ColoradoSB26-0512026 Regular SessionSenate

Age Attestation on Computing Devices

Sponsored By: Amy Paschal (Democratic), Larry Liston (Republican), Matt Ball (Democratic), Naquetta Ricks (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Children & Domestic Matters

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Civil penalties enforce kids' age-signal protections

Beginning January 1, 2028, Colorado's attorney general can assess and recover civil penalties through a civil action. Each negligent violation carries a maximum penalty of $2,500 for each minor affected. Each intentional violation carries a maximum penalty of $7,500 for each minor affected. Penalties grow with the number of affected minors and violations. The law does not specify that households receive the penalty money.

Age-range sharing rules for kids' apps

Beginning January 1, 2028, operating system providers must require age or birth-date entry through an accessible account-setup tool. The rules cover minors who are the main users of general-purpose computing devices that support covered apps. Account holders include Colorado adults and parents or legal guardians setting up a minor's account, with exceptions for emancipated minors and parents unconnected to the device. Providers must offer a secure, real-time way for apps to request an age range: under 13, 13–15, 16–17, or 18 and older. Developers must request this signal when an app is downloaded and opened, and use it to follow applicable laws. Clear and convincing evidence of a different age replaces the signal as the main age indicator. Developers that willfully ignore a signal are treated as knowing that age range across the app's platforms and access points. Providers and developers must limit information requests and sharing to what the law requires. For accounts set up before January 1, 2028, providers must offer the age-entry tool before July 1, 2028. Developers must request signals from a covered app store before July 1, 2028, for qualifying previously downloaded apps. This covers apps downloaded before January 1, 2028, last updated on or after January 1, 2027, unless a signal was already requested. Exceptions cover certain internal business communication, enterprise software sales, and technical-support apps. The law also excludes broadband, telecommunications, physical-product delivery, and specified government or public-college data used for authorized noncommercial purposes. Stores distributing only extensions or add-ons that run inside another app are not covered app stores. The January 1, 2028 start date is subject to the law's referendum rule. A referendum petition filed within 90 days after the 2026 session's final adjournment requires voter approval in November 2026 before the law takes effect.

App platforms must treat competitors fairly

Beginning January 1, 2028, operating system providers and covered app stores must apply age-signal rules without favoring their own apps. Their own apps must face at least the same restrictions as outside apps. Platforms cannot misuse nonpublic data collected from outside businesses to compete against them or unlawfully favor their own services. The law does not change or weaken existing antitrust law.

Good-faith platforms get age-error liability protection

Beginning January 1, 2028, operating system providers and covered app stores receive protection when they make good-faith compliance efforts. They are not liable for a wrong age signal or the conduct of a developer that receives it. Good faith takes available technology, reasonable technical limits, and outages into account. This limits platform responsibility for those errors and developer actions.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Mandy Lindsay
Democratic • House
Tammy Story
Democratic • House
Nick Hinrichsen
Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 138 • No: 44

Senate vote • 5/1/2026

House amendments: Repass

Yes: 25 • No: 8

Senate vote • 5/1/2026

House amendments: Concur

Yes: 33 • No: 0

House vote • 4/30/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 40 • No: 23

House vote • 4/23/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-051, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 7 • No: 6

Senate vote • 3/3/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 28 • No: 7

Senate vote • 2/24/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-051, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.

Yes: 5 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

Governor Signed
6/3/2026House
Signed by the President of the Senate
5/12/2026Senate
Signed by the Speaker of the House
5/12/2026House
Sent to the Governor
5/12/2026House
Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
5/1/2026Senate
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
4/30/2026House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
4/29/2026House
House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
4/28/2026House
House Committee on Business Affairs & Labor Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
4/23/2026House
Introduced In House - Assigned to Business Affairs & Labor
4/6/2026House
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
3/3/2026Senate
Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee
3/2/2026Senate
Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 03/02/2026 - No Amendments
2/27/2026Senate
Senate Committee on Business, Labor, & Technology Refer Amended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
2/24/2026Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Business, Labor, & Technology
1/27/2026Senate

Bill Text

Engrossed
PDF
Final Act
PDF
House Business Affairs & Labor Preamend
PDF
Introduced
PDF
Reengrossed
PDF
Rerevised
PDF
Revised
PDF
Senate Business, Labor, & Technology Preamend
PDF
Signed Act
PDF

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