Colorado Senate advances gun‑safety, school AED maintenance and 340B drug‑pricing transparency bills; consumer pricing measure also adopted

The Colorado Senate on March 25, 2025 voted on and approved a bundle of bills addressing public safety, school health and healthcare transparency, including measures on ammunition retail delivery, gun‑show requirements, automated external defibrillator (AED) placement and maintenance in schools, and reporting requirements tied to the federal 340B drug‑pricing program.

The measures drew extended debate on the Senate floor about public safety and the practical effects of new reporting rules on hospitals and rural healthcare providers. Proponents said rules would increase safety or transparency; opponents warned of unintended consequences for lawful businesses and financially strained hospitals and clinics.

The most contested items included House Bill 11‑33, which creates new requirements for retail sale and delivery of ammunition; House Bill 12‑38, which tightens requirements tied to gun shows; Senate Bill 191, which revises AED planning and maintenance standards for schools; and a pair of related bills about the federal 340B program (Senate Bill 124 and Senate Bill 71) that set state reporting and usage limits for savings generated by discounted outpatient drugs. The Senate also adopted a consumer‑protection measure, House Bill 10‑90, aimed at deceptive or hidden fees.

Senator Sullivan, who pressed for stricter controls on ammunition sale and access, argued the issue was tied to recent local shootings: "Our first question ... is where did he get the gun?" He framed the ammunition bill as a next step to address how minors obtain both guns and the ammunition that makes the harm possible. Sponsors and supporters of the gun‑show bill framed it as a public‑safety measure "to take one more step forward towards the goal of gun violence prevention and tightening…