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ColoradoHB26-10242026 Regular SessionHouse

Raising Age of Voluntary Relinquishment of Child

Sponsored By: Gretchen Rydin (Democratic), Janice Marchman (Democratic), Lisa Frizell (Republican), Rebecca Keltie (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Children & Domestic Matters

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Parents get longer to surrender infants

Colorado extends safe surrender from 72 hours to 30 days old or younger. Parents must hand the child to a firefighter at a fire station or qualifying hospital or community clinic emergency-center staff. The receiving worker must take temporary physical custody without a court order. Parents gain a defense against charges of placing a child in danger when they safely, reasonably, and knowingly make this handoff. The worker must be present, and the child must be 30 days old or younger when the alleged offense occurred. The state department must also create rules for either parent to seek reunification; the law does not guarantee reunification. These changes take effect at 12:01 a.m. the day after 90 days following final legislative adjournment—August 12, 2026, if adjournment is May 13. A referendum petition filed within that period delays the law unless voters approve it in November 2026; then it starts upon the governor's official vote declaration.

Schools teach updated infant surrender rules

Colorado schools offering human sexuality instruction must make it comprehensive and include age-appropriate information about safe surrender. The information covers surrender to a firefighter at a fire station or qualifying hospital or community clinic emergency-center staff. It explains the expanded window: 30 days old or younger, instead of 72 hours. Comprehensive health education must include this information when other student courses or programs do not. These requirements follow the law's effective-date rule, with an August 12, 2026 start based on May 13 adjournment, unless a timely referendum petition delays it.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Gretchen Rydin

    Democratic • House

  • Janice Marchman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lisa Frizell

    Republican • Senate

  • Rebecca Keltie

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Ava Flanell

    Republican • House

  • Brandi Bradley

    Republican • House

  • Carlos Barron

    Republican • House

  • Chris Richardson

    Republican • House

  • Jarvis Caldwell

    Republican • House

  • Ken DeGraaf

    Republican • House

  • Lisa Feret

    Democratic • House

  • Lori Garcia Sander

    Republican • House

  • Larry Don Suckla

    Republican • House

  • Max Brooks

    Republican • House

  • Monica Duran

    Democratic • House

  • Mandy Lindsay

    Democratic • House

  • Regina English

    Democratic • House

  • Ryan Gonzalez

    Republican • House

  • Ron Weinberg

    Republican • House

  • Scott Bottoms

    Republican • House

  • Sean Camacho

    Democratic • House

  • Sheila Lieder

    Democratic • House

  • Stephanie Luck

    Republican • House

  • Scott Slaugh

    Republican • House

  • Cathy Kipp

    Democratic • Senate

  • Iman Jodeh

    Democratic • Senate

  • John Carson

    Republican • Senate

  • James Coleman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Julie Gonzales

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kyle Mullica

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lisa Cutter

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lynda Zamora Wilson

    Republican • Senate

  • Nick Hinrichsen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Rod Pelton

    Republican • Senate

  • Tony Exum

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 118 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/1/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 35 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/26/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1024 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.

Yes: 5 • No: 0

House vote • 2/26/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 65 • No: 0

House vote • 2/10/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1024, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 13 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Governor Signed

    4/27/2026House

  2. Signed by the Speaker of the House

    4/16/2026House

  3. Signed by the President of the Senate

    4/16/2026Senate

  4. Sent to the Governor

    4/16/2026House

  5. Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    4/1/2026Senate

  6. Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments

    3/31/2026Senate

  7. Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole

    3/26/2026Senate

  8. Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human Services

    3/3/2026Senate

  9. House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    2/26/2026House

  10. House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Floor

    2/25/2026House

  11. House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

    2/13/2026House

  12. House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole

    2/10/2026House

  13. Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services

    1/14/2026House

Bill Text

  • Engrossed

    PDF

  • Final Act

    PDF

  • House Health & Human Services Preamend

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

  • Reengrossed

    PDF

  • Rerevised

    PDF

  • Revised

    PDF

  • Signed Act

    PDF

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