A Colorado law taking effect in 2026 broadens who must provide disability accommodations for licensing exams—and it likely includes your shop.
Most Colorado auto service owners don't realize that a provision buried in HB1417, the Anti-Discrimination Act Testing Entities bill signed into law June 4, 2026, may affect how they administer exams or training courses tied to licensing or certification.
Here's what changed, and why it matters to your business.
Before HB1417, Colorado law required disability accommodations only from larger testing entities—specifically "a private entity of this state or a state or local governmental entity of this state that offers an exam related to licensing or certification for professional or trade purposes and has control over testing accommodation decisions."
That narrow language left many small businesses out. HB1417 rewrote it. The new definition, effective August 12, 2026, now applies to "any person or business" that offers an exam or course tied to professional or trade licensing or certification.
The change is in Section 2, Page 3 of the bill, amending Colorado Revised Statutes 24-34-806(2)(c).
If your auto service shop administers any exam, test, or certification course—whether it's a diagnostic skills assessment for new technicians, a state-required emissions certification exam, or an internal competency test tied to licensing—you're now covered under the law.
The expansion is intentional. By removing the size and entity-type restrictions, the legislature made clear that disability accommodation obligations apply broadly, not just to large testing companies.
Under the law, you must provide reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities who take exams or courses your business administers. This can include:
The specific accommodations depend on the individual's disability and the nature of the exam. The key is that you can't refuse or delay accommodations without a legitimate, documented reason.
The law takes effect August 12, 2026, unless a referendum petition is filed before then. As of now, no such petition has been announced.
That gives you roughly 18 months to review your current exam and testing practices, identify any gaps in your accommodation policies, and put processes in place to handle requests fairly and consistently.
Start by documenting how your shop currently administers exams or certification courses. If you don't have a formal accommodation request process, now is the time to create one. Keep records of requests and the accommodations you provide.
If you're unsure whether a particular test or course falls under the law, or how to structure your accommodation policy, consulting with an employment or education law attorney familiar with Colorado disability law is a smart investment.
Colorado auto service associations and industry groups have published free, business-specific guidance on HB1417 compliance. Check with your local trade association for resources tailored to your operations.