# Colorado HB26-1297: Uniform Language for Misdemeanor Traffic Offense Colorado HB26-1297, Uniform Language for Misdemeanor Traffic Offense, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Janice Rich (Republican), Michael Carter (Democratic), Stephanie Luck (Republican) and 1 others; status signed, last action 2026-05-05 (Governor Signed) (as of 2026-10-16). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CO-HB26-1297-2026A - As of: 2026-10-16 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Colorado HB26-1297 - State: Colorado - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Uniform Language for Misdemeanor Traffic Offense - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-02-25 - Last action: 2026-05-05, Governor Signed - Sponsors: Janice Rich (Republican), Michael Carter (Democratic), Stephanie Luck (Republican), Tony Exum (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 10 - Subjects: Courts & Judicial - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 4 (110 yes, 2 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - New right to challenge traffic pleas: benefit, medium. Beginning August 12, 2026, you can challenge a guilty plea in a traffic case under state law. This right covers noncitizen defendants too. You must use the legal grounds listed in the law. You can file after the plea. A referendum could delay the start until voter approval. - Stronger penalties for unsafe driving: cost, high. Beginning August 12, 2026, Colorado increases penalties for several unsafe driving acts. Circumventing a required ignition interlock is a class 1 traffic offense. Driving while your license is revoked stays a class 2 offense for habitual offenders. Aggravated cases are class 1 with at least 60 days… - Restitution and victim rights in traffic cases: mixed, medium. Beginning August 12, 2026, pleas and findings in traffic cases count as convictions under state law. People harmed by traffic offenses are treated as victims. Courts must consider restitution in every traffic conviction. Some city or county cases handled by a special deputy district attorney are ex… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Janice Rich (Republican), Senate - Sponsor: Michael Carter (Democratic), House - Sponsor: Stephanie Luck (Republican), House - Sponsor: Tony Exum (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Chad Clifford (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Cecelia Espenoza (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Jarvis Caldwell (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Jacque Phillips (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Monica Duran (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Rebecca Keltie (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Ron Weinberg (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Iman Jodeh (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: James Coleman (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Marc Snyder (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-07 | Senate | Third reading: Bill | pass | 34 | 0 | | | 2026-03-31 | Senate | Refer House Bill 26-1297 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. | pass | 5 | 0 | | | 2026-03-16 | House | Third reading: Bill | pass | 62 | 0 | | | 2026-03-12 | House | Refer House Bill 26-1297 to the Committee of the Whole. | pass | 9 | 2 | | ## Actions (12) - 2026-05-05: Governor Signed (House) - 2026-04-28: Signed by the Speaker of the House (House) - 2026-04-28: Signed by the President of the Senate (Senate) - 2026-04-28: Sent to the Governor (House) - 2026-04-07: Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments (Senate) - 2026-04-06: Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments (Senate) - 2026-03-31: Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole (Senate) - 2026-03-19: Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs (Senate) - 2026-03-16: House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments (House) - 2026-03-13: House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments (House) - 2026-03-12: House Committee on State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole (House) - 2026-02-25: Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs (House) ## Bill text - Engrossed: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/113299/download) - Final Act: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/115183/download) - Introduced: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/112617/download) - Reengrossed: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/113338/download) - Rerevised: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/114207/download) - Revised: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/114142/download) - Signed Act: [PDF](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/115973/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/113299/download) - [Final Act (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/115183/download) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/112617/download) - [Reengrossed (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/113338/download) - [Rerevised (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/114207/download) - [Revised (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/114142/download) - [Signed Act (PDF)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/115973/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-HB26-1297-2026A (as of 2026-10-16).