The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Colorado bill establishes state-level civil liability for constitutional rights violations with a 2-year statute of limitations
Last action · May 4, 2026: Senate Committee on Judiciary Postpone IndefinitelySponsors: Julie Gonzales and 3 others
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What This Bill Would Do
Senate Bill 176 allows individuals to sue for legal or in state court when someone acting under color of law deprives them of constitutional rights, subject to a two-year statute of limitations and available immunity defenses.
Creates a distinct state-level legal avenue for seeking damages or court orders when constitutional rights are violated, while permitting defendants to raise absolute or defenses.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Injured Parties
Individuals are newly authorized to pursue legal or equitable relief in state court for constitutional deprivations.
Defendants Acting Under Color of Law
Defendants face potential civil liability for constitutional rights deprivations while retaining the ability to assert absolute or qualified immunity defenses.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of relief can an injured party seek under this bill?
What is the time limit for filing an action under this measure?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
2 actions- May 4, 2026SenateSenate Committee on Judiciary Postpone Indefinitely
- Apr 21, 2026SenateIntroducedIntroduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Voting Record
Refer Senate Bill 26-176 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Total
7
- Yes
- 3
- No
- 4
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
Show 1 earlier roll call
Postpone Senate Bill 26-176 indefinitely using a reversal of the previous roll call. There was no objection to the use of the reverse roll call, therefore, the bill was postponed indefinitely.
Total
7
- Yes
- 4
- No
- 3
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
leg.colorado.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy80Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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