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ColoradoHB26-10642026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Youthful Offender System Updates

Sponsored By: Gretchen Rydin (Democratic), Jamie Jackson (Democratic), Judy Amabile (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

12 provisions identified: 8 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.

More sentencing options for young adults

Beginning August 12, 2026, some young adults charged with murder qualify for youthful offender sentencing through a plea agreement. They must have been 18 or 19 at the offense and under 21 at sentencing. The charge must be second-degree murder or first-degree murder under the former law named in the act. They must plead guilty to a class 2 felony and qualify based on the felony underlying the murder charge. When either side requests a warden's suitability review, it must consider risks, protective factors, and treatment needs. The start date assumes May 13, 2026, adjournment. A filed referendum petition delays effectiveness until voter approval and the governor's official vote declaration.

Disability checks before young offender revocation

Before returning a participant to court for noncompliance, Corrections must rule out specified health and disability causes. These include mental or behavioral health conditions, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and failure to provide reasonable accommodations. For returns based on other reasons or noncompliance, the original sentence is imposed. County jail transfer must occur within 35 days after the executive director upholds the transfer decision. The court must review the sentence within 126 days after Corrections notifies the district attorney.

Safer mentoring placements for young offenders

Corrections may house participants with adult inmates age 25 or older in an approved mentoring program. Those adults must be below close-custody level. A participant cannot be housed in a facility that also houses an adult convicted of a sex offense.

Sentence reviews for offenders with disabilities

A clinician's concern about mental or behavioral health conditions or intellectual and developmental disabilities can lead to diagnostic transfer. The transfer lasts no more than 60 days. Findings must explain how the system can accommodate the participant's condition or disability. If it prevents sentence completion, the sentencing court must review the sentence. The court may reduce it but cannot increase it because of the diagnosis or disability finding.

Juveniles consent to care without parents

Juvenile participants can authorize hospital, medical, mental health, substance use, dental, emergency health, and emergency surgical care without parental consent. Parents and guardians are not liable for charges for care based on that consent. Providers and other covered people who rely on it in good faith are protected from civil damages for missing parental consent.

Reentry help with community placement reviews

During the last three to six months of institutional confinement, Corrections may use residential programs with 24-hour custody. It may run an emancipation program and offer needs-based support, monitoring, or housing when family reintegration is difficult. These supports apply during Phase II residential preparation or Phase III community supervision. Community supervision must include structured oversight, education, and treatment tailored to each participant. Local police receive the participant's name, crime, case outcome, and placement reason at least 30 days before Phase III placement. Outside the conviction jurisdiction, police may appeal at least 15 days before placement, except where the participant lived at the offense. The executive director makes the final placement decision.

Young offender transfers face new safeguards

Corrections cannot start transfers into the youthful offender system until it develops the required policies and procedures. Treatment or reentry transfers cannot endanger participants or isolate them because of disability needs. Corrections must maintain a transfer process for participants who pose a danger to themselves or others. The executive director must review those decisions before transfer. These transfers last no more than 60 days, followed by return to the youthful offender facility or court for revocation. Isolation, segregation, or adult-facility confinement beyond 60 consecutive days requires action by the sentencing court.

Young offenders get treatment and discipline

Each participant receives an intake assessment, a written report, and a plan covering health, treatment, education, skills, and reentry. Plans must match any applicable individualized education program or Section 504 disability plan. Case managers meet with participants monthly; during Phase I, teams also review plans monthly and make needed changes. Required services include evidence-informed treatment, therapy when indicated, life skills, problem-solving, mentors, positive group behavior, and gradual reentry opportunities. Participants with a sex-offense history or underlying sex-offense facts receive treatment that follows state board standards. The system must also use clear, appropriate consequences for designated misconduct, which may include intermediate sanctions.

Older offender sentences lose testing charge

The law removes a specific requirement to provide and pay for biological-sample collection and genetic testing. It covered people in youthful offender custody on or after July 1, 2007, under sentences imposed before that date. That group includes people who were on community supervision. General felony testing requirements remain.

Education pathways for young offenders

Corrections may contract with schools or other public or private groups to provide or certify participant education. Programs may offer a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) pathway. Corrections or its contractor must determine credits earned before entry. Participants served by school districts under these agreements are excluded from district statewide assessment and performance calculations.

Trained staff for young offender programs

Corrections must set and enforce program standards that follow the law's goals. The executive director or designee approves staff hiring and transfers, selecting staff with relevant skills or planned training. Staff must receive juvenile and young adult treatment training within 45 days of starting. Before training, they cannot work directly with juveniles and must be supervised when working with young adults. The clinical services director may hire unlicensed behavioral health staff to supplement licensed providers, with executive approval and scope-of-practice limits.

Funding supports young offender treatment

The General Assembly must provide sufficient funds to run the system, including its health and disability requirements. Corrections must seek and accept available public and private funds to supplement that money. Beginning August 12, 2026, surcharge fund money is available through annual appropriations for rehabilitation, education, and treatment costs. The law sets no dollar amount. The start date assumes May 13, 2026, adjournment; a filed referendum petition delays effectiveness until voter approval and the governor's official vote declaration.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Gretchen Rydin

    Democratic • House

  • Jamie Jackson

    Democratic • House

  • Judy Amabile

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Chad Clifford

    Democratic • House

  • Cecelia Espenoza

    Democratic • House

  • Jennifer Bacon

    Democratic • House

  • Javier Mabrey

    Democratic • House

  • Jacque Phillips

    Democratic • House

  • Kyle Brown

    Democratic • House

  • Karen McCormick

    Democratic • House

  • Kenny Nguyen

    Democratic • House

  • Lindsay Gilchrist

    Democratic • House

  • Meg Froelich

    Democratic • House

  • Mandy Lindsay

    Democratic • House

  • Matthew Martinez

    Democratic • House

  • Regina English

    Democratic • House

  • Tisha Mauro

    Democratic • House

  • Tammy Story

    Democratic • House

  • Cathy Kipp

    Democratic • Senate

  • Chris Kolker

    Democratic • Senate

  • Iman Jodeh

    Democratic • Senate

  • James Coleman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Julie Gonzales

    Democratic • Senate

  • Janice Marchman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Katie Wallace

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lisa Cutter

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lindsey Daugherty

    Democratic • Senate

  • Matt Ball

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mike Weissman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Nick Hinrichsen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Tony Exum

    Democratic • Senate

  • William Lindstedt

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 170 • No: 70

House vote • 3/12/2026

Senate amendments: Repass

Yes: 42 • No: 21

House vote • 3/12/2026

Senate amendments: Concur

Yes: 50 • No: 13

Senate vote • 3/2/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 23 • No: 12

Senate vote • 2/23/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1064 to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 5 • No: 2

House vote • 2/18/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 41 • No: 18

House vote • 2/10/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1064, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 9 • No: 4

Actions Timeline

  1. Governor Signed

    3/26/2026House

  2. Signed by the President of the Senate

    3/19/2026Senate

  3. Sent to the Governor

    3/19/2026House

  4. Signed by the Speaker of the House

    3/18/2026House

  5. House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass

    3/12/2026House

  6. House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily

    3/3/2026House

  7. Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    3/2/2026Senate

  8. Senate Third Reading Laid Over to 03/02/2026 - No Amendments

    2/27/2026Senate

  9. Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor

    2/26/2026Senate

  10. Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole

    2/23/2026Senate

  11. Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary

    2/19/2026Senate

  12. House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    2/18/2026House

  13. House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor

    2/17/2026House

  14. House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

    2/13/2026House

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

    2/10/2026House

  16. 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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