# Colorado HB26-1234: Access to Records of Child Abuse or Neglect Colorado HB26-1234, Access to Records of Child Abuse or Neglect, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Gretchen Rydin (Democratic), Katie Wallace (Democratic), Lisa Frizell (Republican) and 1 others; status signed, last action 2026-05-04 (Governor Signed) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB26-1234-2026A - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Colorado HB26-1234 - State: Colorado - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Access to Records of Child Abuse or Neglect - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-02-18 - Last action: 2026-05-04, Governor Signed - Sponsors: Gretchen Rydin (Democratic), Katie Wallace (Democratic), Lisa Frizell (Republican), Matt Soper (Republican) - Cosponsors: 42 - Subjects: Human Services - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 4 (115 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 6 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Child victims can use their records: benefit, low. A person named as an alleged child abuse or neglect victim can share and use a record they possess. Uses include legal cases and getting treatment or services. Their lawyer or court-appointed child advocate can also share and use the record with that person's consent. County departments are not res… - More access to family abuse records: benefit, low. Access includes named alleged child victims, parents, guardians, legal custodians, and people responsible for a child's health or welfare. A court-appointed child advocate or youth lawyer can access records for a named child who is legally incompetent. Authorized people can appoint someone to get r… - Privacy protections for children and families: benefit, low. People holding Colorado child abuse or neglect records cannot share identifying details with unauthorized people unless state law allows it. Protected details include names, addresses, and other information identifying a child, family, or person who reported suspected abuse. These details cannot be… - Criminal penalty removed for improper record sharing: cost, low. The law removes the class 2 misdemeanor penalty for improperly sharing child abuse or neglect information with unauthorized people. It also removes that penalty for willfully allowing or encouraging the release, without ending confidentiality requirements. The act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. the day… - Private court review before defendants get records: mixed, low. Criminal defendants face limits on getting child abuse or neglect records when another law does not expressly grant access. The court must review the records privately and find access necessary to resolve an issue before allowing it. This review protects the privacy of people named in the records.… - School records stay private with revised penalties: mixed, low. Covered school and background-check information remains confidential and exempt from Colorado's public-records disclosure rules. The rules cover nonpublic schools, Colorado's education department, charter schools, and school boards. Releasing covered information or making an unauthorized request ca… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Gretchen Rydin (Democratic), House - Sponsor: Katie Wallace (Democratic), Senate - Sponsor: Lisa Frizell (Republican), Senate - Sponsor: Matt Soper (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Chad Clifford (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Cecelia Espenoza (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Eliza Hamrick (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jennifer Bacon (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jamie Jackson (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Julie McCluskie (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jacque Phillips (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jenny Willford (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Kenny Nguyen (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Katie Stewart (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Lorena Garcia (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Lindsay Gilchrist (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Monica Duran (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Meg Froelich (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Mandy Lindsay (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Meghan Lukens (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Manny Rutinel (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Naquetta Ricks (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Ryan Gonzalez (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Rick Taggart (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Sean Camacho (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Sheila Lieder (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Tammy Story (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Sen. A. Benavidez - Cosponsor: Cathy Kipp (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Cleave Simpson (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Dylan Roberts (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Iman Jodeh (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Judy Amabile (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Jeff Bridges (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: James Coleman (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Julie Gonzales (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Janice Marchman (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Kyle Mullica (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Lisa Cutter (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Lindsey Daugherty (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Matt Ball (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Marc Snyder (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Mike Weissman (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Robert Rodriguez (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Tony Exum (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: William Lindstedt (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-06 | Senate | Third reading: Bill | pass | 35 | 0 | | | 2026-03-30 | Senate | Refer House Bill 26-1234 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. | pass | 6 | 0 | | | 2026-03-23 | House | Third reading: Bill | pass | 64 | 0 | | | 2026-03-18 | House | Refer House Bill 26-1234, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. | pass | 10 | 0 | | ## Actions (12) - 2026-05-04: Governor Signed (House) - 2026-04-23: Sent to the Governor (House) - 2026-04-22: Signed by the Speaker of the House (House) - 2026-04-22: Signed by the President of the Senate (Senate) - 2026-04-06: Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments (Senate) - 2026-04-02: Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments (Senate) - 2026-03-30: Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole (Senate) - 2026-03-26: Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary (Senate) - 2026-03-23: House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments (House) - 2026-03-20: House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor (House) - 2026-03-18: House Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole (House) - 2026-02-18: Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary (House) ## Bill text - Engrossed: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/113535/download) - Final Act: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/114939/download) - House Judiciary Preamend: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/113498/download) - Introduced: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/112164/download) - Reengrossed: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/113598/download) - Rerevised: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/114162/download) - Revised: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/113967/download) - Signed Act: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/115774/download) ## Related bills - HB26-1298: Background Checks for Child Welfare Placements (signed) - HB26-1250: Procedures Related to Civil Asset Forfeiture (signed) - HB26-1414: Medical Record Requests (signed) - HB26-1430: Transportation Funding Adjustments (signed) - SB26-155: Increase Access Homeowner's Insurance Enterprise (signed) - HB26-1429: County Administration Public Assistance Programs (signed) ## Sources - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/113535/download) - [Final Act (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/114939/download) - [House Judiciary Preamend (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/113498/download) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/112164/download) - [Reengrossed (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/113598/download) - [Rerevised (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/114162/download) - [Revised (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/113967/download) - [Signed Act (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/115774/download) ## Related - [HB26-1298: Background Checks for Child Welfare Placements](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB26-1298-2026A) - [HB26-1250: Procedures Related to Civil Asset Forfeiture](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB26-1250-2026A) - [HB26-1414: Medical Record Requests](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB26-1414-2026A) - [HB26-1430: Transportation Funding Adjustments](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB26-1430-2026A) - [SB26-155: Increase Access Homeowner's Insurance Enterprise](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-SB26-155-2026A) - [HB26-1429: County Administration Public Assistance Programs](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB26-1429-2026A) - [Colorado bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/colorado/bills) - [Colorado state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/colorado) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB26-1234-2026A (as of 2026-10-19).