ColoradoSB26-1202026 Regular SessionSenate

Missing Person Training & Higher Education Reporting

Sponsored By: Brandi Bradley (Republican), Janice Marchman (Democratic), Katie Wallace (Democratic), Yara Zokaie (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Higher EducationState Government

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Officers must learn missing-person alert rules

Colorado’s Department of Public Safety must create training on the state’s missing-person alerts and emergency alert system. People seeking initial peace officer certification or renewal of an expired certification must take it. The state’s officer training board must include it in basic, reserve, and expired-certification renewal training. The department does not have to deliver or administer the training. The act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. the day after the 90-day period following the legislature’s final adjournment ends. A timely referendum petition delays the challenged provisions until voters approve them at the November 2026 election. Approved provisions take effect when the governor officially declares the vote.

Colleges gain missing-student lawsuit protection

Colleges and their employees gain protection from civil lawsuits over missing-student responses when they follow the response requirements in good faith. A college claiming this protection must show it started the required minimum wellness-check steps. For public colleges, this protection adds to existing government immunity. Private colleges receive the protection independently.

Missing-student checks allow limited information sharing

The law covers Colorado public and private colleges and private occupational schools when a student’s last known home is in Colorado. After a missing-student report, schools must immediately notify police or start a preliminary wellness check. Required checks include digital contact, residential verification for school-controlled housing, and academic and social inquiries. Schools must notify police immediately if credible evidence shows a safety risk. If the student remains missing six hours after the report, schools must notify police and try the student’s emergency contact. Schools without police must notify the nearest agency with jurisdiction over the student’s local address on file. If no local address exists, they use the permanent address. Notified police must follow state missing-person reporting rules and other applicable procedures. Schools must publish a policy covering authorized housing-check staff, escalation, records, and additional steps, and update it at least every three years. They must document all steps and reasons for unfinished steps, keep records at least three years, and provide them to police on request. After 30 days missing, the designated emergency contact can request records, subject to student privacy laws. During checks, schools may share only information reasonably needed to find the student, consistent with privacy laws. Shared information cannot be used for another purpose.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Chad Clifford
Democratic • House
Jennifer Bacon
Democratic • House
Jamie Jackson
Democratic • House
Junie Joseph
Democratic • House
Jenny Willford
Democratic • House
Kenny Nguyen
Democratic • House
Katie Stewart
Democratic • House
Mandy Lindsay
Democratic • House
Meghan Lukens
Democratic • House
Matthew Martinez
Democratic • House
Manny Rutinel
Democratic • House
Regina English
Democratic • House
Rebecca Keltie
Republican • House
Sean Camacho
Democratic • House
Tisha Mauro
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
James Coleman
Democratic • Senate
Jessie Danielson
Democratic • Senate
Julie Gonzales
Democratic • Senate
Kyle Mullica
Democratic • Senate
Lisa Cutter
Democratic • Senate
Lindsey Daugherty
Democratic • Senate
Lisa Frizell
Republican • Senate
Matt Ball
Democratic • Senate
Marc Snyder
Democratic • Senate
Mike Weissman
Democratic • Senate
Nick Hinrichsen
Democratic • Senate
Rod Pelton
Republican • Senate
Robert Rodriguez
Democratic • Senate
Scott Bright
Republican • Senate
Tom Sullivan
Democratic • Senate
William Lindstedt
Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 110 • No: 4

House vote • 4/27/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 60 • No: 3

House vote • 3/26/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-120 to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 9 • No: 1

Senate vote • 3/16/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 34 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/4/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-120, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 7 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

Governor Signed
5/26/2026House
Signed by the Speaker of the House
5/5/2026House
Sent to the Governor
5/5/2026House
Signed by the President of the Senate
5/4/2026Senate
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
4/27/2026House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments
4/24/2026House
House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
3/31/2026House
House Committee on State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
3/26/2026House
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
3/16/2026Senate
Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs
3/16/2026House
Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
3/13/2026Senate
Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 03/13/2026 - No Amendments
3/12/2026Senate
Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 03/12/2026 - No Amendments
3/10/2026Senate
Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 03/10/2026 - No Amendments
3/9/2026Senate
Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
3/4/2026Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary
2/23/2026Senate

Bill Text

Engrossed
PDF
Final Act
PDF
Introduced
PDF
Reengrossed
PDF
Rerevised
PDF
Revised
PDF
Senate Judiciary Preamend
PDF
Signed Act
PDF

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