SB26-179 • 2026

Public Health Employee Whistleblower Rights

Current law prohibits a principal from discriminating, taking adverse action, or retaliating against a worker who, in good faith, raises a reasonable concern about workplace violations of government h

Healthcare 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: 2026-04-30
Official status: Senate Committee on Business, Labor, & Technology Postpone Indefinitely
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Public Health Employee Whistleblower Rights

What This Bill Does

Current law prohibits a principal from discriminating, taking adverse action, or retaliating against a worker who, in good faith, raises a reasonable concern about workplace violations of government health or safety rules.
The bill adds the university of Colorado hospital authority and the Denver health and hospital authority to the definition of 'principal'.
The bill further clarifies that any action or potential action arising under the law regarding worker rights related to health and safety is not subject to the limitations, notice requirements, procedural requirements, or liability restrictions set forth in the 'Colorado Governmental Immunity Act'.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2026-04-30 Senate
Senate Committee on Business, Labor, & Technology Postpone Indefinitely
2026-04-23 Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Business, Labor, & Technology

Official Summary Text

Current law prohibits a principal from discriminating, taking adverse action, or retaliating against a worker who, in good faith, raises a reasonable concern about workplace violations of government health or safety rules.
The bill adds the university of Colorado hospital authority and the Denver health and hospital authority to the definition of 'principal'. The bill further clarifies that any action or potential action arising under the law regarding worker rights related to health and safety is not subject to the limitations, notice requirements, procedural requirements, or liability restrictions set forth in the 'Colorado Governmental Immunity Act'.
(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. 26-0999.01 Jacob Bennington x2371 SENATE BILL 26-179
Senate Committees House Committees
Business, Labor, & Technology
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING MEASURES TO INCREASE WORKER RIGHTS RELATED TO101
HEALTH AND SAFETY.102
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.)
Current law prohibits a principal from discriminating, taking
adverse action, or retaliating against a worker who, in good faith, raises
a reasonable concern about workplace violations of government health or
safety rules.
The bill adds the university of Colorado hospital authority and the
Denver health and hospital authority to the definition of "principal". The
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.
bill further clarifies that any action or potential action arising under the
law regarding worker rights related to health and safety is not subject to
the limitations, notice requirements, procedural requirements, or liability
restrictions set forth in the "Colorado Governmental Immunity Act".
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 8-14.4-101, amend2
(3)(d) and (3)(e); and add (3)(f) as follows:3
8-14.4-101. Definitions.4
As used in this article 14.4, unless the context otherwise requires:5
(3) "Principal" means:6
(d) An entity that contracts with five or more independent7
contractors in the state each year; and8
(e) A person or entity engaged in agricultural employment; AND9
(f) A "PUBLIC EMPLOYER ", AS DEFINED IN SECTION 29-33-10310
(6)(f) AND (6)(g).11
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 8-14.4-107, add (5)12
as follows:13
8-14.4-107. Whistleblower enforcement - qui tam - definition.14
(5) A NY ACTION OR POTENTIAL ACTION ARISING UNDER THIS15
ARTICLE 14.4 IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE LIMITATIONS , NOTICE16
REQUIREMENTS, PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS, OR LIABILITY RESTRICTIONS17
SET FORTH IN THE "COLORADO GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY ACT", ARTICLE18
10 OF TITLE 24.19
SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act20
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the21
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August22
12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13, 2026); except that, if a23
SB26-179-2-
referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the1
state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act2
within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect3
unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in4
November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the5
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.6
SB26-179-3-