ColoradoColorado law lets injured patients sue over efforts to change identity
Colorado law allows people injured by certain licensed mental health practices to seek damages, with different wording about which cases qualify starting July 1, 2026.
What it does
A person injured by a licensed mental health professional’s efforts to direct their sexual orientation or gender identity may seek damages at any time. Supportive or neutral counseling is excluded when it does not seek a set outcome.
If the injured person dies, their estate or personal representative may bring or continue the case and seek available damages, but must act within five years of the death.
Argument forPeople who connect lasting harm to these practices years later could still seek damages through a civil case.
Argument againstPeople sued over these practices may have to answer claims many years later, when memories or records could be harder to rely on.
More detail
A person injured by covered change efforts may bring a civil case for damages. This covers injury caused by a licensed mental health professional’s efforts to direct a patient toward a set sexual orientation or gender identity, or reduce attractions or feelings toward a particular sex or gender. Supportive, neutral, and relationship-related counseling is excluded when it does not seek a set outcome. Damages may include financial and other losses; exemplary damages are allowed only if the conduct was willful or wanton. The section applies to claims accruing on or after July 1, 2026, and to earlier claims if the prior time limit had not run by that date. Another section says the act applies to cases filed on or after July 1, 2026.
The person’s estate or personal representative may bring or continue the case after the person dies. This applies to a person who underwent sexual orientation or gender identity change efforts and whose injury gives rise to a case under this section. The estate or personal representative may seek the damages available under this section. A case brought after the person’s death must be filed within five years after the death.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 1Governor Jared Polis SignedBecame Law
- May 21Signed by the Speaker of the HouseMajor
- May 21Signed by the President of the SenateMajor
- May 21Sent to the GovernorTo Governor
- May 7House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
- Vote recorded CONCUR. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded REPASS. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded CONCUR. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded REPASS. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily
- May 5Senate Third Reading Passed - No AmendmentsPassed Senate
- Vote recorded BILL. Result: pass.Upper
- May 4Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee, FloorMinor
- May 1Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 05/04/2026 - No Amendments
- Apr 30Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
- Apr 27Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the WholeMinor
- Vote recorded Refer House Bill 26-1322, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.027 (Attachment E). Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 20Introduced In Senate - Assigned to JudiciaryMinor
- Apr 2House Third Reading Passed - No AmendmentsPassed House
- Vote recorded BILL. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 1House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Floor
- Vote recorded LIMIT. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded AMD (H.002). Result: fail.Lower
- Vote recorded AMD (H.001). Result: fail.Lower
- Mar 30House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
- Mar 25House Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended to House Committee of the WholeMinor
- Vote recorded Refer House Bill 26-1322 to the Committee of the Whole. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Introduced In House - Assigned to JudiciaryIntroduced
HealthcareMental HealthCivil Rights & Voting