Colorado Governor Jared Polis vetoes 3 major bills, bringing veto total to 12

Governor Jared Polis has vetoed three major bills passed by Colorado lawmakers, bringing his veto total this year to twelve, the highest of his governorship.

One of the most closely watched measures, Senate Bill 5, would have allowed Coloradans to sue federal immigration officials for civil-rights violations. Polis said he supports holding immigration agents accountable but argued the bill would likely face legal challenges and could ultimately weaken protections if struck down in court.

The governor also vetoed Senate Bill 134, which sought to ban certain credit-card swipe fees. Polis said the proposal could create confusion for businesses and consumers and might not survive legal scrutiny.

A third veto blocked Senate Bill 184, which would have expanded workers’ compensation coverage for firefighters diagnosed with certain cancers. Supporters said the measure would help firefighters access benefits more easily, while Polis argued an existing state trust already provides faster and more predictable coverage.

At the same time, the governor signed several other bills into law, including measures involving age verification for software access, election ballot language, state budgeting, and workplace protections for meatpacking employees.

Polis has until June 12 to act on the remaining legislation passed during this year’s session.