Forbids employers from taking away part of an employee's wages or compensation for providing personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • Requires employers with at least 500 workers who handle livestock slaughter, rendering, or packaging meat to give their employees easy access to restrooms during work hours.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Employees who need personal protective equipment for their jobs.
  • Employers with more than 500 employees involved in meatpacking or livestock slaughter.

Terms To Know

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Equipment, clothing, and devices provided by employers to protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what 'reasonable access' means for restrooms.
  • It is unclear how fines will be enforced or collected.
  • The effective date of this act has not been determined yet.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-10 Senate

    Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Business, Labor, & Technology

Official Summary Text

The bill prohibits employers from making deductions from the wages or compensation of an employee for personal protective equipment.
The bill also requires an employer with 500 or more employees who are engaged in the slaughter of livestock or the rendering or packaging of meat to provide its employees reasonable access to restrooms. The division of labor standards and statistics in the department of labor and employment may fine an employer who fails to provide restroom access.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED

LLS NO. 26-0971.01 Yelana Love x2295 SENATE BILL 26-160
Senate Committees House Committees
Business, Labor, & Technology
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING EMPLOYEE PROTECTIONS IN THE WORKPLACE.101
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill prohibits employers from making deductions from the
wages or compensation of an employee for personal protective
equipment.
The bill also requires an employer with 500 or more employees
who are engaged in the slaughter of livestock or the rendering or
packaging of meat to provide its employees reasonable access to
restrooms. The division of labor standards and statistics in the department
of labor and employment may fine an employer who fails to provide
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Rodriguez,
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
(None),
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
restroom access.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 8-4-101, add (12.5)2
as follows:3
8-4-101. Definitions.4
As used in this article 4, unless the context otherwise requires:5
(12.5) (a) "P ERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT " MEANS6
EQUIPMENT, CLOTHING, RESPIRATORY DEVICES, PROTECTIVE SHIELDS, AND7
PROTECTIVE BARRIERS PROVIDED BY AN EMPLOYER TO PROTECT ITS8
EMPLOYEES AGAINST RECOGNIZED HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARDS.9
(b) "PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT" DOES NOT INCLUDE:10
(I) N ONSPECIALTY SAFETY -TOE PROTECTIVE FOOTWEAR ,11
INCLUDING STEEL-TOE SHOES AND STEEL-TOE BOOTS, OR NONSPECIALTY12
PRESCRIPTION SAFETY EYEWEAR , WHEN THE EMPLOYER PERMITS SUCH13
FOOTWEAR OR EYEWEAR TO BE WORN OFF THE JOB SITE;14
(II) B UILT-IN METATARSAL PROTECTION PROVIDED AT AN15
EMPLOYEE'S REQUEST;16
(III) LOGGING BOOTS;17
(IV) EVERYDAY CLOTHING, SUCH AS LONG-SLEEVED SHIRTS, LONG18
PANTS, STREET SHOES, AND NORMAL WORK BOOTS; AND19
(V) ORDINARY CLOTHING, SKIN CREAMS, OR OTHER ITEMS USED20
SOLELY FOR PROTECTION FROM WEATHER , SUCH AS WINTER COATS ,21
JACKETS, GLOVES, PARKAS, RUBBER BOOTS, HATS, RAINCOATS, ORDINARY22
SUNGLASSES, AND SUNSCREEN.23
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 8-4-105, amend24
(1)(b) as follows:25
SB26-160-2-
8-4-105. Payroll deductions permitted - notice required.1
(1) An employer shall not make a deduction from the wages or2
compensation of an employee except as follows:3
(b) Deductions for loans, advances, goods or services, and4
equipment or property, OTHER THAN PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT,5
provided by an employer to an employee pursuant to a written agreement6
between such employer and employee, so long as it is enforceable and not7
in violation of law;8
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 8-6-101.7 as9
follows:10
8-6-101.7. Meat workers - restrooms - definitions - fines.11
(1) AS USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE12
REQUIRES:13
(a) "E MPLOYEE" MEANS AN EMPLOYEE ENGAGED IN THE14
SLAUGHTER OF LIVESTOCK OR THE RENDERING OR PACKAGING OF MEAT.15
(b) "EMPLOYER" MEANS AN EMPLOYER WITH FIVE HUNDRED OR16
MORE EMPLOYEES IN THE STATE.17
(2) AN EMPLOYER SHALL NOT UNREASONABLY DENY AN EMPLOYEE18
THE USE OF A RESTROOM DURING WORK TIME.19
(3) THE DIVISION MAY FINE AN EMPLOYER ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS20
PER EMPLOYEE FOR EACH VIOLATION OF SUBSECTION (2) OF THIS SECTION.21
THE FINE IMPOSED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBSECTION (3) MUST NOT EXCEED22
TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS PER EMPLOYEE PER WEEK.23
SECTION 4. Applicability. This act applies to conduct occurring24
on or after the effective date of this act.25
SECTION 5. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,26
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate27
SB26-160-3-
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for1
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state2
institutions.3
SB26-160-4-