HB25-1053 Summary
HB25-1053: Landowner Immunity for Emergency Access to Property
Prime Sponsors: Representative Tisha Mauro, Representative Ron Weinburg, Senator Janice Marchman, Senator Mark Baisley
Introduced: January 8, 2025
Signed: March 20, 2025
Effective Date: August 6, 2025
Summary:
Prior to the passage of HB25-1053, certain landowners in Colorado expressed concerns regarding potential liability for granting access to emergency personnel during emergencies to their land. While many landowners may not hesitate to assist in whatever way possible in the event of an emergency, what if a member of emergency personnel, such as police, fire, or emergency medical providers, tripped in a hole while on your property and you were personally liable for their injuries?
HB25-1053 addresses this type of scenario by limiting landowner liability. Specifically, the new law states that if a landowner, who is acting (a) in good faith and (b) without compensation, grants access to the landowner’s property in connection with an emergency, shall be immune from civil liability for damage to persons or property.
The protection is not without limitation as the law does not protect a landowner from acts or omissions that are grossly negligent, nor does the law protect from willful and wanton behavior.
The law defines an Emergency as:
A fire, rescue call, or hazardous materials incident;
A natural or human-caused disaster such as an earthquake, wildfire, flood, or severe weather event; or
An incident reasonably determined to be an emergency by a first responder.
Landowners, property managers, and common interest communities should be aware of this new law and the protections granted to them by the law. With the threat of wildfires, extreme weather, and other emergencies on the rise, understanding the law and the rights and protections conveyed by HB25-1053 is important.