Denver bill would limit collection and sharing of sex and gender data
The proposal would cap retention of covered information at 30 days, with exceptions, and restrict some sharing with outside law enforcement.
Denver Council Bill 26-1305 would generally bar city agencies from voluntarily collecting or disclosing information about a person’s actual or perceived sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. If collected, the information generally would have to be permanently destroyed within 30 days, subject to exceptions.
The filed bill allows collection or disclosure when required by law or regulation, or when necessary to advance an important city interest. The retention cap also would not apply when information must be kept to comply with law or regulation, an existing state or federal records-retention schedule, or an important city interest. The bill lists human services, health and behavioral health services, criminal justice, shelter management, workers’ compensation and grant-related work as examples of such interests.
The proposal also would restrict city assistance to other governments’ efforts to collect or disclose the information and limit sharing certain information with outside law-enforcement agencies. A presentation by the bill’s sponsors identifies program applications, intake information, census databases and technology-use agreements as categories that could be affected. Internal sharing among Denver agencies would remain permitted. The bill also would not restrict contractors’ independent business, clinical, employment or regulatory uses of information that is not transmitted to the city.
The sponsors say the proposal is intended to reduce unnecessary records and limit the use of city resources or information in investigations targeting transgender and gender-expansive people. If enacted, the bill would take effect Jan. 1, 2027, and require agencies to report on changes to their collection practices and compliance.
The bill remains a proposal. The Legistar docket records Health and Safety Committee approval for filing on Sept. 16. The Sept. 28 City Council agenda lists a courtesy public hearing on the bill.