Colorado

Sunshine Act

Formally: Colorado Open Meetings Law (Sunshine Act)

Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 24-6-401 to 24-6-402

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Sunshine Score: 49/100 (moderate)
49/100

Sunshine Score

49/100
Weak
Methodology v0.1
Advance Notice 1 day, online posting required
Public Comment Not required, remote allowed, written accepted
Closed Sessions 6 permitted categories
Minutes Required
Recording Not required, broadcast required
Remote Participation Allowed
Enforcement Voidable, legislature exempt

Agenda & Notice Requirements

Regular Meetings
1 day
Special Meetings
1 day
Emergency Meetings
0 hours

Online posting: Required

Post notice at designated public place within jurisdiction at least 24 hours before meeting; specific agenda information where possible

Agenda changes at meeting: Allowed — majority vote

Public Participation

Public Comment
Not required
Written Comment
Allowed

Time limits: Public body may adopt reasonable rules including time limits for individual speakers per CRS § 24-6-402(2)(d)(I).

Colorado Open Meetings Law (C.R.S. § 24-6-401 et seq.) does not mandate public comment at open meetings. Local home-rule governments may require it by charter or ordinance. State bodies set their own comment policies. No minimum opportunity to speak is established by state law.

Virtual Meetings

Member Remote Participation
Allowed
Counts Toward Quorum
Yes
Public Remote Comment
Allowed

Allowed under C.R.S. § 24-6-402; 'meeting' includes any gathering by telephone, electronically, or other means. Remote members count toward quorum. Public must be provided contemporaneous access.

Closed Sessions

Closed (executive) sessions: Allowed under specific circumstances

Permitted Categories

Meeting Minutes

Minutes Required
Yes

Online posting: Not required

Content requirements: date, time, place, members present, all motions and proposals, name of proposer, all votes thereon (CRS § 24-6-402)

Recording & Broadcast

Recording Required
No
Broadcast Required
Yes

Enforcement

Violation Effect
Voidable
Standing to Sue
Any person, district attorney
Enforcement Body
District Court, District Attorney

Scope

This law applies to:

  • City
  • County
  • School District
  • Special District

Legislature: Exempt (follows own rules)

Accessibility & Language Access

ADA accessibility: ADA Title II applies to all public meetings. The state statute does not add requirements beyond federal law; reasonable accommodations must be provided on request.

Language access: No statutory language-access mandate beyond federal Civil Rights Act Title VI obligations for recipients of federal funds.

Sources & References

Notes

| minutes_publication_days: NULL — C.R.S. §24-6-402(2)(d) requires minutes of open meetings to be kept and available for inspection but does not specify a publication deadline in days.

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The specific rules for Colorado may differ from this general description. Consult the full statute for details.