PRIA Logo™
ColoradoSB26-1902026 Regular SessionSenate

Release Information About Peace Officer Use of Force

Sponsored By: James Coleman (Democratic), Jennifer Bacon (Democratic), Mike Weissman (Democratic), Regina English (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Families get police death notices and recordings

After a police use-of-force death, the agency must make reasonable efforts to identify the person's immediate family. The agency and investigation team must notify known family members and their designees within 24 hours after the scene clears. Notice must name the team agencies and give the investigation's status. The agency must provide death recordings to identified family members and their designees within 21 days after the incident, unless declined. Recipients must get notice of their right to receive and review recordings at least 72 hours before public release. Family includes spouses, birth or adopted children, stepchildren, parents, stepparents, siblings, legal guardians, significant others, and lawful representatives. A separate rule requires release on request after internal and multi-agency investigations finish, the required district attorney report is issued, and any related criminal case ends. That later family access applies despite other statutory release limits.

Public gains access to police recordings

For nonfatal misconduct complaints made to the officer's agency, requesters must receive all unedited audio and video within 21 days. That deadline starts when the agency receives the request. For misconduct complaints arising from fatal police force, anyone can request all unedited recordings. The employing agency must release them after the law's 21-day period ends. Crime victims also gain a statutory right to obtain covered incident recordings, no longer expressly tied to making a request.

Public gets clearer police investigation rules

The law takes effect immediately. Colorado police departments, sheriff's offices, and district attorneys must maintain public plans for multi-agency investigations. These cover officer firearm discharges causing injury or death, and other uses of force causing death. Teams must include another police department, sheriff's office, or the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, even across judicial districts. Plans must be online or available on request. When a covered investigation ends without charges, the district attorney must explain the findings and decision in a written report. The report must be posted online, or available on request if the office has no website.

Public sees clearer police incident videos

Community and critical-incident briefing videos must disclose when they have been changed from the original. Narration and text must stick to facts known when the video is recorded. They cannot use editorial comments meant to sway viewers or legal terms suggesting criminality, liability, or misconduct. Enhancements and privacy blurring must be visible or explained by a disclaimer.

Officers face statement limits and hearing protections

Officers who investigate, or previously investigated, another officer's fatal use of force face limits on statements outside court. They cannot make statements they know, or should know, will become public and are substantially likely to harm a legal proceeding. Subjective descriptions, opinions about a deceased person's or witness's guilt, and their prior criminal records are presumed harmful. Permitted statements include public-record facts and properly authorized information about charges, arrests, investigation status, agency roles, official findings, bond, and schedules. Requests for evidence, danger warnings, and information needed for fair justice are also allowed, without prejudicial opinions. The Colorado peace officer standards board can revoke certification when the evidence shows a prohibited statement was more likely than not made. Before revocation, the board must notify the officer of the right to a hearing under applicable procedural rules.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • James Coleman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jennifer Bacon

    Democratic • House

  • Mike Weissman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Regina English

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Bob Marshall

    Democratic • House

  • Chad Clifford

    Democratic • House

  • Emily Sirota

    Democratic • House

  • Jamie Jackson

    Democratic • House

  • Junie Joseph

    Democratic • House

  • Javier Mabrey

    Democratic • House

  • Kenny Nguyen

    Democratic • House

  • Michael Carter

    Democratic • House

  • Mandy Lindsay

    Democratic • House

  • Steven Woodrow

    Democratic • House

  • Yara Zokaie

    Democratic • House

  • Sen. A. Benavidez

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Cathy Kipp

    Democratic • Senate

  • Iman Jodeh

    Democratic • Senate

  • Judy Amabile

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jessie Danielson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Julie Gonzales

    Democratic • Senate

  • Janice Marchman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lisa Cutter

    Democratic • Senate

  • Nick Hinrichsen

    Democratic • Senate

  • Tony Exum

    Democratic • Senate

  • Tom Sullivan

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 207 • No: 49

House vote • 5/13/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 45 • No: 20

Senate vote • 5/11/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 23 • No: 12

Senate vote • 5/11/2026

Third reading: Amend (l.008)

Yes: 35 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/11/2026

Third reading: Amend (l.007)

Yes: 33 • No: 2

Senate vote • 5/11/2026

Third reading: Amend (l.006)

Yes: 35 • No: 0

House vote • 5/11/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-190 to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 9 • No: 2

Senate vote • 5/11/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 24 • No: 11

Senate vote • 5/5/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-190, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 3 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Governor Signed

    6/3/2026House

  2. Signed by the President of the Senate

    5/22/2026Senate

  3. Signed by the Speaker of the House

    5/22/2026House

  4. Sent to the Governor

    5/22/2026House

  5. House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    5/13/2026House

  6. House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments

    5/12/2026House

  7. Senate Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor

    5/11/2026Senate

  8. Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary

    5/11/2026House

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

    5/11/2026House

  10. Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor

    5/8/2026Senate

  11. Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

    5/7/2026Senate

  12. Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole

    5/5/2026Senate

  13. Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs

    5/4/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Engrossed

    PDF

  • Final Act

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

  • Reengrossed

    PDF

  • Rerevised

    PDF

  • Revised

    PDF

  • Senate State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Preamend (2)

    PDF

  • Signed Act

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation