PRIA Logo™
ColoradoHB26-12572026 Regular SessionHouse

Local Regulation of Massage Facilities

Sponsored By: Kyle Mullica (Democratic), Larry Liston (Republican), Manny Rutinel (Democratic), Ryan Gonzalez (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Local GovernmentProfessions & Occupations

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.

Ownership limits for licensed massage businesses

Where local governments license massage facilities, their rules must bar people in the law's prohibited-owner categories. This includes people who fail to submit a required background check at least 30 days before taking an ownership interest. The bars also cover convictions and accepted no-contest pleas for offenses listed in the law. Statewide policy requires fingerprint-based background checks for all current and prospective massage facility owners, operators, and employees.

Higher massage license fees with limits

The law removes the $150 application and renewal fee cap and the exemption for businesses licensed before August 10, 2022. Fees must reflect local licensing and administration costs, not employee counts. Fees above $500 are presumed unreasonable unless the local government proves they are needed to cover costs. Beginning January 1, 2028, fees can rise or fall each January 1 with inflation or deflation. Adjustments use the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood consumer price index for all items and urban consumers; rounding to the nearest dollar is allowed.

Massage businesses get required local outreach

Beginning August 13, 2026, local governments must consider effects on legitimate massage businesses before adopting massage facility rules. They must reach out to local massage therapists and businesses, plus statewide massage therapist organizations. This gives affected businesses a voice in the rulemaking process but does not guarantee a particular outcome.

Massage license exemptions protect qualifying businesses

Hotels and resorts with at least 50 rooms are excluded from these local massage facility rules when massage is an extra amenity. The exclusions also cover solo practitioners who do not operate a massage table. Businesses offering massage at public or charity events are excluded when massage is not the event's main purpose. These exclusions do not override state rules for the practice of massage therapy.

More local rules for massage businesses

Colorado counties and cities can add massage facility licensing and operating rules, including inspections. These rules can go beyond state requirements but cannot conflict with state rules for the practice of massage therapy. Local rules can add reasons to deny, suspend, or revoke a license. When the licensing authority temporarily suspends a license, it must schedule a hearing within 15 days.

County enforcement targets unlawful massage businesses

Local governments can target massage businesses committing trafficking-related crimes or other offenses under state or local law. Counties control the specified ticketing process and can adopt fines that increase for repeat violations. A county can declare a facility a public nuisance after two or more violations, unless a violation already qualifies. Public-nuisance status allows court orders to stop the activity. City and town attorneys are removed from the list of officials authorized to seek these nuisance court orders.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Kyle Mullica

    Democratic • Senate

  • Larry Liston

    Republican • Senate

  • Manny Rutinel

    Democratic • House

  • Ryan Gonzalez

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Alex Valdez

    Democratic • House

  • Brandi Bradley

    Republican • House

  • Bob Marshall

    Democratic • House

  • Chad Clifford

    Democratic • House

  • Emily Sirota

    Democratic • House

  • Jacque Phillips

    Democratic • House

  • Kyle Brown

    Democratic • House

  • Kenny Nguyen

    Democratic • House

  • Lori Garcia Sander

    Republican • House

  • Max Brooks

    Republican • House

  • Michael Carter

    Democratic • House

  • Monica Duran

    Democratic • House

  • Rebecca Keltie

    Republican • House

  • Ron Weinberg

    Republican • House

  • Sheila Lieder

    Democratic • House

  • Scott Slaugh

    Republican • House

  • Steven Woodrow

    Democratic • House

  • Tammy Story

    Democratic • House

  • James Coleman

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 241 • No: 3

House vote • 4/2/2026

Senate amendments: Repass

Yes: 63 • No: 0

House vote • 4/2/2026

Senate amendments: Concur

Yes: 60 • No: 3

Senate vote • 3/31/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 35 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/25/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1257, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.

Yes: 7 • No: 0

House vote • 3/12/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 63 • No: 0

House vote • 3/3/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1257, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 13 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Governor Signed

    5/4/2026House

  2. Signed by the Speaker of the House

    4/28/2026House

  3. Signed by the President of the Senate

    4/28/2026Senate

  4. Sent to the Governor

    4/28/2026House

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

    4/2/2026House

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

    4/1/2026House

  7. Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    3/31/2026Senate

  8. Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee

    3/30/2026Senate

  9. Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments

    3/30/2026Senate

  10. Senate Committee on Local Government & Housing Refer Amended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole

    3/25/2026Senate

  11. Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government & Housing

    3/17/2026Senate

  12. House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    3/12/2026House

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

    3/11/2026House

  14. House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

    3/6/2026House

  15. House Committee on Transportation, Housing & Local Government Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole

    3/3/2026House

  16. Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation, Housing & Local Government

    2/18/2026House

Bill Text

  • Engrossed

    PDF

  • Final Act

    PDF

  • House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Preamend

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

  • Reengrossed

    PDF

  • Rerevised

    PDF

  • Revised

    PDF

  • Senate Local Government & Housing Preamend

    PDF

  • Signed Act

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation