HB18-1261: Colorado Arbitration Fairness Act

• Establishes ethical standards requiring arbitrators in consumer and employment arbitrations to comply with Colorado Code of Judicial Conduct rules 2.3(a)-(d), 2.4(a)-(c), and 2.11(a)-(c), and Colorado Code of Professional Conduct rule 1.7(a).

• Requires arbitrators and arbitration services providers to make detailed disclosures regarding conflicts of interest, business relationships, financial interests, and past arbitrations before arbitrator selection.

• Allows any party to challenge an arbitrator's or arbitration services provider's impartiality in court within 30 days of receiving required disclosures, with courts able to disqualify based on preponderance of evidence of potential or evident partiality.

• Defines "potential partiality" to include pecuniary interests, business relationships, familial relationships, industry alignment with non-consumer or employer parties, and legal issues that would be contrary to the arbitrator's interests or current clients.

• Authorizes injunctive relief against arbitrators or arbitration services providers who conduct arbitrations with partiality conflicts, appoint biased arbitrators, or fail to comply substantially with disclosure requirements; takes effect upon passage.