SB26-071: Your Opposition is Respectfully Requested

WHAT DOES THE BILL DO?

SB26-071, Use of surveillance Technology By Law Enforcement, regulates and limits how law enforcement agencies may use so-called “surveillance technologies,” including red light cameras, license plate reader (LPR) systems, pole-mounted cameras, drones, facial recognition, and other similar technology.  
 

WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE NO

SB26-071 imposes rigid mandates, unclear legal standards, and significant unfunded administrative burdens on local governments. While intended to regulate surveillance technologies, the bill applies a one-size-fits-all framework to tools with vastly different purposes, creating operational challenges and legal uncertainty for municipalities across Colorado, and reducing the effectiveness of public safety tools. 

• SB26-071 limits use of these technologies to a “lawful purpose,” but does not define this term.  
  
• The bill requires a law enforcement agency to obtain approval from the governing body of their local government before any single camera can be deployed or moved, imposing burdensome and unnecessary administrative requirements over day-to-day law enforcement operations. 
  
• The bill requires a warrant to access vaguely defined facial recognition systems data, going well beyond the requirements of the Fourth Amendment.  
  
• The bill imposes varying data-retention limits for different types of technology, creating a confusing patchwork and establishing some unworkably short limits.  
  
• SB26-071 requires the creation of access logs detailing each time any of this data is accessed with such logs having to be retained for five years.  
  
• The bill allows residents to request data to verify compliance with this act at no cost to the resident, placing significant fiscal and administrative burdens on agencies.  
  
• The bill requires the Attorney General to conduct biennial audits of agencies that use surveillance systems. 
  

YOUR NO VOTE IS RESPECTFULLY REQUESTED

CML respectfully requests your NO vote on SB26-071.  

CONTACT

Owen Brigner | CML legislative & policy advocate | 419-786-9703 | obrigner@cml.org