All Roll Calls
Yes: 133 • No: 2
ColoradoHB25-12752025 Regular SessionHouse
Forensic Science Integrity
Sponsored By: Lisa Frizell (Republican), Matt Soper (Republican), Mike Weissman (Democratic), Yara Zokaie (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
Courts & JudicialCrimes, Corrections, & Enforcement
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Defendants get lawyers and lab evidence
Defendants gain a right to a lawyer for wrongful-action claims and appeals after notice or a sufficient showing of an investigation. The investigated employee must have worked on their case; qualifying low-income defendants can request appointed counsel before filing a petition. Courts must appoint the public defender, or alternate defense counsel when the public defender has a conflict. After statutory notice, or a qualifying court order identifying an investigated employee, defendants can request case and lab evidence. Prosecutors must provide evidence on an ongoing basis: core records within 45 days of a valid request or order, and other required records at least 35 days before the hearing. Lab directors must respond within 24 days to requests for existing materials and state in writing when requested materials do not exist. Courts can protect private information, and existing confidentiality rules apply to prior counsel's materials.
Proven lab wrongdoing requires new trials
Courts must hold an evidence hearing when alleged facts, if true, show lab wrongful action mattered to the case. Defendants must prove the wrongful action and its importance were more likely than not. Courts consider the lab evidence's role, independent evidence of guilt, and whether the outcome likely would have differed. If defendants meet that standard, courts must set aside the conviction and order a new trial; otherwise, they dismiss the claim. Final orders granting or denying a new trial can be appealed.
Defendants gain claims with filing deadlines
Convicted people can seek review after receiving notice or filing a pleading naming an investigated lab employee who worked on their case. This route is available apart from other post-conviction options and covers qualifying events before, on, or after the law's effective date. Filing periods start when defendants actually receive notice: no limit for class 1 felonies, 3 years for other felonies, 18 months for misdemeanors, and 6 months for petty offenses. Courts can excuse late filings for justifiable excuse or excusable neglect; the clock pauses during specified periods, including incompetency or a pending written request for counsel. Petitions must identify the employee, case history, grounds for relief, and timeliness; prosecutors have 35 days to respond, and defendants have 21 days to reply. Courts must allow a chance to fix substantial defects and cannot reject claims solely because wrongdoing was discoverable earlier. After denial, another claim based on the same wrongful action is barred unless qualifying new evidence is found.
Colorado courts receive implementation funding
The law provides Colorado state courts $140,443 from the general fund for budget year 2025–26 to implement the act. This includes $16,840 for court administration capital costs and $123,603 for trial court programs. The funding assumes 1.1 additional full-time-equivalent trial court staff positions. The money goes to courts, not directly to households.
Crime labs must report and investigate misconduct
The law covers deliberate misconduct and major failures in lab standards, called wrongful action; county coroner labs are excluded. Employees must report wrongful action in writing within 7 days, and supervisors must notify directors within 72 hours. For information received on or after July 1, 2025, directors must investigate and notify prosecutors about affected pending cases within 7 days after starting. Investigations must finish within 91 days; delays require notice and updates at least every 35 days, explaining delays and expected completion. Reports on qualifying wrongful action after July 1, 2014, and before July 1, 2025, were due September 1, 2025, if investigations led to criminal allegations or sustained internal affairs findings.
Crime victims get lab investigation notices
When charges are filed and trial has not begun, prosecutors must tell victims about related lab investigations and alleged wrongdoing. Notice must arrive as soon as possible, within 91 days after the prosecutor receives the lab director's notice. If trial starts sooner, notice is required before trial. Prosecutors must use personal service or registered mail to the victim's last-known address.
Defendants get notices about lab investigations
Prosecutors must notify affected defendants when lab investigations begin and when final reports find wrongful action. Notices are generally due as soon as possible, within 91 days of receiving the applicable notice or report; earlier disclosure rules still apply. Prosecutors must also notify defendants on case lists within 91 days, including listed pending or convicted cases when investigations remain unfinished after 126 days. Notices identify the employee, lab, and case, explain filing deadlines and lawyer rights, and give contact information. People in custody receive mail at their facility, with email to the public defender; others receive personal service or registered mail.
Lab records preserved, public access limited
Crime labs must preserve wrongful-action records through the final resolution of affected cases and related civil cases, including potential litigation. Investigation notices and reports are criminal justice records, so Colorado's release rules apply rather than guaranteeing access to every record. Final reports finding wrongful action must be available for public inspection on request. Access can be denied during a related criminal investigation or case against the employee. The report file must open after all charges are dismissed or when the employee is sentenced after conviction.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Lisa Frizell
Republican • Senate
Matt Soper
Republican • House
Mike Weissman
Democratic • Senate
Yara Zokaie
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Andrew Boesenecker
Democratic • House
Amy Paschal
Democratic • House
Alex Valdez
Democratic • House
Bob Marshall
Democratic • House
Brianna Titone
Democratic • House
Chad Clifford
Democratic • House
Cecelia Espenoza
Democratic • House
Eliza Hamrick
Democratic • House
Emily Sirota
Democratic • House
Jennifer Bacon
Democratic • House
Jamie Jackson
Democratic • House
Junie Joseph
Democratic • House
Javier Mabrey
Democratic • House
Julie McCluskie
Democratic • House
Kyle Brown
Democratic • House
Katie Stewart
Democratic • House
Lorena Garcia
Democratic • House
Michael Carter
Democratic • House
Meg Froelich
Democratic • House
Mandy Lindsay
Democratic • House
Meghan Lukens
Democratic • House
Manny Rutinel
Democratic • House
Naquetta Ricks
Democratic • House
Rebekah Stewart
Democratic • House
Rep. S. Bird
Affiliation unavailable
Sean Camacho
Democratic • House
Sheila Lieder
Democratic • House
Tammy Story
Democratic • House
William Lindstedt
Democratic • Senate
Barbara Kirkmeyer
Republican • Senate
Byron Pelton
Republican • Senate
Cathy Kipp
Democratic • Senate
Dylan Roberts
Democratic • Senate
Iman Jodeh
Democratic • Senate
Judy Amabile
Democratic • Senate
John Carson
Republican • Senate
James Coleman
Democratic • Senate
Julie Gonzales
Democratic • Senate
Janice Marchman
Democratic • Senate
Kyle Mullica
Democratic • Senate
Katie Wallace
Democratic • Senate
Lisa Cutter
Democratic • Senate
Lindsey Daugherty
Democratic • Senate
Larry Liston
Republican • Senate
Mark Baisley
Republican • Senate
Matt Ball
Democratic • Senate
Marc Snyder
Democratic • Senate
Rod Pelton
Republican • Senate
Tony Exum
Democratic • Senate
Tom Sullivan
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/30/2025
Third reading: Bill
Yes: 35 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/29/2025
Refer House Bill 25-1275 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.
Yes: 6 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/23/2025
Refer House Bill 25-1275 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Yes: 7 • No: 0
House vote • 4/16/2025
Third reading: Bill
Yes: 65 • No: 0
House vote • 4/15/2025
Refer House Bill 25-1275, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Yes: 9 • No: 2
House vote • 3/26/2025
Refer House Bill 25-1275, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Yes: 11 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
6/2/2025HouseSigned by the Speaker of the House
5/15/2025HouseSigned by the President of the Senate
5/15/2025SenateSent to the Governor
5/15/2025HouseSenate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
4/30/2025SenateSenate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
4/29/2025SenateSenate Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments
4/29/2025SenateSenate Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended to Appropriations
4/23/2025SenateIntroduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary
4/21/2025SenateHouse Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
4/16/2025HouseHouse Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
4/15/2025HouseHouse Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
4/15/2025HouseHouse Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to Appropriations
3/26/2025HouseIntroduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary
2/19/2025House
Bill Text
Engrossed
Final Act
House Appropriations Preamend
House Judiciary Preamend
Introduced
Reengrossed
Rerevised
Revised
Signed Act