Colorado Advances Conversion Therapy Lawsuit Bill Despite SCOTUS Ruling

GOP lawmaker calls the move a 'slap in the face' to the Supreme Court's recent decision blocking the state's therapy ban.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 6:07am

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A fragmented, abstract painting of a person in a therapist's chair, their body and limbs repeated in overlapping geometric shapes in shades of blue, green, and purple, conveying the divisive and contentious nature of the debate over conversion therapy.Colorado's new conversion therapy lawsuit bill aims to provide legal recourse, but critics say it undermines the Supreme Court's recent ruling.Valdez Today

The Democratic-controlled Colorado House passed a bill allowing people harmed by conversion therapy to sue therapists, just days after the Supreme Court blocked enforcement of the state's ban on the method. The new legislation establishes civil lawsuit pathways against licensed mental health professionals accused of causing harm through efforts to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.

Why it matters

The bill could open the door to lawsuits years after therapy takes place and expose providers to significant financial liability, despite the Supreme Court's recent 8-1 ruling that Colorado's conversion therapy ban likely violates the First Amendment by allowing some viewpoints but not others.

The details

HB26-1322 would allow Coloradans to bring civil claims against licensed mental health professionals accused of causing harm through conversion therapy. The bill also enables legal action against the entities that hired and supervised a professional who conducted conversion therapy. The measure could expose providers to liability long after therapy occurs, as it removes time limits for legal action.

  • The Colorado House passed the bill on April 3, 2026.
  • The Supreme Court blocked enforcement of Colorado's conversion therapy ban just days before the new bill was advanced.

The players

HB26-1322

A bill passed by the Colorado House that would establish civil lawsuit pathways against licensed mental health professionals accused of causing harm through conversion therapy.

Matt Soper

A Republican member of the Colorado House who criticized the new bill as a 'slap in the face' to the Supreme Court's recent ruling.

Alex Valdez and Karen McCormick

The Democratic sponsors of the bill in the Colorado House, who stated that conversion therapy is 'ineffective and harmful' and vowed to protect LGBTQ+ Coloradans.

Kaley Chiles

A licensed Christian therapist who sued Colorado, arguing her conversations with youth clients were a form of protected speech.

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What they’re saying

“We have a bill that's designed to be a de facto ban on conversion therapy moving forward. That just hits at the heartstrings of the average American, that the Supreme Court can't even have a ruling be hot off the press before you have a legislature already pushing to undo what the Supreme Court just ruled.”

— Matt Soper, Republican, Colorado House

“In Colorado, you belong just the way you are. Now more than ever, we must protect LGBTQ+ Coloradans from the harmful practice that is conversion therapy. We vow to keep moving forward to safeguard the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in Colorado.”

— Alex Valdez and Karen McCormick, Democratic sponsors of the bill

What’s next

The bill now heads to the Democrat-controlled Colorado Senate for consideration.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between state legislatures and the Supreme Court over the regulation of conversion therapy, with Colorado Democrats moving quickly to establish new civil lawsuit pathways despite the high court's recent ruling blocking the state's outright ban.