Support the Colorado
CARE Act
Contact Us about the Colorado CARE Act
The Colorado CARE ACT is currently garnering support from legislators, businesses, nonprofits, health care experts, and families. Let us know if you would like to join this push for greater protections for employed caregivers of Colorado!
Link will email Mark Fukae, Director of Advocacy.
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Q&A on the Colorado CARE ACT
​What is the Colorado CARE Act?
The Colorado CARE Act is a statewide proposal that strengthens protections for working family caregivers. It creates a simple, consistent process for caregivers and employers to discuss and arrange reasonable workplace adjustments, helping people stay employed while caring for a loved one.
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Who would the CARE Act support?
It supports working Coloradans who provide unpaid care for a family member with a health condition, disability, or age-related need. This population includes more than 360,000 employed caregivers, or 13% of the state’s workforce.
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What would the CARE Act require from employers?
It sets up a clear, fair, and structured process for handling caregiver accommodation requests. Employers and employees work together to explore reasonable options that do not cause undue hardship. The Act also ensures employers receive free guidance and resources to support implementation.
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How does the CARE Act help Colorado’s economy?
By keeping caregivers in the workforce, Colorado avoids significant financial losses. Today, 36,000–54,000 workers leave their jobs each year because they cannot balance work and caregiving. This contributes to billions in economic losses statewide.
The CARE Act reverses this trend by preventing turnover and supporting stability for both employers and families. Independent fiscal analysis shows the Act generates $6.8M–$13.8M in annual net savings, with costs absorbed into existing state budgets and no new taxes or fees.
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Does the CARE Act cost the state money?
No. The CARE Act is designed to be budget-neutral, using existing resources across state agencies and creating net savings through reduced turnover and better care access. It is fully TABOR-compliant and does not require new taxes, fees, or voter approval.
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How would this affect small businesses?
The Act includes strong protections for small employers, such as extended timelines and access to free mediation before any disputes escalate. These measures reduce burden and help maintain positive workplace relationships.​​
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What Doesn't the CARE Act Require?
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It does not require employers to approve every accommodation request.
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It does not mandate leave policies or create new paid leave programs.
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It does not create new taxes, fees, or state positions.
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It does not allow caregivers to bypass established performance standards.
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It does not replace existing federal laws; it helps simplify them.
(All based on the legislative packet and fiscal note.)
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Why Does this Matter to Colorado?
Nearly every family will experience caregiving at some point. But without clear protections in place, Coloradans are too often pushed into impossible decisions that jeopardize their livelihoods and the well-being of their loved ones. Each year, the state loses:
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Thousands of skilled workers
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Hundreds of millions in employer turnover costs
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Millions in tax revenue and public assistance costs
The CARE Act is designed to keep families stable, help businesses retain talent, and strengthen Colorado’s workforce — all while reducing costs to the state.​​
How Can I Get Involved?
Here are five opportunities to help increase protections for caregivers in Colorado:
1. Share your caregiving story. As caregiving in America is an invisible crisis, people often do not understand the issues until they are facing them. Stories are critical to changing this dynamic.
2. Join the coalition. If you are a Colorado or national business, nonprofit, advocacy or health care entity, please contact us to be part of the united voice for a way to make a real difference in the lives of Colorado families.
3. Volunteer to help spread the word. Help is needed in communication and outreach. Let us know if you are interested!
4. Give to help cover advocacy costs. We are a volunteer-run 501(c)(3). Your support would be directed to help create educational materials and communication on the realities of caregiving in Colorado and opportunities through the Colorado CARE Act. This goal is vital in growing the coalition for employed caregivers.
5. Talk with Mark Fukae, Professionals Who Care Director of Advocacy, for additional ways to get involved.
