Governor vetoes rideshare safety bill: Sponsors call action a ‘devastating blow'
DENVER (KDVR) — On Friday, Gov. Jared Polis vetoed a bill that would have implemented safety standards for rideshare drivers, including tougher background checks and a right of action for people injured during a ride.
Polis said in his letter justifying the veto that the bill would 'impose unworkable regulations on Transportation Network Companies, and potentially jeopardize their continued operation in Colorado.' Uber previously threatened to pull out of the state if the bill were made into law, and Lyft said the bill would 'leave riders less safe and leave the future of Lyft's operations in Colorado uncertain.'
Lyft asks Gov. Polis to veto rideshare safety bill as companies threaten to leave Colorado
'I want to make sure that Uber, Lyft, and others will be able to continue to operate in Colorado, but are far more accountable for the safety of riders and drivers. These services go beyond convenience by providing essential means of travel for many Coloradans and improve public safety primarily by reducing driving under the influence,' Polis wrote to the General Assembly.
Sponsors of the bill include Rep. Jenny Willford, who sued Lyft this year after she said she was sexually assaulted while using Lyft. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a man in connection with the incident. Officials say he impersonated a rideshare driver.
Bill supporters, including Willford, said that Polis was using industry talking points to ignore Colorado constituents and veto the measure.
'If the Governor or his staff had chosen to engage earlier than the Monday before Sine Die, we could have addressed these issues,' the sponsors said in a release. 'We made good-faith amendments throughout the process, including at the Governor's request. What we needed was a partner — not a veto pen.'
The bill passed overwhelmingly in the legislature, with the House voting unanimously to concur on amendments made to the bill after also voting 59-6 in favor of the measure, and the Senate voting unanimously on amendments after voting 22-13 to approve the measure.
The bill changed while in the legislature, with legislators ultimately nixing a requirement for drivers to use dash cameras and audio record all rides.
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'We decided that there was so much in this bill that it was so important to get on the books that we were open to moving off of that required audio and video of every ride, shifted to an opt-in so that riders and drivers can decide what they are comfortable with. I believe this is a tremendous step forward,' Willford told FOX31 on the last day of session.
Polis wrote in his letter to legislators that he is 'concerned about the language around audio-visual recording, which was modified at the last minute and is likely unworkable for both the PUC (public utilities commission) and TNCs (transportation network companies) as currently constructed.'
'Drivers and riders are entitled to privacy, and while I appreciate the movement on this issue, the net effect of the remaining language in the bill still strongly suggests making recording mandatory, which will put this law in direct conflict with other state privacy laws and make compliance a challenge. Moreover, the relevant data retention pieces remain challenging, without ensuring proper security protocols, and creates operational difficulties,' Polis wrote.
Polis said that while he is vetoing the bill, he is also directing several parts of his administration to take action and help make rideshares safer. Those directions were:
For the Department of Regulatory Agencies to work with sponsors to identify policy objectives
For DORA to work with PUC to review current rideshare rules and focus on strengthening driver impersonation and penalties
For PUC to conduct audits of rideshare companies to ensure they are complying with background check requirements
Polis seemed to agree that the current state of rideshare safety in Colorado isn't enough.
'I am also challenging TNCs to do more to protect riders and drivers, including being more transparent about their rights, and more vigorous in preventing serious crimes,' Polis wrote. 'The status quo isn't sufficient. Enhancing criminal record checks for drivers and preventing bad actors, including impersonators, from getting behind the wheel are commonsense steps we canand should take, and steps we can address now.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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