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ColoradoHB26-12832026 Regular SessionHouse

Protections Regarding Seizures of Identification Documents

Sponsored By: Adrienne Benavidez, Janice Marchman (Democratic), Junie Joseph (Democratic), Naquetta Ricks (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Crimes, Corrections, & EnforcementImmigration

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Workers get stronger identification card protections

Colorado employers and their agents cannot demand, take, keep, or require surrender of your government-issued identification card. For work eligibility checks using Form I-9 or its replacement, employers may hold it only as needed, up to 10 hours, and keep a copy. Exceptions cover retention allowed or required by state or federal law or regulation, or under a signed court warrant. During work eligibility checks, employers must give written notice of these protections in English and your primary language, if known to be different. You must acknowledge the notice; employers must keep both the notice and acknowledgment in employment records. These rules apply to conduct on or after the law’s effective date.

More protection against identification-based bias crimes

Colorado treats criminal possession of identification as a bias crime when intended to intimidate or harass someone because of a protected trait. Giving or threatening to give someone’s government-issued identification to federal immigration authorities is also covered when done with that intent. Protected traits include actual or perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, or transgender identity. These offenses are class 1 misdemeanors, but the immigration-authority rule excludes conduct state or federal law allows or requires. The changes apply to conduct on or after the law’s effective date.

Victims can recover illegally held identification

In Colorado, knowingly taking, possessing, or controlling another person’s actual identification without permission or legal authority is a class 2 misdemeanor. Covered documents include a driver’s license, government-issued identification card, Social Security card, or passport. Employers also commit this offense by knowingly breaking the identification-card retention ban. If the offense harms you, you can ask a court for immediate return of the document and sue for damages. These protections apply to conduct on or after the law’s effective date.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Adrienne Benavidez

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Janice Marchman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Junie Joseph

    Democratic • House

  • Naquetta Ricks

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Gretchen Rydin

    Democratic • House

  • Jennifer Bacon

    Democratic • House

  • Jamie Jackson

    Democratic • House

  • Karen McCormick

    Democratic • House

  • Regina English

    Democratic • House

  • Cathy Kipp

    Democratic • Senate

  • Iman Jodeh

    Democratic • Senate

  • James Coleman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Julie Gonzales

    Democratic • Senate

  • Katie Wallace

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lisa Cutter

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mike Weissman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Nick Hinrichsen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Robert Rodriguez

    Democratic • Senate

  • Tony Exum

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 169 • No: 87

House vote • 5/4/2026

Senate amendments: Concur

Yes: 46 • No: 19

House vote • 5/4/2026

Senate amendments: Repass

Yes: 43 • No: 22

Senate vote • 4/30/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 23 • No: 12

Senate vote • 4/27/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1283, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 3 • No: 2

House vote • 4/22/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 41 • No: 23

House vote • 4/15/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1283, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 6 • No: 5

House vote • 4/15/2026

Adopt amendment L.008 (Attachment C).

Yes: 7 • No: 4

Actions Timeline

  1. Governor Signed

    6/3/2026House

  2. Signed by the Speaker of the House

    5/20/2026House

  3. Signed by the President of the Senate

    5/20/2026Senate

  4. Sent to the Governor

    5/20/2026House

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

    5/4/2026House

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

    5/1/2026House

  7. Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    4/30/2026Senate

  8. Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee

    4/29/2026Senate

  9. Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole

    4/27/2026Senate

  10. Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary

    4/23/2026Senate

  11. House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    4/22/2026House

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

    4/21/2026House

  13. House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

    4/20/2026House

  14. House Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole

    4/15/2026House

  15. House Committee on Judiciary Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only

    3/24/2026House

  16. Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary

    2/20/2026House

Bill Text

  • Engrossed

    PDF

  • Final Act

    PDF

  • House Judiciary Preamend

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

  • Reengrossed

    PDF

  • Rerevised

    PDF

  • Revised

    PDF

  • Senate Judiciary Preamend

    PDF

  • Signed Act

    PDF

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