Colorado governor discusses vetoing 12 of his party's bills

A wide range of bills entered the legislative session this year with 626 bills being introduced. Of them, 449 were passed, and Polis signed 436 into law. 

The range of bills vetoed by Polis varied. From labor policy, criminal justice to public safety and business regulation, Polis’ veto record demonstrated ongoing tensions between members of his party and the scope of government intervention.

Government regulation and economic policy 

Polis has long expressed his skepticism of expanding government regulations onto businesses and markets.

In doing so, he vetoed House Bill 26-1210 in June, which would have prohibited businesses from using an individual’s personal surveillance data to set individualized consumer prices and worker wages. 

He stated in his veto letter that he appreciated the intent of the bill, but rather his concerns stem from the language of the bill. He said that by “defining and targeting unethical conduct and practices, the bill takes a broader approach to capture any technology that incidentally influences a price or wage amount.” 

During an interview with The Center Square, Polis said he "personally evaluates every bill that makes it to my desk and always make an informed decision to do what’s right for Colorado.”

Another bill Polis vetoed, HB 26-1418, would have imposed a 5% fee on video game and online gaming transactions. The 5% fee would have acted as a tax to help support youth mental health services without having to rely on budgeted state funds. 

Polis cited potential conflicts with the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) in his veto letter. He further argued that the bill creates an enterprise that is “vulnerable to legal jeopardy.”

The governor cited in many of his veto letters that he was concerned of the legal and constitutional implications if he followed through with signing these bills. 

Vetoing Senate Bill 26-134 is a further example of this. If the bill had become law, it would have prohibited major credit card companies from imposing “swipe fees” on merchants’ transactions based on the sales tax of the purchase. 

The National Federation of Independent Businesses praised the bill, with NFIB State Director Michael Smith stating, “Eliminating swipe fees on sales tax is a major priority for small business owners here in Colorado.”

Polis, however, cited ongoing legal battles in Illinois, whose Legislature passed a similar bill titled Interchange Fee Prohibition Act as part of House Bill 495 in 2024. 

He further elaborated in his veto letter that the Senate’s amendment to the bill, which would require retail businesses with more than 500 employees to apply savings from the bill in specific ways, raises significant concerns regarding the scope of government regulation. 

“I do not believe it is appropriate for the government to direct private entities - no matter their size - how to use their revenues,” Polis wrote. 

Labor and employment 

The Worker Protection Collective Bargaining Act, known as HB 26-1005, passed in both chambers in May, but was later vetoed by Polis at the end of the month. It aimed to amend Colorado’s longstanding Labor Peace Act, and sought to eliminate the second vote required for union elections and required employers to bargain with good-faith practices. 

The Colorado Union of Taxpayers opposed the bill on the grounds that it would increase the power of unions. Other notable organizations, like the Colorado Restaurant Association and Associated General Contractors of Colorado, also opposed the bill, claiming it would drive up business costs.

Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver, who co-sponsored the bill, responded to this concern and told The Sum and Substance that this bill was aimed at addressing the state’s overall affordability concerns. If passed, it could have raised salaries for unionized workers, thereby helping them afford groceries and housing. 

In another attempt to regulate labor and employment laws, Polis vetoed SB 26-184, better known as the Ruben Sims Jr. Act. It was named after Aurora Fire and Rescue’s first Black firefighter, who died from occupational cancer in 2006. 

The bill was intended to expand workers’ compensation and occupational disease benefits for firefighters. The reasoning for the veto, according to Polis’s letter, was that it would place fiscal mandates and burdens on local districts and municipalities. Even fire chiefs across the state opposed the bill on similar concerns. 

Civil remedies and immigration enforcement

Perhaps one of the most controversial vetoes from Polis occurred at the beginning of June when he vetoed SB 26-005, titled “Rights Violation in Immigration Enforcement Remedy.” 

The bill was one of the first pieces of legislation introduced by Colorado Democrats in the 2026 legislative session. It was a response to increased immigration enforcement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. 

The bill summary states that this act “creates a statutory cause of action for a person who has their federal constitutional rights violated by another person who, acting under color of law, is participating in civil immigration enforcement."

State Rep. Yara Zokaie, D-Larimer County, co-sponsored the bill alongside two other Democratic senators and one Democratic representative. Providing a comment to Colorado Newsline, she said, “ 'I was just following orders' is no excuse for committing atrocities.” 

Polis’s veto letter said his reason for rejecting the bill stems from the language presented in SB 26-005. He argued the language diminished the “potential benefits.” 

“It's that narrow focus that unfortunately creates legal jeopardy,” the Democratic governor wrote.

Polis also cited concerns of legal jeopardy in his veto of HB 26-1418.

Managing relationships with the legislators

Polis discussed his relationship with legislators during his interview with The Center Square.

“Some of the vetos I’ve done over the years have been on bills sponsored by legislators I really like," the governor said. "Over three years, I vetoed six of then-Republican Kevin Priola’s bills even though he was one of my favorite legislators."

He said he meets regularly with Republican and Democratic leadership to focus on delivering "real results” to Coloradans by “breaking down barriers to more housing people can afford, increasing funding for students in our schools, making Colorado safer through data-driven investments that have cut crime across the board, protecting personal freedoms and more.”