ColoradoHB26-10582026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Protections for Minors Featured in Digital Content

Sponsored By: Katie Wallace (Democratic), Matt Ball (Democratic), Meghan Lukens (Democratic), Scott Slaugh (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Business & Economic DevelopmentChildren & Domestic MattersLabor & EmploymentTelecommunications & Information Technology

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Teen creators keep their own earnings

Beginning June 1, 2027, Colorado minors age 14 or older can create and publish their own paid online content. They are entitled to all money earned from that content. They are not treated as parent or guardian creators under the law's earnings rules. The law covers conduct on or after its effective date. Its referendum rule allows petitions within 90 days after legislative adjournment. A filed petition requires voter approval at the November 2026 election for the June 1, 2027 start date.

Parents must protect featured children's earnings

Beginning June 1, 2027, qualifying parent or guardian creators must save a featured child's earnings in a separate trust. The detailed provisions require three tests during the preceding 12 months. The child must appear or be discussed in at least 30% of content time within a 30-day period. Views must meet the platform's payment threshold, or actual pay must reach $0.10 per view, including sponsorships. The creator must receive at least $40,000 in actual online-content pay. The required share of gross earnings must at least match the child's share of the content. Multiple qualifying children in one segment split that share equally. A bank or trust company holds each trust under Colorado's Uniform Transfers to Minors Act. The creator cannot revoke it without the child's consent. Money becomes available at age 18 or emancipation. On a trustee's request, a court can approve earlier payments only for specific expenses solely benefiting the child. A child who first qualifies in the preceding calendar year must have a trust established by January 30. Creators must keep accessible records until age 18 and tell the child they exist. Records cover identity and age, paid posts and minutes featuring the child, earnings, and trust deposits. Missing records allow a lawsuit seeking court orders, actual and punitive damages, and legal costs. The supplied bill summary conflicts with these detailed provisions: it instead lists a $15,000 earnings test and a fixed 40% set-aside.

People gain removal rights for childhood posts

Beginning June 1, 2027, adults and emancipated minors gain removal rights for posts featuring them as children. The right covers posts published on or after that date that reveal private information and uniquely identify the person. Requesters must provide reasonably requested proof of identity and identify the post. Platforms must offer an accessible request method and verify identity. When requests do not go directly to creators, platforms must notify creators within a reasonable period, no longer than 30 days. Creators must delete the post or remove the private information within 72 hours after receiving the request. After 30 days of creator noncompliance, the person can sue in district court. The platform must also review the request and take reasonable removal steps, subject to legal exceptions. News organization content is presumed newsworthy or in the public interest. Platforms retain protection when following their published processes and relying in good faith on submitted information. The rules preserve free-expression rights, federal platform-liability limits, and other legal remedies.

New protections against profiting from sexualizing children

Beginning June 1, 2027, the law bans profiting from knowingly making or publicly sharing content of minors intended to cause sexual excitement. Affected minors can sue for violations, attempted violations, or conspiracies. They can seek actual and punitive damages, attorney fees, and court costs. Exceptions cover authorized law-enforcement work, good-faith reporting, lawful obligations, and filings or documents in legal proceedings. Platforms are generally protected from liability for others' content unless they intentionally solicit or knowingly and predominantly distribute it. The law does not require proactive monitoring that conflicts with federal platform-liability protections. Platforms must implement and document risk-based plans addressing paid content that intentionally sexualizes known minors engaged in content creation. They must reassess those plans on a reasonable recurring basis and can use existing safety systems. They must publish clear policies, settings, and safety advice for adults and minors, informed by research and outside expertise. That information must explain creators' legal duties and steps to protect children.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Amy Paschal
Democratic • House
Bob Marshall
Democratic • House
Chad Clifford
Democratic • House
Eliza Hamrick
Democratic • House
Junie Joseph
Democratic • House
Julie McCluskie
Democratic • House
Jacque Phillips
Democratic • House
Kyle Brown
Democratic • House
Karen McCormick
Democratic • House
Kenny Nguyen
Democratic • House
Lesley Smith
Democratic • House
Monica Duran
Democratic • House
Meg Froelich
Democratic • House
Mandy Lindsay
Democratic • House
Manny Rutinel
Democratic • House
Sean Camacho
Democratic • House
Sheila Lieder
Democratic • House
Sen. A. Benavidez
Affiliation unavailable
Cathy Kipp
Democratic • Senate
Chris Kolker
Democratic • Senate
Iman Jodeh
Democratic • Senate
James Coleman
Democratic • Senate
Julie Gonzales
Democratic • Senate
Lisa Cutter
Democratic • Senate
Marc Snyder
Democratic • Senate
Mike Weissman
Democratic • Senate
Nick Hinrichsen
Democratic • Senate
Tony Exum
Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 237 • No: 70

House vote • 4/2/2026

Senate amendments: Concur

Yes: 63 • No: 0

House vote • 4/2/2026

Senate amendments: Repass

Yes: 54 • No: 9

Senate vote • 4/1/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 33 • No: 2

Senate vote • 3/25/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1058, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 5 • No: 1

House vote • 3/2/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 56 • No: 9

House vote • 2/26/2026

Committee of the whole: Amd (h.001)

Yes: 15 • No: 49

House vote • 1/28/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1058, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 11 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

Governor Signed
5/4/2026House
Sent to the Governor
4/23/2026House
Signed by the Speaker of the House
4/22/2026House
Signed by the President of the Senate
4/22/2026Senate
House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
4/2/2026House
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
4/1/2026Senate
Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee
3/31/2026Senate
Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 03/31/2026 - No Amendments
3/30/2026Senate
Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
3/25/2026Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary
3/6/2026Senate
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
3/2/2026House
House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
2/27/2026House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
2/26/2026House
House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
2/2/2026House
House Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
1/28/2026House
Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary
1/14/2026House

Bill Text

Engrossed
PDF
Final Act
PDF
House Judiciary Preamend
PDF
Introduced
PDF
Reengrossed
PDF
Rerevised
PDF
Revised
PDF
Senate Judiciary Preamend
PDF
Signed Act
PDF

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