Tiger Joyce, president of the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA), said in a press release that Colorado House Bill 1291 would enable lawyers to exploit consumer protection laws to increase liability in rideshare cases.
"If enacted, this bill would allow lawyers to sidestep traditional tort law requirements and tack on consumer protection claims to nearly every lawsuit involving rideshare operations purely to threaten businesses with additional liability and drive-up settlement demands," said Joyce. "This approach is unnecessary and risks increasing costs for rideshare companies, drivers, and riders alike."
House Bill 1291, introduced in 2025, proposes enhanced safety regulations for rideshare services. These include mandatory fingerprint-based background checks, stricter criminal history disqualifications, and policies to prevent account sharing among drivers. Initially, the bill included a controversial mandate for audio and video recording of all rides, which was later removed due to privacy concerns. According to Colorado Newsline, the bill has faced strong opposition from Uber and Lyft—Uber even threatened to withdraw from the Colorado market—while supporters argue that the reforms are necessary to address passenger safety and strengthen consumer protection laws.
As reported by ATRA, House Bill 1291 has been strongly opposed by the organization. They argue it would drastically expand liability for rideshare companies and open the door to frivolous litigation. ATRA warns that if enacted, the bill could turn Colorado into a "legal inferno," a term it uses to describe jurisdictions with excessive lawsuit abuse and predatory legal practices. The group claims the bill encourages "private rights of action" that would overwhelm courts and drive rideshare companies out of the state.
According to The Perryman Group, excess tort costs impose a significant burden on Colorado households, driving up both inflation and lost earnings. In Colorado, these costs exceed $5,700 per household annually—more than the national average—due to diverted resources, higher insurance premiums, and reduced economic productivity.
The National Law Review reports that Sherman "Tiger" Joyce has been president of ATRA since 1994 and previously served as minority counsel to the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee. A graduate of Princeton University and Catholic University Law School, Joyce played a key role in shaping product liability legislation and has remained a prominent advocate for tort reform.