Employment & Worker Protection · Colorado
Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act
SB 19-085 - enacted in Colorado.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2019
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 76/100
- Colorado strictness
The bottom line
Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act is an enacted law in Colorado, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2021-01-01
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 76/100
- Colorado strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official Colorado legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act
Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act (SB 19-085) is an enacted law in Colorado under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2019-05-22 and becomes effective on 2021-01-01. Colorado currently reports 8 tracked regulations with 8 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 76/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 107 employment & worker protection statutes have been enacted and 0 additional bills remain pending - 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places Colorado within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in SB 19-085 itself.
Applicability under Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act: All employers with 1+ employee in CO. Penalty exposure is documented as: $500-$10,000/violation. Private right of action. Notable exemptions: None significant..
Summary
First comprehensive pay transparency law. Pay range in all job postings.
Key Requirements
Pay range + benefits in all postings. Internal notification of promotions. Same-day external/internal posting.
Penalties
$500-$10,000/violation. Private right of action.
Applicability
All employers with 1+ employee in CO.
Exemptions
None significant.
Official Source
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb19-085How Colorado compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - Colorado ranks #2 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Colorado (this state) | 76 |
| 3 | Texas | 69 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 62 |
| 5 | Illinois | 62 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 62 |
| 7 | New York | 62 |
| 8 | Oregon | 62 |
| 9 | Washington | 62 |
| 10 | Delaware | 59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have employment & worker protection regulations?
As of the last verification, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection regulations, with 0 additional bills pending across other states. Colorado is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all employment & worker protection regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act enacted?
Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act was enacted on 2019-05-22 and became effective on 2021-01-01. It was introduced as SB 19-085.
What are the penalties for violating Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act?
$500-$10,000/violation. Private right of action. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act apply to small businesses?
All employers with 1+ employee in CO. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does Colorado compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
Colorado has a regulatory strictness score of 76/100, based on 8 enacted regulations out of 8 tracked. Nationally, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act?
The official text of Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act (SB 19-085) is available from the Colorado legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
More Colorado Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act is enacted in Colorado, effective 2021-01-01. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; Colorado ranks #2 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation Colorado tracks across all five policy areas. Colorado profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official Colorado source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.