Employment & Worker Protection · Colorado
Colorado Non-Compete Restriction
HB 22-1317 - enacted in Colorado.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2022
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 76/100
- Colorado strictness
The bottom line
Colorado Non-Compete Restriction is an enacted law in Colorado, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2022-08-10
- 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Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official Colorado legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.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 Non-Compete Restriction
Colorado Non-Compete Restriction (HB 22-1317) is an enacted law in Colorado under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2022-06-08 and becomes effective on 2022-08-10. 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 HB 22-1317 itself.
Applicability under Colorado Non-Compete Restriction: All CO workers. Threshold indexed annually. Penalty exposure is documented as: $5,000/worker for enforcing void agreements. Actual damages + attorney fees. Notable exemptions: Above threshold (with procedures). Sale of business..
Summary
Void below ~$130K. Procedural requirements above.
Key Requirements
Void below ~$130,014. Above: written, separate signature. Customer non-solicitation void below ~$78,000.
Penalties
$5,000/worker for enforcing void agreements. Actual damages + attorney fees.
Applicability
All CO workers. Threshold indexed annually.
Exemptions
Above threshold (with procedures). Sale of business.
Official Source
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb22-1317How 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 Non-Compete Restriction enacted?
Colorado Non-Compete Restriction was enacted on 2022-06-08 and became effective on 2022-08-10. It was introduced as HB 22-1317.
What are the penalties for violating Colorado Non-Compete Restriction?
$5,000/worker for enforcing void agreements. Actual damages + attorney fees. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does Colorado Non-Compete Restriction apply to small businesses?
All CO workers. Threshold indexed annually. 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 Non-Compete Restriction?
The official text of Colorado Non-Compete Restriction (HB 22-1317) 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 Non-Compete Restriction is enacted in Colorado, effective 2022-08-10. 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.