Committee advances law‑enforcement whistleblower bill after extended stakeholder process; several amendments adopted

The House Judiciary Committee advanced House Bill 10‑31 after lengthy stakeholder work and a series of sponsor amendments. The bill establishes a statutory whistleblower cause of action for local peace officers, sets evidentiary and procedural rules, and prescribes remedies designed to make an aggrieved officer whole.

Sponsors Rep. AML Bacon and Rep. Rob Clifford described a year of listening sessions and changes after the prior session’s related bill (HB 24‑1460) drew criticism. The legislation defines the “protected activity” that triggers whistleblower protection, sets a deadline and procedure for internal administrative review, and provides a private right of action if the administrative process does not resolve the issue. Sponsors said the bill balances protection for whistleblowers with an employer’s opportunity to investigate and an affirmative defense that an employer would have taken the same action for a non‑retaliatory reason.

Key provisions adopted in committee amendments include:

- A 180‑day administrative window (with limited tolling for a reasonable delay, e.g., a parallel criminal case) after which an employee may file…