ColoradoHB26-11422026 Regular SessionHouse

Child Advocacy Centers

Sponsored By: Andrew Boesenecker (Democratic), Dylan Roberts (Democratic), Matt Ball (Democratic), Rick Taggart (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Children & Domestic Matters

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Confidential sharing for child protection teams

County departments can share information relevant to protecting a child in a maltreatment case with child advocacy center teams. Maltreatment includes sexual or physical abuse, neglect, child human trafficking, and exploitation. Teams must include law enforcement, a prosecutor, child protective services, local mental health and health-care providers, a victim advocate, and center staff. Members can share information within the team and with the county department. Information must stay confidential, remain closed to public inspection, and serve only necessary duties, unless law requires disclosure, including juvenile court rules.

Liability protections for child advocacy workers

Team members receive civil and criminal immunity for good-faith disclosures during team discussions about a child’s case. This protection excludes gross negligence, wanton conduct, and intentional wrongdoing. Center board members, staff, and volunteers receive civil immunity for reasonable, good-faith acts benefiting the center during maltreatment investigations or team disclosures. Their protection excludes gross negligence, wanton misconduct, intentional wrongdoing, medical negligence under the Health Care Availability Act, and actions governed by the Premises Liability Act.

New standards for child advocacy centers

The Colorado Child Advocacy Center Act requires independent, child-focused centers with physical facilities and care that accounts for trauma. Centers must remain in good standing with an accredited state chapter of a national child advocacy center association. The chapter oversees and guides Colorado centers. Centers must coordinate child abuse investigations and identify services for children and caregivers. Health-care institutions and professionals do not qualify as centers. The law adds a center representative to the Colorado Human Trafficking Council and allows centers to refer children to local collaborative management programs. These changes take effect at 12:01 a.m. the day after the 90-day period following final legislative adjournment. That date is August 12, 2026, if adjournment is May 13, 2026. A referendum petition delays implementation until voter approval at the November 2026 election and the governor’s official declaration of the vote.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Brandi Bradley
Republican • House
Chad Clifford
Democratic • House
Dan Woog
Republican • House
Eliza Hamrick
Democratic • House
Emily Sirota
Democratic • House
Jennifer Bacon
Democratic • House
Jarvis Caldwell
Republican • House
Julie McCluskie
Democratic • House
Karen McCormick
Democratic • House
Kenny Nguyen
Democratic • House
Katie Stewart
Democratic • House
Lori Garcia Sander
Republican • House
Lindsay Gilchrist
Democratic • House
Lori Goldstein
Democratic • House
Lesley Smith
Democratic • House
Larry Don Suckla
Republican • House
Monica Duran
Democratic • House
Meg Froelich
Democratic • House
Mandy Lindsay
Democratic • House
Meghan Lukens
Democratic • House
Manny Rutinel
Democratic • House
Ryan Gonzalez
Republican • House
Rebecca Keltie
Republican • House
Rebekah Stewart
Democratic • House
Ron Weinberg
Republican • House
Sheila Lieder
Democratic • House
Scott Slaugh
Republican • House
Tammy Story
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
Kyle Mullica
Democratic • Senate
Katie Wallace
Democratic • Senate
Lisa Cutter
Democratic • Senate
Lindsey Daugherty
Democratic • Senate
Marc Snyder
Democratic • Senate
Mike Weissman
Democratic • Senate
Robert Rodriguez
Democratic • Senate
Scott Bright
Republican • Senate
Tony Exum
Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 117 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/18/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 34 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/12/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1142 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.

Yes: 8 • No: 0

House vote • 2/23/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 62 • No: 0

House vote • 2/18/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1142, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 13 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

Governor Signed
4/13/2026House
Sent to the Governor
4/2/2026House
Signed by the Speaker of the House
4/1/2026House
Signed by the President of the Senate
4/1/2026Senate
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
3/18/2026Senate
Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments
3/17/2026Senate
Senate Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
3/12/2026Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human Services
2/26/2026Senate
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
2/23/2026House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
2/20/2026House
House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
2/18/2026House
Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services
2/4/2026House

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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