Laws for immediate attention
In This Section
CML Newsletter
May 14, 2026
By Colorado Municipal League
The Colorado General Assembly adjourned sine die Wednesday, May 13. CML’s advocacy team was with them every step of the way working diligently to protect and enhance municipal authority. Through their hard work and the support of municipal officials across the state, dozens of bills with new unfunded mandates, liabilities, and preemptions had been rejected or had the problematic provisions removed.
Most new laws won’t be effective until Aug. 12 or later, but several laws go into effect immediately when signed by Gov. Jared Polis. Here are summaries of a few bills that may soon impact municipalities (unless vetoed). A full summary of new laws affecting Colorado’s cities and towns will be published in mid-June and available for free at www.cml.org. For questions on specific bills, contact the CML advocacy team.
SB26-157
Determination of Town Abandonment
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-157
The act removes the five-year waiting period for abandonment for towns that lack a governing body and town clerk, have no capacity to have an election, and own or operate critical water or wastewater infrastructure. A county, landowner, or registered elector can apply to the secretary of state for a determination of abandonment. The act removes liability for preexisting conditions of the infrastructure and permits the CDPHE and DPS to intervene to expend funds to maintain and operate a failing water system when abandonment proceedings have begun. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Bev Stables
SB26-189
Automated Decision-Making Technology
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-189
The act replaces Colorado’s 2024 artificial intelligence statute. The act requires developers to provide deployers with information regarding the intended uses, known limits, and known harms of “automated decision-making technology” (ADMT), the type of data on which the ADMT was trained, instructions for appropriate use, monitoring, and meaningful human review; and information for the deployer to comply with statutory requirements. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Bev Stables
SB26-109
Building Code Accessibility
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-109
The act modifies standards for accessible housing constructed using either public or private funds. Updated definitions include the repeal of “ground story level” and the addition of “accessible story” “dwelling unit,” and updated building code references. The act updates requirements for implementation plans for private developments. Effective: May 5, 2026. Lobbyist: Bev Stables
HB26-1009
Colorado Mandatory Lethality Assessment Act
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1009
Beginning July 1, 2027, a peace officer must conduct a lethality assessment to include with the incident report when responding to a domestic violence incident unless it is impossible or impracticable to do so. If the assessment indicates or a peace officer determines that the victim is high risk, the officer must immediately contact a community-based victim’s advocate and give the victim the opportunity to speak with the advocate. The act directs the Attorney General’s Office to develop training by June 1, 2027, for peace officers to learn how to administer this process; beginning July 1, 2027, law enforcement agencies must ensure each officer completes the mandatory training unless the officer was previously trained on lethality assessments. Law enforcement agencies must annually report certain data to the Attorney General’s Office for inclusion in an annual report. The act disclaims liability for individuals acting in good faith in administering a lethality assessment. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Owen Brigner
HB26-1020
Colorimetric Field Drug Tests in Drug Possessions
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1020
The act provides that if a colorimetric field drug test is used and the person is suspected of solely a level 1 drug misdemeanor for possession or a municipal drug possession charge, a peace officer cannot arrest the person and, instead, must issue a summons and complaint. Additionally, when a colorimetric field drug test has been used, before accepting a plea from a person charged with a level 4 drug felony possession or lower, including a municipal drug possession offense, the court must issue a specific advisement about the known error rates for such tests and the right to enter a not guilty plea and to request drug testing from an accredited forensic laboratory. Effective: March 26, 2026. Lobbyist: Owen Brigner
HB26-1103
Report Child Sexual Assault & Courtroom Testimony
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1103
The act requires law enforcement agencies and peace officers to provide certain notifications after taking a report of an alleged unlawful sexual offense (C.R.S. § 18-3-411(1)) and conducting a “minimal facts interview” with the child. Notification must be provided to a child advocacy center in the judicial district where the crime occurred or, if reported in a different jurisdiction than where the offense occurred, the “appropriate jurisdiction” in the agency’s or officer’s discretion. The agency or peace officer must coordinate a forensic interview, if necessary and appropriate, in collaboration with the child advocacy center. Effective: May 4, 2026. Lobbyist: Owen Brigner
HB26-1123
Preventing Sexual Abuse in Jails
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1123
The act imposes requirements for strip searches of inmates detained in a local detention facility, which includes a county or municipal jail, but not a temporary holding facility. The act limits access to body-worn video recordings of strip searches. Local detention facilities must have specified written policies in place, inform prisoners of their rights under the act and resources available to them, designate a Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 coordinator and make their contact information available to the public, and submit an annual report with specified data on strip searches. Finally, the act implements whistleblower protections for detention facility staff and requires revocation of POST certification from an officer found to have sexually abused an inmate. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Owen Brigner
HB26-1250
Procedures Related to Civil Asset Forfeiture
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1250
The act narrows one of the exceptions that allows a civil asset forfeiture case to proceed without a criminal conviction to require a criminal conviction of the nonowner in the underlying criminal offense related to the property subject to the forfeiture. The act also establishes a right to forfeiture defense counsel, creating a fund to pay for such counsel with money coming from a portion of the forfeiture proceeds and by shifting any unexpended and unencumbered money in the law enforcement community services grant program to the forfeiture defense counsel fund. Up to $55,000 per year of forfeiture proceeds must go to DOLA for civil asset forfeiture grant and portal administration. The act’s provisions take effect July 1, 2026. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Owen Brigner
HB26-1422
Security Measures for Certain Government Entities
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1422
Among other things, the act makes doxxing of an elected official (including a local elected or appointed official) or their immediate family a class 1 misdemeanor if it poses an imminent and serious threat to their safety and the person knew or reasonably should know of the threat. The act allows the official to request that a state or local government redact their personal information from records made available on the internet. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Owen Brigner
SB26-095
Measures to Support Victim-Survivors of Crimes
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-095
Among other things, the act requires that annual peace officer in-service training programs (to be completed every five years by officers) include a two-hour training regarding impacts of trauma on victim-survivors and officer responses to victim-survivors experiencing or responding to trauma. Funding through the peace officer training and support fund can be used for training on these subjects. The act voids pre-dispute arbitration agreements and joint-action waivers upon the request of an individual alleging conduct that results in a sexual harassment dispute or sexual misconduct dispute. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Owen Brigner
SB26-190
Release Information About Peace Officer Use of Force
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-190
The act requires a law enforcement agency or multi-agency team investigating a peace officer use of force resulting in death to provide certain notifications to each person in a decedent’s immediate family known to the agency within 24 hours after the scene of the incident is cleared. The act also requires law enforcement agencies to make reasonable efforts to identify the immediate family of an individual who dies as a result of a peace officer’s use of force, and provide the immediate family and a person designated by the family, all unedited audio and video recordings of the incident within 21 days after the incident regardless of whether there is a complaint of misconduct; recipients can decline to receive the recordings. Such audio and video recordings cannot be released to the public until after the 21-day period for providing the recordings to the family, and only if there is a complaint of misconduct. The act ensures that the decedent’s immediate family can also obtain any withheld audio and video recordings following the completion of an internal investigation and criminal case. Finally, the act establishes requirements around extrajudicial statements made by law enforcement agencies regarding investigations into criminal matter involving the use of force by a peace officer that results in death and standards for community or critical incident briefing videos. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Owen Brigner
Elections
HB26-1283
Protections Regarding Seizures of Identification Documents
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1283
The act prohibits employers from demanding, confiscating, retaining, or requiring the surrender of the government-issued identification card of an employee, applicant, or other person performing work for the employer in any capacity, except when permitted by law or a judicial warrant. The act allows temporary retention for verifying employment eligibility, with a prescribed notice to the individual that must be acknowledged and retained by the employer. The act modifies the crime of criminal possession of an identification document and bias-motivated crimes related to retaining identification cards and providing or threatening to provide an identification card to federal immigration authorities, except when required or permitted by law. The act permits a civil action for damages related to the criminal possession of an identification card.
Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Owen Brigner
HB26-1413
Sick & Military Leave for Certain Public Servants
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1413
The act expands the required amount of paid, protected leave that must be granted to public employees for military service from three to four weeks (or its equivalent) Effective: July 1, 2026. Lobbyist: Elizabeth Haskell
HB26-1397
Multiple Employer Health Trust Funding
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1397
The act repeals state appropriations in 2026 for the multiple employer health trusts for volunteer firefighters ($650,000) and for peace officers ($350,000). The state’s appropriations reduce employer contributions to the trusts. The act leaves intact future scheduled appropriations, subject to later legislation. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Elizabeth Haskell
SB26-052
Coal Transition Community Investment
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-052
The act permits public entities to deposit or invest payments or settlements received to offset the socioeconomic impacts to a community or government from a coal mine or coal power generating station closure. The act also creates a hiring preference requirement that is not applicable to government. Effective: March 9, 2026. Lobbyist: Elizabeth Haskell
SB26-005
Rights Violation in Immigration Enforcement Remedy
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-005
The act establishes a cause of action against any person who, acting under color of law, violates the United States Constitution while participating in civil immigration enforcement. The act states that no immunities apply to an action brought under this act. Claims are subject to a two-year statute of limitations, and a prevailing plaintiff is entitled to reasonable attorney fees and costs while a defendant can obtain reasonable attorney fees and costs for defending against any claims the court finds frivolous. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Owen Brigner
HB26-1313
Adjust Requirements Statewide Affordable Housing Fund
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1313
The act modifies the requirements for affordable housing commitments made under Proposition 123. For commitments made in 2026 and later, local governments must commit to growth of new and converted affordable housing units and units with affordability restrictions will increase beyond a “target increase number.” The target increase number is determined by averaging the annual number of permits for new units over the prior three years in the jurisdiction, multiplied by the number years included in the commitment, then again multiplied by a local job growth factor when compared to state growth (0.10 if significantly lower, 0.15 if close, and 0.20 significantly higher).
The act expands the number of housing units that can be counted toward a commitment, including units in a large development project with average rental prices below a certain threshold. Local governments are entitled to count units from collaborative efforts, in the absence of a formal agreement, according to the percentage of the funding provided by a local government.
The act establishes a good faith effort waiver process for jurisdictions that cannot achieve their commitment from the 2024 cycle but achieve at least 65% of their increase, achieve an increase that would have been set if the “target increase number” had been used, or would have achieved at least a 65% increase but for funding for units that were counted to another local government’s increase. Waivers for the 2024 cycle must be filed between June 15, 2026, and Oct. 31, 2026. The act includes adjustment waivers for commitments beginning in the 2027 cycle.
Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Bev Stables
HB26-1360
Affordable Housing Financing Fund
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1360
The act removes $130 million from the Affordable Housing Financing Fund created by Proposition 123. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, the act permits OEDIT to modify percentages of funding allocated within the Affordable Housing Financing Fund through Proposition 123 in the following order of priority: concessionary debt, affordable housing equity, and land banking. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Bev Stables
SB26-020
Child Care Provider Licensing & Quality
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-020
The act amends existing provisions regarding local zoning regulation for child care facilities at C.R.S. § 26.5-5-310(a). The act requires that a local government that exceeds state-level licensing standards related to inspection, permitting, licensing, or approval of child care facilities must prioritize the completion of local processes “to the extent reasonably practicable” when there is a dispute or delay. Such local governments must limit fees for additional local inspections, permits, licenses, or approvals to an amount to be set by regulation; this excludes health and sanitation inspections and public health plan reviews. The act declares that “the availability of safe, affordable, and licensed family child care homes and licensed child care centers is a matter of statewide concern.” Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Bev Stables
HB26-1147
Host Home for People with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1147
Among other things, the act provides that “individual residential services and supports settings” must be treated as residential properties in the application of local regulations, including zoning, land use development, fire and life safety, sanitation, and building codes. Such settings are unlicensed community living residential settings in which individual residential services and supports are provided to no more than three persons with intellectual and development disabilities, as contrasted with licensed “community residential homes” that can provide services to four to eight persons and require notice to the local government. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Bev Stables
HB26-1420
Wind Energy Facilities Light-Mitigating Technology
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1420
The act amends existing statutes requiring wind-powered energy facilities to install light-mitigating technology to require that local governments grant extensions of at least 24 months based on delays in federal agency approvals. Further extensions must be provided if certain criteria are met. The act requires approvals from the Federal Communications Communication in addition to the Federal Aviation Administration. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Bev Stables
SB26-059
Multiple Elected Offices Prohibited for General Assembly
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-059
The act prohibits members of the General Assembly from holding any other elected office while serving as a member of the General Assembly. Special district elected offices and senators in the middle of their term in January 2027. The act does not apply to offices where the member has less than one year left in the term when the oath of office is taken. Effective: May 4, 2026. Lobbyist: Bev Stables
SB26-093
Workers' Compensation Insurance Coverage Verification
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-093
The act requires a building or construction permit applicant to submit a signed declaration regarding the applicant’s and its subcontractors’ workers compensation coverage. The act applies only to projects of $1 million or more. The act does not require that municipalities do anything with the records. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Elizabeth Haskell
HB26-1134
Fairness & Transparency in Municipal Court
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1134
The act modifies the requirements for livestreaming criminal court proceedings to require the livestreaming of municipal court proceedings involving an in-custody defendant who is charged with a municipal violation for which the municipal code allows a possible jail sentence. Municipal courts are not permitted to rely on the exceptions for insufficient technology or staffing when a defendant is in custody and facing potential jail time for the municipal violation; the other livestreaming exceptions in C.R.S. § 13-1-132(3.5)(a) still apply. Additionally, the act’s livestreaming requirements supersede any judicial guidance limiting livestreaming. The act codifies the right to criminal defense counsel when a defendant appears in municipal court for a violation for which the municipal code allows for a possible jail sentence, including notice and information to be provided to defense counsel and the opportunity for defense counsel to meet with their clients. Municipalities are prohibited from paying indigent defense counsel using a fixed or flat-fee payment structure and instead must use rates that are the same as or higher than the rates paid by the state under Chief Justice Directive 04-04. There is an exception to allow the payment of a flat fee for initial in-custody appearances so long as the amount is the same as or higher than a resulting fee based on hourly compensation. Finally, any municipality that has a municipal court not of record, is prohibited from imposing any jail time as a penalty for a municipal violation. Effective: April 27, 2026. Lobbyist: Owen Brigner
SB26-004
Expand List of Petitioners for Protection Order
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-004
The act expands the list of community members and institutions that can petition for an extreme risk protection order to include co-responders, health-care facilities, behavioral health treatment facilities, K-12 schools, and institutions of higher education. Effective: April 6, 2026. Lobbyist: Owen Brigner
HB26-1077
Average Market Rate of Unprocessed Retail Marijuana
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1077
Under current law, both state and local excise tax on the first sale or transfer of unprocessed retail marijuana is based on the average market rate of all unprocessed retail marijuana. The act defines indoor unprocessed retail marijuana and outdoor unprocessed retail marijuana and requires the Department of Revenue to establish separate average market rates for each, with the rate for outdoor being lower than the rate for indoor unprocessed retail marijuana. Effective: July 1, 2026. Lobbyist: Elizabeth Haskell
SB26-193
Local Ordinances & State Employees
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-193
The act excludes the state from local regulation of minimum wages, except to the extent the state has no collective bargaining agreement as to employee wage rates. The act also asserts that the state is not an occupation or business subject to statutorily-authorized occupation or business taxes (notwithstanding the constitutionality of such taxes, Hamilton v. City and County of Denver, 490 P.2d 1289 (Colo. 1971), but delays this provision until January 2028. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Elizabeth Haskell
HB26-1398
Retail Delivery Fee Revenue Allocation
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1398
The act reallocates revenue derived from the state’s retail delivery fee by decreasing the amount available for local multimodal projects (from 85% to 70%) and increasing the funding available for state projects (from 15% to 30%). Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Bev Stables
HB26-1399
Eliminate General Fund Transfer to Multimodal Transportation Fund
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1399
The act eliminates the scheduled 2026 state funding for multimodal transportation and mitigation options ($10.5 million), leaving intact future scheduled transfers subject to later legislation. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Bev Stables
SB26-172
Front Range Passenger Rail District
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-172
In advance of an anticipated tax election, the act reduces the area of the Front Range Passenger Rail District to specific Front Range municipalities, Sterling Ranch Colorado metropolitan districts, and those others that specifically seek to be included. The act also allows the creation of subdistricts. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Bev Stables
HB26-1051
Continue Microgrid Community Resilience Grant Program
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1051
The act continues the Microgrids for Community Resilience grant program benefiting municipally-owned utilities. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Emma Donahue
SB26-182
Updated Clean Energy Plan Municipally Owned Utility
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-182
The act allows a municipal utility to submit, by Dec. 31, 2026, an updated clean energy plan if the utility has encountered challenges in achieving the greenhouse gas emission reductions in a previously filed plan. The new plan must be approved by the utility’s governing body and must demonstrate how the utility will achieve an 80% reduction in emissions caused by its retail electricity sales (compared to 2005 levels) by Dec. 31, 2029, and not later than Dec. 31, 2032. The establishes requirements for the new plan and requires annual reporting and public posting of progress. The act requires that the utility cease burning coal by Dec. 31, 2032, and the utility’s governing body must seek a 95% reduction by Dec. 31, 2039, and interim reductions by Dec. 31, 2035. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Bev Stables
Most new laws won’t be effective until Aug. 12 or later, but several laws go into effect immediately when signed by Gov. Jared Polis. Here are summaries of a few bills that may soon impact municipalities (unless vetoed). A full summary of new laws affecting Colorado’s cities and towns will be published in mid-June and available for free at www.cml.org. For questions on specific bills, contact the CML advocacy team.
Annexation
SB26-157
Determination of Town Abandonment
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-157
The act removes the five-year waiting period for abandonment for towns that lack a governing body and town clerk, have no capacity to have an election, and own or operate critical water or wastewater infrastructure. A county, landowner, or registered elector can apply to the secretary of state for a determination of abandonment. The act removes liability for preexisting conditions of the infrastructure and permits the CDPHE and DPS to intervene to expend funds to maintain and operate a failing water system when abandonment proceedings have begun. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Bev Stables
Artificial Intelligence
SB26-189
Automated Decision-Making Technology
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-189
The act replaces Colorado’s 2024 artificial intelligence statute. The act requires developers to provide deployers with information regarding the intended uses, known limits, and known harms of “automated decision-making technology” (ADMT), the type of data on which the ADMT was trained, instructions for appropriate use, monitoring, and meaningful human review; and information for the deployer to comply with statutory requirements. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Bev Stables
Building Codes
SB26-109
Building Code Accessibility
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-109
The act modifies standards for accessible housing constructed using either public or private funds. Updated definitions include the repeal of “ground story level” and the addition of “accessible story” “dwelling unit,” and updated building code references. The act updates requirements for implementation plans for private developments. Effective: May 5, 2026. Lobbyist: Bev Stables
Criminal Justice
HB26-1009
Colorado Mandatory Lethality Assessment Act
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1009
Beginning July 1, 2027, a peace officer must conduct a lethality assessment to include with the incident report when responding to a domestic violence incident unless it is impossible or impracticable to do so. If the assessment indicates or a peace officer determines that the victim is high risk, the officer must immediately contact a community-based victim’s advocate and give the victim the opportunity to speak with the advocate. The act directs the Attorney General’s Office to develop training by June 1, 2027, for peace officers to learn how to administer this process; beginning July 1, 2027, law enforcement agencies must ensure each officer completes the mandatory training unless the officer was previously trained on lethality assessments. Law enforcement agencies must annually report certain data to the Attorney General’s Office for inclusion in an annual report. The act disclaims liability for individuals acting in good faith in administering a lethality assessment. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Owen Brigner
HB26-1020
Colorimetric Field Drug Tests in Drug Possessions
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1020
The act provides that if a colorimetric field drug test is used and the person is suspected of solely a level 1 drug misdemeanor for possession or a municipal drug possession charge, a peace officer cannot arrest the person and, instead, must issue a summons and complaint. Additionally, when a colorimetric field drug test has been used, before accepting a plea from a person charged with a level 4 drug felony possession or lower, including a municipal drug possession offense, the court must issue a specific advisement about the known error rates for such tests and the right to enter a not guilty plea and to request drug testing from an accredited forensic laboratory. Effective: March 26, 2026. Lobbyist: Owen Brigner
HB26-1103
Report Child Sexual Assault & Courtroom Testimony
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1103
The act requires law enforcement agencies and peace officers to provide certain notifications after taking a report of an alleged unlawful sexual offense (C.R.S. § 18-3-411(1)) and conducting a “minimal facts interview” with the child. Notification must be provided to a child advocacy center in the judicial district where the crime occurred or, if reported in a different jurisdiction than where the offense occurred, the “appropriate jurisdiction” in the agency’s or officer’s discretion. The agency or peace officer must coordinate a forensic interview, if necessary and appropriate, in collaboration with the child advocacy center. Effective: May 4, 2026. Lobbyist: Owen Brigner
HB26-1123
Preventing Sexual Abuse in Jails
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1123
The act imposes requirements for strip searches of inmates detained in a local detention facility, which includes a county or municipal jail, but not a temporary holding facility. The act limits access to body-worn video recordings of strip searches. Local detention facilities must have specified written policies in place, inform prisoners of their rights under the act and resources available to them, designate a Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 coordinator and make their contact information available to the public, and submit an annual report with specified data on strip searches. Finally, the act implements whistleblower protections for detention facility staff and requires revocation of POST certification from an officer found to have sexually abused an inmate. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Owen Brigner
HB26-1250
Procedures Related to Civil Asset Forfeiture
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1250
The act narrows one of the exceptions that allows a civil asset forfeiture case to proceed without a criminal conviction to require a criminal conviction of the nonowner in the underlying criminal offense related to the property subject to the forfeiture. The act also establishes a right to forfeiture defense counsel, creating a fund to pay for such counsel with money coming from a portion of the forfeiture proceeds and by shifting any unexpended and unencumbered money in the law enforcement community services grant program to the forfeiture defense counsel fund. Up to $55,000 per year of forfeiture proceeds must go to DOLA for civil asset forfeiture grant and portal administration. The act’s provisions take effect July 1, 2026. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Owen Brigner
HB26-1422
Security Measures for Certain Government Entities
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1422
Among other things, the act makes doxxing of an elected official (including a local elected or appointed official) or their immediate family a class 1 misdemeanor if it poses an imminent and serious threat to their safety and the person knew or reasonably should know of the threat. The act allows the official to request that a state or local government redact their personal information from records made available on the internet. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Owen Brigner
SB26-095
Measures to Support Victim-Survivors of Crimes
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-095
Among other things, the act requires that annual peace officer in-service training programs (to be completed every five years by officers) include a two-hour training regarding impacts of trauma on victim-survivors and officer responses to victim-survivors experiencing or responding to trauma. Funding through the peace officer training and support fund can be used for training on these subjects. The act voids pre-dispute arbitration agreements and joint-action waivers upon the request of an individual alleging conduct that results in a sexual harassment dispute or sexual misconduct dispute. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Owen Brigner
SB26-190
Release Information About Peace Officer Use of Force
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-190
The act requires a law enforcement agency or multi-agency team investigating a peace officer use of force resulting in death to provide certain notifications to each person in a decedent’s immediate family known to the agency within 24 hours after the scene of the incident is cleared. The act also requires law enforcement agencies to make reasonable efforts to identify the immediate family of an individual who dies as a result of a peace officer’s use of force, and provide the immediate family and a person designated by the family, all unedited audio and video recordings of the incident within 21 days after the incident regardless of whether there is a complaint of misconduct; recipients can decline to receive the recordings. Such audio and video recordings cannot be released to the public until after the 21-day period for providing the recordings to the family, and only if there is a complaint of misconduct. The act ensures that the decedent’s immediate family can also obtain any withheld audio and video recordings following the completion of an internal investigation and criminal case. Finally, the act establishes requirements around extrajudicial statements made by law enforcement agencies regarding investigations into criminal matter involving the use of force by a peace officer that results in death and standards for community or critical incident briefing videos. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Owen Brigner
Elections
HB26-1113
Modifications to Elections
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1113
Among other things, the act:
- Permits the governor to declare a disaster emergency based on the actual or imminent threat of inability to strictly comply with the Uniform Election Code for any natural or human cause. The act permits the secretary of state to establish rules to conduct elections under such a declaration and establishes an advisory group.
- Modifies provisions of the Uniform Election Code without making similar changes to Title 31 elections and initiatives and referenda (including requirements for petition signature, voter challenges, and timing for issuing mail ballots).
- May increase the frequency of determinations regarding the coverage multilingual ballot requirements.
- Modifies Title 1 election offenses to limit interference within 100 feet of polling locations or drop-off locations (as opposed to while inside a voting area); to prohibit recklessly impeding or threatening electors dropping off up to 10 mail ballots; and to confirm that a peace officer carrying a firearm at a polling location or drop box must be doing so in the performance of lawful duties and not interfering or intimidating voters in violation of statutes.
- Permits employees to be absent for two hours for the purpose of voting on any day when voter service centers and polling centers are open (as opposed to only the day of the election).
Employment
HB26-1283
Protections Regarding Seizures of Identification Documents
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1283
The act prohibits employers from demanding, confiscating, retaining, or requiring the surrender of the government-issued identification card of an employee, applicant, or other person performing work for the employer in any capacity, except when permitted by law or a judicial warrant. The act allows temporary retention for verifying employment eligibility, with a prescribed notice to the individual that must be acknowledged and retained by the employer. The act modifies the crime of criminal possession of an identification document and bias-motivated crimes related to retaining identification cards and providing or threatening to provide an identification card to federal immigration authorities, except when required or permitted by law. The act permits a civil action for damages related to the criminal possession of an identification card.
Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Owen Brigner
HB26-1413
Sick & Military Leave for Certain Public Servants
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1413
The act expands the required amount of paid, protected leave that must be granted to public employees for military service from three to four weeks (or its equivalent) Effective: July 1, 2026. Lobbyist: Elizabeth Haskell
Finance
HB26-1397
Multiple Employer Health Trust Funding
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1397
The act repeals state appropriations in 2026 for the multiple employer health trusts for volunteer firefighters ($650,000) and for peace officers ($350,000). The state’s appropriations reduce employer contributions to the trusts. The act leaves intact future scheduled appropriations, subject to later legislation. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Elizabeth Haskell
SB26-052
Coal Transition Community Investment
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-052
The act permits public entities to deposit or invest payments or settlements received to offset the socioeconomic impacts to a community or government from a coal mine or coal power generating station closure. The act also creates a hiring preference requirement that is not applicable to government. Effective: March 9, 2026. Lobbyist: Elizabeth Haskell
Government Liability & Immunity
SB26-005
Rights Violation in Immigration Enforcement Remedy
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-005
The act establishes a cause of action against any person who, acting under color of law, violates the United States Constitution while participating in civil immigration enforcement. The act states that no immunities apply to an action brought under this act. Claims are subject to a two-year statute of limitations, and a prevailing plaintiff is entitled to reasonable attorney fees and costs while a defendant can obtain reasonable attorney fees and costs for defending against any claims the court finds frivolous. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Owen Brigner
Housing & Homelessness
HB26-1313
Adjust Requirements Statewide Affordable Housing Fund
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1313
The act modifies the requirements for affordable housing commitments made under Proposition 123. For commitments made in 2026 and later, local governments must commit to growth of new and converted affordable housing units and units with affordability restrictions will increase beyond a “target increase number.” The target increase number is determined by averaging the annual number of permits for new units over the prior three years in the jurisdiction, multiplied by the number years included in the commitment, then again multiplied by a local job growth factor when compared to state growth (0.10 if significantly lower, 0.15 if close, and 0.20 significantly higher).
The act expands the number of housing units that can be counted toward a commitment, including units in a large development project with average rental prices below a certain threshold. Local governments are entitled to count units from collaborative efforts, in the absence of a formal agreement, according to the percentage of the funding provided by a local government.
The act establishes a good faith effort waiver process for jurisdictions that cannot achieve their commitment from the 2024 cycle but achieve at least 65% of their increase, achieve an increase that would have been set if the “target increase number” had been used, or would have achieved at least a 65% increase but for funding for units that were counted to another local government’s increase. Waivers for the 2024 cycle must be filed between June 15, 2026, and Oct. 31, 2026. The act includes adjustment waivers for commitments beginning in the 2027 cycle.
Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Bev Stables
HB26-1360
Affordable Housing Financing Fund
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1360
The act removes $130 million from the Affordable Housing Financing Fund created by Proposition 123. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, the act permits OEDIT to modify percentages of funding allocated within the Affordable Housing Financing Fund through Proposition 123 in the following order of priority: concessionary debt, affordable housing equity, and land banking. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Bev Stables
Land Use
SB26-020
Child Care Provider Licensing & Quality
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-020
The act amends existing provisions regarding local zoning regulation for child care facilities at C.R.S. § 26.5-5-310(a). The act requires that a local government that exceeds state-level licensing standards related to inspection, permitting, licensing, or approval of child care facilities must prioritize the completion of local processes “to the extent reasonably practicable” when there is a dispute or delay. Such local governments must limit fees for additional local inspections, permits, licenses, or approvals to an amount to be set by regulation; this excludes health and sanitation inspections and public health plan reviews. The act declares that “the availability of safe, affordable, and licensed family child care homes and licensed child care centers is a matter of statewide concern.” Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Bev Stables
HB26-1147
Host Home for People with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1147
Among other things, the act provides that “individual residential services and supports settings” must be treated as residential properties in the application of local regulations, including zoning, land use development, fire and life safety, sanitation, and building codes. Such settings are unlicensed community living residential settings in which individual residential services and supports are provided to no more than three persons with intellectual and development disabilities, as contrasted with licensed “community residential homes” that can provide services to four to eight persons and require notice to the local government. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Bev Stables
HB26-1420
Wind Energy Facilities Light-Mitigating Technology
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1420
The act amends existing statutes requiring wind-powered energy facilities to install light-mitigating technology to require that local governments grant extensions of at least 24 months based on delays in federal agency approvals. Further extensions must be provided if certain criteria are met. The act requires approvals from the Federal Communications Communication in addition to the Federal Aviation Administration. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Bev Stables
Miscellaneous Governmental Operations
SB26-059
Multiple Elected Offices Prohibited for General Assembly
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-059
The act prohibits members of the General Assembly from holding any other elected office while serving as a member of the General Assembly. Special district elected offices and senators in the middle of their term in January 2027. The act does not apply to offices where the member has less than one year left in the term when the oath of office is taken. Effective: May 4, 2026. Lobbyist: Bev Stables
SB26-093
Workers' Compensation Insurance Coverage Verification
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-093
The act requires a building or construction permit applicant to submit a signed declaration regarding the applicant’s and its subcontractors’ workers compensation coverage. The act applies only to projects of $1 million or more. The act does not require that municipalities do anything with the records. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Elizabeth Haskell
Municipal Courts
HB26-1134
Fairness & Transparency in Municipal Court
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1134
The act modifies the requirements for livestreaming criminal court proceedings to require the livestreaming of municipal court proceedings involving an in-custody defendant who is charged with a municipal violation for which the municipal code allows a possible jail sentence. Municipal courts are not permitted to rely on the exceptions for insufficient technology or staffing when a defendant is in custody and facing potential jail time for the municipal violation; the other livestreaming exceptions in C.R.S. § 13-1-132(3.5)(a) still apply. Additionally, the act’s livestreaming requirements supersede any judicial guidance limiting livestreaming. The act codifies the right to criminal defense counsel when a defendant appears in municipal court for a violation for which the municipal code allows for a possible jail sentence, including notice and information to be provided to defense counsel and the opportunity for defense counsel to meet with their clients. Municipalities are prohibited from paying indigent defense counsel using a fixed or flat-fee payment structure and instead must use rates that are the same as or higher than the rates paid by the state under Chief Justice Directive 04-04. There is an exception to allow the payment of a flat fee for initial in-custody appearances so long as the amount is the same as or higher than a resulting fee based on hourly compensation. Finally, any municipality that has a municipal court not of record, is prohibited from imposing any jail time as a penalty for a municipal violation. Effective: April 27, 2026. Lobbyist: Owen Brigner
Public Safety
SB26-004
Expand List of Petitioners for Protection Order
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-004
The act expands the list of community members and institutions that can petition for an extreme risk protection order to include co-responders, health-care facilities, behavioral health treatment facilities, K-12 schools, and institutions of higher education. Effective: April 6, 2026. Lobbyist: Owen Brigner
Regulated Substances
HB26-1077
Average Market Rate of Unprocessed Retail Marijuana
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1077
Under current law, both state and local excise tax on the first sale or transfer of unprocessed retail marijuana is based on the average market rate of all unprocessed retail marijuana. The act defines indoor unprocessed retail marijuana and outdoor unprocessed retail marijuana and requires the Department of Revenue to establish separate average market rates for each, with the rate for outdoor being lower than the rate for indoor unprocessed retail marijuana. Effective: July 1, 2026. Lobbyist: Elizabeth Haskell
Taxation
SB26-193
Local Ordinances & State Employees
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-193
The act excludes the state from local regulation of minimum wages, except to the extent the state has no collective bargaining agreement as to employee wage rates. The act also asserts that the state is not an occupation or business subject to statutorily-authorized occupation or business taxes (notwithstanding the constitutionality of such taxes, Hamilton v. City and County of Denver, 490 P.2d 1289 (Colo. 1971), but delays this provision until January 2028. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Elizabeth Haskell
Transportation
HB26-1398
Retail Delivery Fee Revenue Allocation
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1398
The act reallocates revenue derived from the state’s retail delivery fee by decreasing the amount available for local multimodal projects (from 85% to 70%) and increasing the funding available for state projects (from 15% to 30%). Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Bev Stables
HB26-1399
Eliminate General Fund Transfer to Multimodal Transportation Fund
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1399
The act eliminates the scheduled 2026 state funding for multimodal transportation and mitigation options ($10.5 million), leaving intact future scheduled transfers subject to later legislation. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Bev Stables
SB26-172
Front Range Passenger Rail District
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-172
In advance of an anticipated tax election, the act reduces the area of the Front Range Passenger Rail District to specific Front Range municipalities, Sterling Ranch Colorado metropolitan districts, and those others that specifically seek to be included. The act also allows the creation of subdistricts. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Bev Stables
Utilities
HB26-1051
Continue Microgrid Community Resilience Grant Program
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1051
The act continues the Microgrids for Community Resilience grant program benefiting municipally-owned utilities. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Emma Donahue
SB26-182
Updated Clean Energy Plan Municipally Owned Utility
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-182
The act allows a municipal utility to submit, by Dec. 31, 2026, an updated clean energy plan if the utility has encountered challenges in achieving the greenhouse gas emission reductions in a previously filed plan. The new plan must be approved by the utility’s governing body and must demonstrate how the utility will achieve an 80% reduction in emissions caused by its retail electricity sales (compared to 2005 levels) by Dec. 31, 2029, and not later than Dec. 31, 2032. The establishes requirements for the new plan and requires annual reporting and public posting of progress. The act requires that the utility cease burning coal by Dec. 31, 2032, and the utility’s governing body must seek a 95% reduction by Dec. 31, 2039, and interim reductions by Dec. 31, 2035. Effective: Upon signature. Lobbyist: Bev Stables