What’s New in Colorado Criminal Law: 2026

The Colorado General Assembly considered numerous criminal law bills in its recent 2026 legislative session. This article discusses bills that were passed related to three-dimensional printing of firearms and components, offenses involving commercial sexual activity with a child, and post-conviction re-sentencing for certain offenders who are sixty (60) years of age or older.

New Laws to Have on Your Radar

HB26-1144: Prohibit Three-Dimensional Printing Firearms & Components 

HB26-1144 prohibits knowingly manufacturing or producing a potentially functioning firearm, unfinished frame or receiver, large-capacity magazine, or rapid-fire device by means of three-dimensional (3D) printing using a 3D printer, CNC milling machine, or similar device. This prohibition does not apply to a federally licensed firearm manufacturer, an instructor or student of an accredited gunsmithing program, or an institution that operates an accredited gunsmithing program. A person who violates the new law commits unlawful 3D printing of a firearm or firearm component, which is a class 1 misdemeanor. A second or subsequent offense is a class 5 felony.

HB26-1144 is effective immediately and codified at Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-12-119.

SB26-015: Offenses Involving Commercial Sexual Activity with a Child 

SB26-015 is bipartisan legislation intended to strengthen protection for minors. The new law changes the terminology used for “prostitution of a child” and “child prostitution” to “commercial sexual activity.” Under SB26-015, “commercial sexual activity” means sexual contact, sexual intrusion, sexual penetration, sexual exploitation of a child, or an obscene performance for which anything of value is given to, promised, or received by a person. The new terminology will now be used in the statutes describing the crimes for child prostitution, pandering of a child, keeping a place of child prostitution, pimping a child, inducement of child prostitution, and patronizing a prostituted child.

SB26-015 includes new mandatory sentencing requirements for the above-listed offenses and requires a judge sentencing a person to probation for the offense of soliciting for commercial sexual activity with a child to order as a condition of probation that the person serve 364 days in the county jail.

In addition, a person now commits the crime of soliciting for commercial sexual activity by knowingly soliciting a child for commercial sexual activity and requires that when arranging or offering to arrange a meeting, the offender must know that the meeting will facilitate commercial sexual activity with a child. SB26-015 also makes the penalty for internet luring of a child a class 3 felony when the offense is committed with the intent to meet for the purpose of engaging in commercial sexual activity. In this circumstance, a court is required to sentence the offender to at least the minimum of the presumptive range for the class 3 felony. The new law also removes the spousal exception from the crime of engaging in commercial sexual activity with a child.

SB26-015 takes effect on July 1, 2026 and is codified at Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 18-7-401 to 18-7-406, 18-3-302, 18-3-306, 18-1.3-202, 40-10-129, 16-8-115, 16-11.7-102, 16-13-303, 16-22-102, 16-22-108, 18-1.3-101, 18-3-407, 18-3-411, 18-3-412, 18-12-108, 18-17-103, and 24-4.1-302.

SB26-031: Use of Prescription Product with Controlled Substances

SB26-031 exempts prescription drugs containing a Schedule I controlled substance from Schedule I, subject to certain parameters. The new law clarifies that it does not apply to or affect the regulation of or lawful actions or conduct concerning natural medicine, natural medicine products, marijuana, or marijuana concentrates.

SB26-031 takes effect on August 12, 2026* and is codified at Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-18-203.

SB26-115: Post-Conviction Relief for Certain Offenders 

SB26-115 creates a process for a person in prison to petition the court for resentencing and for a court to impose a reduced sentence if the petitioner is sixty years old or older at the time of filing the petition and has served at least twenty calendar years incarcerated for the offense. The petition must be filed within three years of August 12, 2026.

The petitioner has the right to counsel, and the new law includes rules related to unrepresented parties and the appointment of counsel. The district attorney is given an opportunity to respond to the petition. After a response is filed, the court must set a hearing on the petition. The district attorney is required to give the victim of the offense, if any, notice of the petition, and an opportunity to be heard at the hearing on the petition.

At the hearing on the petition, the petitioner must demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence that the petitioner no longer presents an identifiable danger to the safety of any person or the community and that there is good cause for the court to reduce the sentence. SB26-115 also sets forth eleven (11) factors that the court must consider in making its determination. If the court finds that the petitioner has met the burden of proof, the petitioner may then file a motion for reconsideration asking for a reduction of the initial sentence following the procedure for doing so in the Colorado Rules of Criminal Procedure. The court will then hold a hearing for the purpose of determining the appropriate sentence.

A person is ineligible to petition the court if the person is incarcerated because of a conviction for a sex offense or human trafficking, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, or committed an offense involving a child younger than twelve years old or an offense against a first responder performing their duties. However, the district attorney may petition the court requesting that the court grant post-conviction relief for an ineligible individual. If that happens, the petition proceeds as described above.

SB26-115 takes effect on August 12, 2026*, and applies to individuals convicted of an offense before, on, or after that date unless a referendum petition related to the new law is timely filed and voted on in the November 2026 general election. Should that happen, the new law will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor. The new law is codified at Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-1.3-411.

Our Team

BHGR’s Criminal Group attorneys have collectively represented hundreds of criminal defendants in all types of conventional federal and state criminal proceedings and charges, from petty offenses to serious felonies, ranging from disorderly conduct, DUI, and careless driving to assaults, burglary, domestic violence, drug offenses, sexual assault, and homicide. If you have questions about these new laws or how they may affect you or your business, contact us today.

*All bills discussed in this article that are effective on August 12, 2026 are, in fact, effective on that date unless a referendum petition related to the new law is timely filed and voted on in the November 2026 general election. Should that happen, the new law will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.