Colorado’s new laws that take effect today, January 1st

Denver, CO – Here is a list of some of Colorado’s new laws that take effect today, January 1st.

• Colorado’s minimum wage will be boosted to $14.42 per hour, an increase of $0.77. The minimum wage for tipped employees will increase to $11.44 per hour.
• In Denver, minimum wage workers are getting a nearly 6% pay increase as the city’s minimum wage increases to $18.29 per hour beginning today.
• Workers in Colorado will also be able to take more paid time off for family and medical reasons thanks to the state’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program, which was approved by voters in 2020.  Beginning  today, eligible employees will get up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave insurance benefits annually. FAMLI also creates new job protections for employees who take paid family and medical leave for a serious illness in their family, the arrival of new children or recovery from sexual assault, domestic violence, harassment or stalking.

• Starting today , single-use plastic bags will be banned in Colorado. Retailers can only offer recyclable paper bags which will still be 10 cents each. Stores that already have stock of plastic bags already, can use those up before making the transition.  Retail food establishments that still have Styrofoam containers can also use up what’s in their stock, but after that, those containers will be banned too. Businesses that don’t comply can face up to $500 in fines for a second violation and up to $1,000 in fines for a third and subsequent violation.

• The “Pet Animal Ownership In Housing” law will go into effect on today, which gives more protections to renters with pets, including limiting the amount landlords can collect from the tenants. The additional pet deposit will be capped at $300, which must be refundable. If a landlord chooses to charge pet rent monthly, it cannot exceed $35 a month, or 1.5% of the monthly rent, whichever is higher

• The “Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act”  add on takes effect today, It requires employers to provide information on new job opportunities to all existing employees before making a hiring decision. It also requires that employers give information on a new hire or internal promotion to the people they will work with, as well as information on how existing employees can demonstrate interest in similar jobs in the future. The law also requires that a process for people to submit wage complaints be created by July 1, 2024. This law is an add-on to the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act passed in 2021.
• Also new this year, Coloradans purchasing an EV with an MSRP up to $35,000 will be eligible for an additional $2,500 tax credit. To further cut down on air pollution and noise reduction, Coloradans can buy electric yard equipment and snow blowers for a 30 percent discount.

To view the full list of laws going into effect in 2024, click here.