Colorado Governor Jared Polis Signs New Law to Address Heat-Related Workplace Injuries
Governor Jared Polis of Colorado has signed into law HB 26-1272, known as the Extreme Temperatures Worker Protections law, which will take effect on August 12, 2026. This legislation establishes a framework for documenting temperature-related workplace injuries and developing future prevention standards. The law does not automatically make every heat-related condition compensable under workers’ compensation, nor does it immediately impose all workplace protections. Instead, it directs the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment’s Division of Labor Standards and Statistics to begin collecting data on temperature-related workplace injuries by January 15, 2027. By July 1, 2028, the Division must develop a model Temperature-Related Injury and Illness Prevention Plan. This phased approach aims to systematically track and address heat-related workplace injuries, which are significant concerns for workers in various industries exposed to extreme temperatures. 
