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During the 2024 legislative session, the General Assembly passed a number of measures related to civil law. Specifically, the legislature increased consumer protections, regulated debt-related services, allowed for attorney fees in land use decisions, revisited civil protection orders, and updated uniform laws.  

During the 2025 legislative session, the General Assembly passed a number of measures related to civil law. Specifically, the legislature updated policies about digital images, law enforcement whistleblower protections, civil rape shield laws, anti‑discrimination, and landowner immunity.

This memorandum provides information on Colorado's construction defect laws and the various issues surrounding construction defects in Colorado. It summarizes the current construction defect laws in the state, provides a summary of a recent Denver Regional Council of Governments study of the Denver housing market, and gives a comparative view of the civil laws of Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas as points of reference

This memorandum provides information regarding state laws penalizing those who misrepresent pets or other animals as service animals. Nine states have laws prohibiting the misrepresentation of pets, and nine states have laws prohibiting people from misrepresenting themselves as disabled in order to gain the use of service animals. Colorado prohibits impersonating an individual with disabilities, without specifying the use of a service animal.

Recent federal policy changes have increased public awareness of asset forfeiture, a  process  through  which  a  law  enforcement agency can seize property that may have been involved  in  a  criminal  action.  

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, approximately 10.3 percent of Colorado’s population reported having a disability in 2015.  Many of those individuals use a service animal or assistance animal to cope with their disability.  This issue brief defines the terms “service animal” and “assistance animal,” and discusses the federal and state laws that address them.

Recent federal policy changes have increased public awareness of asset forfeiture, a process through which a law enforcement agency can seize property that may have been involved in a criminal action.  While federal policy affects federal seizures in the state, Colorado law governs how state and local agencies participate in seizure actions.  This issue brief summarizes Colorado and federal civil asset forfeiture laws.

What can a person do if he or she feels that an attorney or judge in a legal matter acted unprofessionally?  In Colorado, there are formal complaint processes to review the conduct of attorneys and judges and to administer discipline when warranted.  Additionally, voters can choose whether to retain or dismiss judges who are up for retention in an election.  This issue brief provides an overview of these complaint and retention processes.

During the 2018 legislative session, the Colorado General Assembly considered measures related to civil law. Specifically, the legislature considered bills regarding civil protections, the statute of limitations for domestic violence offenses, immunity, jurisdiction, and liability.

During the 2023 legislative session, the General Assembly examined a number of measures related to civil law. Specifically, the legislature passed bills that made changes to consumer protections, asset forfeiture, and reproductive and civil rights.

Under the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act (CGIA), public entities and employees are generally immune from liability in all claims except those specifically provided for in state law. In 2020, national and local public demonstrations against excessive use of force by law enforcement prompted the passage of Senate Bill 20-217 which limits qualified immunity for law enforcement officers. This issue brief provides an overview of law enforcement officer actions that are subject to civil or criminal liability.

During the 2021 legislative session, the General Assembly examined a number of measures related to civil law and the courts.

During the 2019 legislative session, the General Assembly examined a number of measures related to civil law.  Specifically, the legislature considered bills regarding consumer fraud, internet privacy, free-speech lawsuits, damages, child hearsay exceptions, and equal pay. 

 There are 324 justices and judges in Colorado.  Seven justices preside over the Supreme Court and issue binding majority decisions on lower court rulings.  Additionally, 317 judges preside over other various courts, including the Court of Appeals (22 judges), district courts (181 judges), and county courts (114 judges).