HB26-1142: A Win for Children in Colorado

During the 2026 legislative session, the Colorado Children’s Alliance worked to secure additional protections for CACs and the children they serve through HB26-1142, the Colorado Child Advocacy Center Act. On April 13, 2026, Governor Polis signed the bill into law, and it took effect on August 12, 2026.

HB26-1142 strengthened the statutory definition of child advocacy centers (CACs) and included important provisions, such as the requirement for facilities to be “child-focused,” not simply child-friendly. The updated definition is more in line with what other states have done in recent years to define their own CACs.

In addition to the stronger definition of CACs, HB26-1142 also added two key protections for CACs and the professionals working with them to respond to child abuse. First, the bill added language to Colorado’s laws that will offer professionals limited civil immunity while performing their jobs in good faith. This provision allows professionals greater opportunity to respond immediately to protect children, without concerns that they may be held liable in civil court in the future. 

The second key protection allows CACs and their full multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) to share information necessary to protect a child freely during team meetings. This provision is key because it acknowledges and protects the work conducted during CAC case review meetings, in which teams get together to progress cases forward. Until now, teams had to worry about confidentiality provisions of each individual discipline preventing them from effectively sharing information. HB26-1142 changed those limitations and ensures that children will receive coordinated, non-duplicative efforts through one cohesive team.

We are incredibly grateful to Representative Rick Taggart for his leadership on the bill, along with Speaker Pro Tempore Andrew Boesenecker and Senators Matt Ball and Dylan Roberts. Under their guidance, HB26-1142 passed each chamber committee and floor unanimously. 

We are proud of this effort and the impact it will have for children across Colorado.