Senate Bill 21-087: Agricultural Workers' Rights

• Establishes retaliation protections for agricultural workers asserting labor rights, with a rebuttable presumption of retaliation if adverse action occurs within 90 days of asserting protected rights; employees may sue in district court for up to $10,000 per violation plus attorney fees.

• Applies Colorado minimum wage requirements to agricultural employers effective January 1, 2022, with a special weekly minimum of $515 for range livestock workers through 2022, then adjusted annually by the consumer price index.

• Requires agricultural employers to provide 30-minute meal breaks for shifts exceeding 5 hours and 10-minute rest periods per 4 hours worked; prohibits use of short-handled hoes for stooped weeding and thinning work effective January 1, 2022.

• Grants agricultural workers access to key service providers (healthcare, legal services, clergy) during non-work hours and requires employers providing housing and transportation to offer at least weekly transportation to towns for basic necessities and services.

• Establishes a 9-member Agricultural Work Advisory Committee to analyze agricultural worker wages and conditions, reporting findings to the legislature annually through 2031; appropriates $706,821 total for implementation across labor, law, and agriculture departments.