Centennial Institute Applauds SCOTUS Rebuke of Colorado as Repeat Free Speech Offender
April 1, 2026
LAKEWOOD, Colo. — The Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University issues the following statement responding to Tuesday’s U.S. Supreme Court Chiles v. Salazar ruling:
The Centennial Institute is deeply concerned, but no longer surprised, by yet another United States Supreme Court decision rebuking the State of Colorado for violating the First Amendment rights of its citizens. In Chiles v. Salazar, the Supreme Court once again affirmed that the government cannot compel speech or force individuals to express messages that violate their sincerely held beliefs. With a striking 8-1 decision, it is clear that Colorado is leading the way – in the wrong direction.
This decision follows a troubling pattern. In Masterpiece Cakeshop, 303 Creative, and now Chiles, the Supreme Court has repeatedly reversed Colorado’s attempts to compel speech and restrict the religious liberty of citizens, particularly conservative Christians. A single instance could be dismissed as an understandable legal miscalculation. But repeated violations reveal something more concerning: a persistent hostility toward constitutionally protected viewpoints.
Rather than learning from these rulings, Colorado lawmakers continue to pass legislation that pushes constitutional boundaries and invites further litigation at taxpayer expense.
In May 2025, Colorado amended the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA) to require public accommodations to use a person’s requested name and pronouns, even when inconsistent with biological sex. This amendment compels individuals to speak in ways that contradict their sincerely held religious beliefs. As a result, the owners of Born Again Used Books now face government coercion to use pronouns they believe are inaccurate and inconsistent with their faith. They are challenging this law, and based on recent Supreme Court precedent, there is strong reason to believe they too will prevail.
Unfortunately, the pattern continues in the current legislative session. House Bill 26-1141, Discriminatory Practices in Public Schools, poses a significant threat to freedom of speech and expression in both K-12 and higher education settings. The bill defines “acts of discrimination” based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression as unlawful and establishes grievance procedures for students and employees accused of such acts — including simply expressing religious beliefs about human sexuality and marriage on campus.
Additionally, HB 26-1141 empowers the Colorado Civil Rights Commission – the same commission that pursued legal action against Jack Phillips in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case – to file charges against schools and individuals for perceived discrimination. The bill allows schools 60 days to remedy alleged discriminatory behavior before litigation may proceed, creating a chilling effect on speech and religious expression across educational institutions.
The First Amendment protects the freedom to speak and the freedom not to speak. When the government compels speech, it crosses a constitutional line. The Supreme Court has now made this clear to Colorado multiple times; the state has yet to learn the lesson.
The Centennial Institute calls on Colorado lawmakers to respect constitutional boundaries, protect pluralism, and stop advancing legislation that infringes on free speech and religious liberty. Continued defiance of Supreme Court precedent not only undermines constitutional rights but also exposes Colorado taxpayers to costly and avoidable legal battles.
Colorado should be a place where diverse viewpoints are protected, not punished. The repeated need for Supreme Court intervention signals an urgent need for course correction.
Ultimately, the Centennial Institute is grateful to the United States Supreme Court for this decisive action in protecting religious liberty and free speech. As other states are tempted to follow in Colorado’s disastrous lead, the Supreme Court has once again asserted that First Amendment liberties cannot be hindered by state legislatures.
The Centennial Institute will continue to advocate for policies that defend free speech, protect religious liberty, and uphold the constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all Americans.”
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Centennial Institute is Colorado Christian University’s think tank, mobilizing ideas on faith, family, and freedom to strengthen America’s future. Colorado Christian University is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization that does not endorse or oppose any candidate or political party for public office.