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ColoradoSB26-0132026 Regular SessionSenate

Exclude Cohabitation from Elements of Bigamy

Sponsored By: Janice Marchman (Democratic), Nick Hinrichsen (Democratic), Yara Zokaie (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Cohabiting while married counts as bigamy

The law updates Colorado’s bigamy crime. If you are married and still married, you commit bigamy if you marry, enter a civil union, or live with another person in Colorado. The same rule applies if you are in a civil union and still in it. An affirmative defense is available based on facts at the time the later cohabitation, marriage, or civil union began. The law also repeals the prior definition of cohabitation that meant living together while holding yourselves out as married, leaving courts to apply the term without that definition. It takes effect at 12:01 a.m. the day after the 90‑day period following final adjournment of the legislature. If a referendum petition is filed in that period, it takes effect only if voters approve it in November 2026 and when the Governor declares the result.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Janice Marchman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Nick Hinrichsen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Yara Zokaie

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Jennifer Bacon

    Democratic • House

  • Javier Mabrey

    Democratic • House

  • Kenny Nguyen

    Democratic • House

  • Mandy Lindsay

    Democratic • House

  • Manny Rutinel

    Democratic • House

  • Sheila Lieder

    Democratic • House

  • Steven Woodrow

    Democratic • House

  • Cathy Kipp

    Democratic • Senate

  • Iman Jodeh

    Democratic • Senate

  • James Coleman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Julie Gonzales

    Democratic • Senate

  • Katie Wallace

    Democratic • Senate

  • Marc Snyder

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mike Weissman

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. Governor Signed

    3/26/2026House

  2. Signed by the Speaker of the House

    3/18/2026House

  3. Sent to the Governor

    3/18/2026House

  4. Signed by the President of the Senate

    3/17/2026Senate

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

    3/13/2026Senate

  6. Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Laid Over to 03/13/2026

    3/12/2026Senate

  7. House Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor

    3/11/2026House

  8. House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Floor

    3/10/2026House

  9. House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

    3/9/2026House

  10. House Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole

    3/4/2026House

  11. Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary

    2/12/2026House

  12. Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    2/11/2026Senate

  13. Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments

    2/10/2026Senate

  14. Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 02/10/2026 - No Amendments

    2/9/2026Senate

  15. Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole

    2/4/2026Senate

  16. Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary

    1/14/2026Senate

Bill Text

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