ColoradoHB26-13182026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Traffic Safety Near Schools

Sponsored By: Kenny Nguyen (Democratic), Lisa Cutter (Democratic), Meg Froelich (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Transportation & Motor Vehicles

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

More automated tickets near school routes

The law expands automated traffic enforcement, including moving violations in school zones and on designated safe routes to school. Safe routes must serve people walking or biking to a nearby school and be designated by local government for safety. Local governments can authorize these systems by ordinance, and drivers can receive automated citations and fines. Covered violations also include traffic signs and signals, passing stopped school buses with activated lights, and bus or bicycle lane restrictions. One statutory limit does not apply to systems detecting moving violations on safe routes. Other limits on photographs, video, contracts, and purchasing remain, and the state transportation department can issue rules.

School streets protect walkers, restrict drivers

Local governments can designate roads immediately next to school property as school streets and close them to vehicles. State highways must meet the school-zone designation rules; roads directly connecting to state highways need written state transportation approval. School streets have a 10 mph maximum speed, with clearly visible school-street and speed-limit signs required. Vehicles must yield to pedestrians, bicyclists, and people using micromobility devices, such as scooters. Bicyclists and micromobility users must yield to pedestrians. Some existing traffic rules do not apply on school streets. Local governments can suspend additional rules only when they both endanger these users and hinder walking or biking.

Wider school zones, higher driver penalties

Colorado school zones generally cover roads within at least 1,000 feet of school property. Local governments must base boundaries on children's safety and can expand zones farther. Reductions require a public hearing and cannot go below 200 feet; existing zones between 200 and 1,000 feet remain. State highways require designation by the Colorado Department of Transportation or local designation with its written approval. Signs must mark boundaries and warn that penalties and surcharges are doubled. Local governments can finance added signs, including through borrowing. The law's start time is 12:01 a.m. the day after 90 days following final legislative adjournment. That means August 12, 2026, for a May 13, 2026 adjournment. A referendum petition filed within that period delays the challenged provisions until voters approve them at the November 2026 election. Approved provisions take effect when the governor officially declares the results.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Andrew Boesenecker
Democratic • House
Amy Paschal
Democratic • House
Alex Valdez
Democratic • House
Brianna Titone
Democratic • House
Chad Clifford
Democratic • House
Eliza Hamrick
Democratic • House
Gretchen Rydin
Democratic • House
Jennifer Bacon
Democratic • House
Jamie Jackson
Democratic • House
Junie Joseph
Democratic • House
Jacque Phillips
Democratic • House
Jenny Willford
Democratic • House
Kyle Brown
Democratic • House
Katie Stewart
Democratic • House
Lorena Garcia
Democratic • House
Lori Goldstein
Democratic • House
Lesley Smith
Democratic • House
Monica Duran
Democratic • House
Mandy Lindsay
Democratic • House
Meghan Lukens
Democratic • House
Manny Rutinel
Democratic • House
Rebekah Stewart
Democratic • House
Sean Camacho
Democratic • House
Sheila Lieder
Democratic • House
Tammy Story
Democratic • House
Sen. A. Benavidez
Affiliation unavailable
Barbara Kirkmeyer
Republican • Senate
Cathy Kipp
Democratic • Senate
Chris Kolker
Democratic • Senate
Cleave Simpson
Republican • Senate
Dylan Roberts
Democratic • Senate
Iman Jodeh
Democratic • Senate
Judy Amabile
Democratic • Senate
Jeff Bridges
Democratic • Senate
John Carson
Republican • Senate
James Coleman
Democratic • Senate
Julie Gonzales
Democratic • Senate
Janice Marchman
Democratic • Senate
Kyle Mullica
Democratic • Senate
Katie Wallace
Democratic • Senate
Lindsey Daugherty
Democratic • Senate
Lisa Frizell
Republican • Senate
Larry Liston
Republican • Senate
Matt Ball
Democratic • Senate
Marc Catlin
Republican • Senate
Marc Snyder
Democratic • Senate
Mike Weissman
Democratic • Senate
Nick Hinrichsen
Democratic • Senate
Rod Pelton
Republican • Senate
Robert Rodriguez
Democratic • Senate
Tony Exum
Democratic • Senate
Tom Sullivan
Democratic • Senate
William Lindstedt
Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 229 • No: 52

House vote • 5/4/2026

Senate amendments: Repass

Yes: 46 • No: 19

House vote • 5/4/2026

Senate amendments: Concur

Yes: 58 • No: 7

Senate vote • 4/29/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 33 • No: 1

Senate vote • 4/29/2026

Third reading: Amend (l.007)

Yes: 34 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/22/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1318, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.

Yes: 9 • No: 0

House vote • 4/2/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 42 • No: 21

House vote • 3/24/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1318, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 7 • No: 4

Actions Timeline

Governor Signed
5/29/2026House
Signed by the Speaker of the House
5/22/2026House
Signed by the President of the Senate
5/22/2026Senate
Sent to the Governor
5/22/2026House
House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
5/4/2026House
House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily
4/30/2026House
Senate Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor
4/29/2026Senate
Senate Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
4/28/2026Senate
Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee
4/27/2026Senate
Senate Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Amended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
4/22/2026Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Transportation & Energy
4/6/2026Senate
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
4/2/2026House
House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
3/31/2026House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
3/30/2026House
House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
3/27/2026House
House Committee on Transportation, Housing & Local Government Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
3/24/2026House
Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation, Housing & Local Government
3/4/2026House

Bill Text

Engrossed
PDF
Final Act
PDF
House Transportation, Housing & Local Government Preamend
PDF
Introduced
PDF
Reengrossed
PDF
Rerevised
PDF
Revised
PDF
Senate Transportation & Energy Preamend
PDF
Signed Act
PDF

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