All Roll Calls
Yes: 326 • No: 108
ColoradoSB26-1152026 Regular SessionSenate
Post-Conviction Relief for Certain Offenders
Sponsored By: Javier Mabrey (Democratic), Jennifer Bacon (Democratic), Julie Gonzales (Democratic), Mike Weissman (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
Courts & JudicialCrimes, Corrections, & Enforcement
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.
Older prisoners get limited sentence review
People in Colorado state prison can ask their sentencing court for review at age 60 after serving 20 calendar years for the offense. This applies to convictions before, on, or after the law’s effective date. Petitions must be filed within three years after the section takes effect, and each person gets only one hearing on the facts. The person must show it is more likely than not that they no longer pose a danger and have good cause for a sentence change. The law takes effect at 12:01 a.m. the day after the 90-day period following final legislative adjournment. A referendum petition delays that start; voter approval in November 2026 makes the law effective upon the governor’s official vote declaration.
Prisoners gain resentencing options with limits
After the required court findings and prosecutor agreement where required, prisoners can seek sentence reduction without the usual motion deadline. They can ask orally at the hearing or file a written motion within 91 days after the ruling. A new prison sentence must total at least 25 years, cannot exceed the original sentence, and may include up to five years of parole. The court can instead impose another lawful sentence, including direct community corrections, or a sentence agreed to by the parties. Sentences for multiple offenses can run at the same time; the modified sentence is exempt from the referenced mandatory-sentencing law.
Lawyers and records help prisoner petitions
Petitioners have a right to a lawyer throughout these proceedings, and courts must appoint one when someone files without counsel. The State Public Defender provides counsel, or the Office of Alternate Defense Counsel does when there is a conflict. Appointed lawyers can amend petitions and must notify the court within 180 days whether to seek a hearing or withdraw and refile, subject to limited exceptions. Upon request and any needed privacy waivers, corrections officials must provide relevant records they hold, including time calculations, earned-time credits, and risk scores. Courts can allow reasonable evidence gathering and issue orders to ensure a fair presentation and address discovery deadlines.
Excluded prisoners need prosecutors for relief
The law generally excludes specified sex offenses, trafficking for involuntary or sexual servitude, life-without-parole offenses, and offenses involving victims under 12. It also excludes offenses against on-duty peace officers, emergency medical personnel, or firefighters. For these offenses, prosecutors must agree that relief serves justice and public safety, and agree to any sentence departure. The district attorney’s office that prosecuted the offense can also file for someone in state prison who is otherwise ineligible. Those petitions retain the law’s protections for counsel, proof, evidence, and due process; prosecutors can request an appointed lawyer.
Victims get notice and hearing rights
District attorneys must notify victims of sentence-review hearings under Colorado’s Victim Rights Act. Courts must give victims a chance to be heard at the hearing.
Sentence review funding shifts jail money
For fiscal year 2026–27, the law provides $50,240 for the State Public Defender’s implementation work. This includes $42,600 for an added half-time staff position and $7,640 for operating costs. Corrections community services receive $50,326 for the wrap-around services program. State funding for local jail payments falls by $168,980, while the daily rate stays $77.16 per inmate. Beginning January 2027, the Judicial Department reports petition, hearing, and sentence counts each January in its legislative oversight presentations.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Javier Mabrey
Democratic • House
Jennifer Bacon
Democratic • House
Julie Gonzales
Democratic • Senate
Mike Weissman
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
Cecelia Espenoza
Democratic • House
Jamie Jackson
Democratic • House
Kenny Nguyen
Democratic • House
Lorena Garcia
Democratic • House
Michael Carter
Democratic • House
Mandy Lindsay
Democratic • House
Regina English
Democratic • House
Sean Camacho
Democratic • House
Tammy Story
Democratic • House
Yara Zokaie
Democratic • House
Sen. A. Benavidez
Affiliation unavailable
Cathy Kipp
Democratic • Senate
Iman Jodeh
Democratic • Senate
Judy Amabile
Democratic • Senate
James Coleman
Democratic • Senate
Katie Wallace
Democratic • Senate
Lisa Cutter
Democratic • Senate
Robert Rodriguez
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 5/13/2026
House amendments: Repass
Yes: 18 • No: 17
Senate vote • 5/13/2026
House amendments: Concur
Yes: 35 • No: 0
House vote • 5/9/2026
Third reading: Perm
Yes: 62 • No: 0
House vote • 5/9/2026
Third reading: Amd (l.025)
Yes: 62 • No: 0
House vote • 5/9/2026
Third reading: Bill
Yes: 42 • No: 21
House vote • 5/8/2026
Committee of the whole: Amd (h.001)
Yes: 27 • No: 37
House vote • 5/8/2026
Refer Senate Bill 26-115, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Yes: 7 • No: 4
House vote • 5/8/2026
Refer Senate Bill 26-115, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Yes: 8 • No: 3
Senate vote • 5/5/2026
Third reading: Amend (l.010)
Yes: 35 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/5/2026
Third reading: Bill
Yes: 18 • No: 17
Senate vote • 4/28/2026
Refer Senate Bill 26-115, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Yes: 4 • No: 3
Senate vote • 4/28/2026
Adopt amendment J.002
Yes: 4 • No: 3
Senate vote • 2/25/2026
Refer Senate Bill 26-115, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Yes: 4 • No: 3
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
6/3/2026HouseSigned by the President of the Senate
5/22/2026SenateSigned by the Speaker of the House
5/22/2026HouseSent to the Governor
5/22/2026HouseSenate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
5/13/2026SenateHouse Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor
5/9/2026HouseHouse Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to Appropriations
5/8/2026HouseHouse Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
5/8/2026HouseHouse Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
5/8/2026HouseSenate Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor
5/5/2026SenateIntroduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary
5/5/2026HouseSenate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
5/4/2026SenateSenate Second Reading Laid Over to 05/04/2026 - No Amendments
5/1/2026SenateSenate Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
4/30/2026SenateSenate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
4/28/2026SenateSenate Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to Appropriations
2/25/2026SenateIntroduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary
2/17/2026Senate
Bill Text
Engrossed
Final Act
Introduced
Reengrossed
Rerevised
Revised
Senate Appropriations Preamend
Senate Judiciary Preamend
Signed Act
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