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ColoradoHB26-12182026 Regular SessionHouse

Clarifying Validity of Common Law Marriage

Sponsored By: Cecelia Espenoza (Democratic), Marc Catlin (Republican), Matt Ball (Democratic), Stephanie Luck (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Children & Domestic Matters

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Colorado protects couples’ valid common-law marriages

Colorado restores protection for otherwise valid common-law marriages from being invalidated by its marriage-formality rules. This covers marriages entered before September 1, 2006. Marriages entered on or after September 1, 2006, are protected when they comply with Colorado Revised Statutes § 14-2-109.5. The law does not make an otherwise invalid marriage valid.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Cecelia Espenoza

    Democratic • House

  • Marc Catlin

    Republican • Senate

  • Matt Ball

    Democratic • Senate

  • Stephanie Luck

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • James Coleman

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 109 • No: 3

Senate vote • 4/7/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 34 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/31/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1218 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.

Yes: 5 • No: 0

House vote • 3/9/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 59 • No: 3

House vote • 3/5/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1218 to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 11 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Governor Signed

    5/5/2026House

  2. Signed by the Speaker of the House

    5/1/2026House

  3. Signed by the President of the Senate

    5/1/2026Senate

  4. Sent to the Governor

    5/1/2026House

  5. Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    4/7/2026Senate

  6. Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments

    4/6/2026Senate

  7. Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 04/02/2026 - No Amendments

    4/6/2026Senate

  8. Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole

    3/31/2026Senate

  9. Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs

    3/12/2026Senate

  10. House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    3/9/2026House

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

    3/6/2026House

  12. House Committee on State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole

    3/5/2026House

  13. Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs

    2/17/2026House

Bill Text

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