SecondNOTE: Regular Session Seventy-fifth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO REREVISED This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted in the Second House LLS NO.
26-0710.01This Conradbill Imelhas x2313been SENATEprepared BILLfor 26-005the SENATEsignatures SPONSORSHIPof Weissmanthe andappropriate Gonzaleslegislative J.,officers Coleman, Hinrichsen, Jodeh, Kipp, Marchman, Rodriguez, Wallace, Amabile, Ball, Bridges, Cutter, Danielson, Exum, Kolker, Lindstedt, Snyder, Sullivan HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Mabrey and Zokaie,the Bacon,Governor. Boesenecker, Brown, Duran, English, Froelich, Garcia, Gilchrist, Jackson, Joseph, Lindsay, McCormick, Nguyen, Paschal, Rutinel, Rydin, Sirota, Smith, Story, Titone, Velasco, Willford, Woodrow e n m 6 E n 0 U U , O i y H a a Senate Committees House Committees R M Judiciary Judiciary r Appropriations Appropriations 3 d A BILL FOR AN ACT d e 2 C ONCERNING STATE COURT REMEDIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF FEDERAL S a 2 U U 6 CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OCCURRING DURING IMMIGRATION H g a d M ENFORCEMENT ,AND ,IN CONNECTION THEREWITH ,MAKING AN e d APPROPRIATION .
2To Billdetermine Summarywhether dthe 6Governor ehas 0signed (Note:the bill or taken other action on it, please consult the legislative status sheet, the legislative history, or the Session Laws.
ThisSENATE summaryBILL applies26-005 toBYSENATOR(S)WeissmanandGonzalesJ.,Coleman,Hinrichsen,Jodeh, thisKipp, billMarchman, asRodriguez, introducedWallace, andAmabile, doesBall, mBridges, 2Cutter, TDanielson, nExum, 4Kolker, notreflectanyamendmentsthatmaybesubsequentlyadopted.IfthisbillLindstedt, NSnyder, gSullivan; y passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that E i a S e r applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at R e r F http://leg.colorado.gov.) 3 The bill creates a statutory cause of action for a person who is injured during a civil immigration enforcement action byanother person i a 2 who, whether or not under color of law, violates the United States e 2 T d 3 A n 2 E d a Shading denotes HOUSE amendment.
Doublealso underliningREPRESENTATIVE(S) denotesMabrey SENATEand amendment.Zokaie, Bacon, Boesenecker, Brown, Duran, English, Froelich, Garcia, Gilchrist, Jackson, Joseph, Lindsay, McCormick, Nguyen, Paschal, Rutinel, Rydin, Sirota, Smith, Story, Titone, Velasco, Willford, Woodrow.
SCONCERNING dSTATE rCOURT CapitalREMEDIES lettersFOR orVIOLATIONS boldOF &FEDERAL italicCONSTITUTIONAL numbersRIGHTS indicateOCCURRING newDURING materialIMMIGRATION toENFORCEMENT be, addedAND to, existingIN law.nCONNECTION eTHEREWITH Dashes, throughMAKING theAN wordsAPPROPRIATION or. numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
m F A constitution while participating in civil immigration enforcement.
A person who violates the United States constitution while participating in civil immigration enforcement is liable to the injured party for legal or equitable relief or any other appropriate relief.
The action must be commenced within 2 years after the cause of action accrues.
SECTION1.SECTION 1.
Legislativedeclaration.(1)Legislative Thegeneralassemblydeclaration. finds and declares that:
(a)(1) Sincetheearliestdaysofthenation,theUnitedStatessupremeThe courtgeneral hasassembly held,finds inand casesdeclares suchthat: as Little v.
(a) Since the earliest days of the nation, the United States supreme court has held, in cases such as Little v.
(b)________ InCapital laterletters 19thor centurycasesbold as& well,italic thenumbers Unitedindicate Statesnew supremematerial courtadded heldto thatexisting federallaw; officials could be liable for damages even for reasonsrelatingtobutbeyondthelawfulscopeoffederalduties,Mitchell v.
dashes through words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law and such material is not part of the act.
(b) In later 19th century cases as well, the United States supreme courtheldthatfederalofficialscouldbeliablefordamagesevenforreasons relating to but beyond the lawful scope of federal duties, Mitchell v.
(c) The United States supreme court has long held that federal employeesemployeesarenotinherentlybeyondthereachofstatelawssimplybecause aretheyarefederalemployees.Forexample,inJohnsonv.Maryland,254U.S. not inherently beyond the reach of state laws simply because they are federal employees.
For(1920), example,the court noted, "[A]n employee of the United States does not secure a general immunity from state law while acting in Johnsonthe course of his employment", and in Colorado v.
Maryland,Symes, 254286 U.S.
51510 (1920),(1932), the court noted,stated, "[A]n"Federal employeeofficers ofand theemployees Unitedare Statesnot, doesmerely notbecause securethey aare generalsuch, immunitygranted fromimmunityfrom stateprosecution law while acting in thestate coursecourts offor hiscrimes employment",against andstate inlaw". Colorado v.
Symes,(d) 286Decades U.S.510(1932),thecourtstated,"Federalofficersandemployeesarenot,later, merelybecausetheyaresuch,grantedimmunityfromprosecutioninstatethe courtsUnited forStates crimessupreme againstcourt continued to recognize the role of state law".law in holding federal officials accountable for legal violations, noting in Wheeldin v.
(d) Decades later, the United States supreme court continued to -2- 005 recognizetheroleofstatelawinholdingfederalofficialsaccountablefor legal violations, noting in Wheeldin v.
(e) When the United States supreme court recognized a federal lawcauseoflaw cause of action for violation of certain constitutionalrightsinBivensconstitutional rights in Bivens v.
388 (1971), that cause of action was in addition to, rather than instead of, traditional state law remedies.EvenoneofthedissentingjusticesinBivensnotedtheongoingremedies. role of state courts,ting, "The task of evaluating the pros and cons of creating judicial remedies for particular wrongs is a matter for Congress and the legislatures of the States".
(f)EvenoneofthedissentingjusticesinBivensnotedtheongoingroleofstate Morecourts, recently,writing, congress"The hastask madeof federalevaluating statutory law the exclusivepros remedyforand certaincons claimsof soundingcreating injudicial tort,remedies butfor thisparticular exclusivitywrongs specificallyis "does not extend or apply to a civilmatter actionfor againstCongress anand employeethe legislatures of the GovernmentStates". [.
.](f) whichisbroughtforaMore violationrecently, ofcongress has made federal statutory law the Constitutionexclusive ofremedy for certain claims sounding in tort, but this exclusivity specifically"does not extend or applyto a civil action against an employee oftheGovernment[...]whichisbroughtforaviolationoftheConstitution oftheUnitedStates",28U.S.C.sec.2679.Theprimesponsoroflegislation amending the Unitedfederal States","Tort 28Claims U.S.C.Act" to provide for limited exclusivity took pains to clarify, "We make special provisions here to make clear that PAGE 2-SENATE BILL 26-005 the more controversial issue of constitutional torts is not covered by this bill.
sec.
2679.
The prime sponsorof legislationamendingthefederal"TortClaimsAct"toprovide forlimitedexclusivitytookpainstoclarify,"Wemakespecialprovisions heretomakeclearthatthemorecontroversialissueofconstitutionaltorts is not covered by this bill.
(g) In 2022, in declining to extend the scope of the Bivens action inEgbertv.Boule,596U.S.in Egbert v.
482Boule, (2022),596 theU.S. UnitedStatessupremecourt observed that legislatures, not courts, are the better branches of government to fashion damages remedies;
-3-482 005(2022), (h)the Initsmostrecentlycompletedterm,theUnitedStatessupremeUnited States supreme court declined,observedthatlegislatures,notcourts,arethebetterbranchesofgovernment into Martinfashion v.damages remedies;
(h) In its most recently completed term, the United States,States 145supreme S.courtdeclined,inMartinv.UnitedStates,145S.Ct.1689(2025),toextend the doctrine of supremacy clause immunity beyond its traditional criminal law context;
Ct.(i) Violating the federal constitutional rights of residents of the UnitedStateshasneverbeenandcanneverbe"necessaryandproper"tothe execution of the laws and powers of the United States within the meaning of article I, section 8, clause 18 of the United States constitution;
1689and (2025),(j) toIn extendenacting this act, the doctrineColorado ofgeneral supremacyclauseassembly immunitybeyondaffirms its traditionallongstanding criminaland lawrightful context;role as a sovereign state in providing forumin its courts for adjudication of claims of federal constitutional violations.
(i)Violating the federal constitutional rights of residents of the United States has never been and can never be "necessaryand proper" to the execution of the laws and powers of the United States within the meaningofarticleI,section8,clause18oftheUnitedStatesconstitution;
and (j)In enacting this act, the Colorado general assemblyaffirms its longstanding and rightful role as a sovereign state in providing forum in its courts for adjudication of claims of federal constitutional violations.
In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 13-20-130213-20-1303 as follows:
13-20-1302.13-20-1303.
Civil action for violation of constitutional rights duringimmigrationenforcement-relief-attorneyfees-timelimittoduring immigration enforcement - relief - attorney fees - time limit to commence action - definition.
(1) APERSONA PERSON WHO HAS THEIR RIGHTS THAT ARE GUARANTEED BY THE UNITEDSU TATESCONSTITUTIONVIOLATEDBYANOTHERPERSONWHONITED STATES CONSTITUTION VIOLATED BY ANOTHER PERSON WHO , ACTING UNDER COLOR OF ANY FEDERAL ,STATE,, STATE , OR LOCAL LAW , IS PARTICIPATINGINCIVILIMMIGRATIONENFORCEMENTPARTICIPATING ,MAYBRINGACIVILIN ACTIONAGAINSTANOTHERPERSONWHOSECONDUCTWASTHEPROXIMATECIVIL CAUSEIMMIGRATION OFENFORCEMENT , MAY BRING A CIVIL ACTION AGAINST ANOTHER PERSON WHOSE CONDUCT WAS THE VIOLATION.PROXIMATE CAUSEOFTHEVIOLATION .A PERSONFOUNDTOHAVEVIOLATEDTHE U NITED STATES CONSTITUTION WHILE PARTICIPATING IN CIVIL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ISLIABLE TOTHE PERSONWHOSE RIGHTSAREVIOLATEDFOR LEGAL OR EQUITABLE RELIEF OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE RELIEF .
APAGE PERSON3-SENATE FOUNDBILL TO26-005 HAVE(2)(a) VIOLATEDNANACTIONBROUGHTPURSUANTTOTHISSECTION THEACOURT USHALL NITEDAWARD STATESREASONABLE CONSTITUTIONATTORNEY WHILEFEES PARTICIPATINGAND INCOSTS CIVILTO IMMIGRATIONENFORCEMENTISLIABLETOTHEPERSONWHOSERIGHTSAREA VIOLATEDFORLEGALOREQUITABLEPREVAILING RELIEFORANYOTHERAPPROPRIATEPLAINTIFF. RELIEF.
-4-N 005ACTIONS (2)FOR (a)INJUNCTIVE NRELIEF,A ANCOURT ACTIONSHALL BROUGHTDEEM PURSUANTA TOPLAINTIFFTOHAVEPREVAILEDIFTHEPLAINTIFF THIS'SSUITWASASUBSTANTIAL SECTIONFACTOR ,AOR COURTSIGNIFICANT SHALLCATALYST AWARDIN REASONABLEOBTAINING ATTORNEYTHE FEESRESULTS ANDSOUGHT COSTSBY TOTHE ALITIGATION. PREVAILING PLAINTIFF.
N(b) ACTIONSW FORHENAJUDGMENT INJUNCTIVEISENTEREDINFAVOROFA RELIE,DEFENDANT ATHE COURT SHALLDEEMAPLAINTIFFTOHAVEPREVAILEDIFTHEPLAINTIFFMAY SSUITWASAWARD AREASONABLE SUBSTANTIALCOSTS FACTORAND ORATTORNEY SIGNIFICANTFEES CATALYSTTO INTHE OBTAININGDEFENDANT THEFOR RESULTSDEFENDING SOUGHTANY BYCLAIMS THE LITIGATION.COURT FINDS FRIVOLOUS .
(b)(3) WT HENO ATHE JUDGMENTMAXIMUM ISEXTENT ENTEREDPERMISSIBLE INUNDER FAVOR OF A DEFENDANT, THECOURTMAYAWARDREASONABLECOSTSANDATTORNEYFEESTOTHE DEFENDANT FOR DEFENDING ANY CLAIMS THE COURTU FINDSNITED FRIVOLOUSSTATESCONSTITUTIONAND .42U.S.C.
(3)SEC.1983, TOAGRANTOFIMMUNITYTO THEA MAXIMUMDEFENDANT EXTENT, PERMISSIBLEINCLUDING, UNDERBUT THENOT UNITEDLIMITED STATESTO,SOVEREIGN CONSTITUTIONIMMUNITY AND; 42U.S.C.
SEC.1983,A GRANT OF IMMUNITY TO A DEFENDANT , INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO , SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY ;
SUPREMACY CLAUSE IMMUNITY ;STATUTORY; IMMUNITY , INCLUDING THE "C OLORADO G OVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY A CT",ARTICLE 10OF TITLE24;
ORSTATUTORY IMMUNITY , INCLUDINGTHE "COLORADO GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY A CT",ARTICLE 10 OF TITLE24;OR COMMON LAW IMMUNITY ,DOES NOT APPLY IN AN ACTION BROUGHT PURSUANT TO THIS SECTIO.SECTION .
(4) ASA S USED IN THIS SECTIO,UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES , CIVIL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT "MEANS AN ACTION TO INVESTIGATE,INVESTIGATE QUESTION,DETAIN,QUESTION TRANSFER,OR,DETAIN ARRESTTRANSFER A,ORARRESTAPERSONFORTHE PERSON FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENFORCING FEDERAL CIVIL IMMIGRATION LAW .
"IVIL"CIVIL IMMIGRATIONENFORCEMENTIMMIGRATION "DOESNOTINCLUDEANACTIONCOMMITTEDENFORCEMENT "DOES NOT INCLUDE AN ACTION COMMITTED BY A PEACE OFFICER WHO IS ACTING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE PEACE OFFICER'S DUTIES CONSISTENT WITH STATE LA.LAW.
(5) PURSUANTTOSECTION 13-80-102,ACIVILACTIONDESCRIBED13-80-102,ACIVILACTIONDESCRIBEDIN IN THIS SECTION MUST BE COMMENCED WITHIN TWO YEARS AFTER THE CAUSE OF ACTION ACCRUES .
-5- 005 SECTION 3.
(1) TheThefollowingcivilactions,regardlessof followingthetheoryuponwhich civilsuitisbrought,oragainstwhomsuitisbrought,mustbecommencedwithin actions, regardless of the theory upon which suit is brought, or against whom suit is brought, must be commenced within two years after the cause of action accrues, and not thereafter:
PAGE 4-SENATE BILL 26-005 (k) AllactionsbroughtunderRSUANTTOAll section13-21-109(2);actions brought underPURSUANT TO section 13-21-109 (2);
AND (l) AACTIONALLEGINGAVIOLATIONOFCONSTITUTIONALRIGHTSAN DURINGACTION CIVILALLEGING IMMIGRATIONA ENFORCEMENTVIOLATION BROUGHTOF PURSUANTCONSTITUTIONAL TORIGHTS SECTIONDURINGCIVILIMMIGRATIONENFORCEMENTBROUGHTPURSUANTTOSECTION 13-20-1302.13-20-1303.
If any provision of this act or the application of this act to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidityinvaliditydoesnotaffectotherprovisionsorapplicationsoftheactthatcan does not affect other provisions or applications of the act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this act are declared to be severable.
(1) For the 2026-27 state fiscal year, $125,604 is appropriated to the department of law.
This appropriation is from the legal services cash fund created in section 24-31-108 (4), C.R.S., from revenue received from the department of personnelthatiscontinuouslyappropriatedtothedepartmentofpersonnelpersonnel that is continuously appropriated to the department of personnel from the risk management fund created in section 24-30-1510 (1)(a), C.R.S.
The appropriation to the department of law is based on an assumptionthatthedepartmentoflawwillrequireanadditional0.5FTE.assumption that the department of law will require an additional 0.5 FTE.
-6- 005 SECTION 6.
The general assembly finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservationofthepublicpeace,health,orsafetyorforappropriationsforpreservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for PAGE 5-SENATE BILL 26-005 the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state institutions.
-7-____________________________ 005____________________________ James Rashad Coleman, Sr.
Julie McCluskie PRESIDENT OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES ____________________________ ____________________________ Esther van Mourik Vanessa Reilly SECRETARY OF CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPROVED________________________________________ (Date and Time) _________________________________________ Jared S.
Polis GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO PAGE 6-SENATE BILL 26-005