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Colorado Senate approves package of bills; lawmakers debate firearm tracing and dealer rules
Summary
On April 14 the Colorado Senate passed multiple bills on final reading, including measures on firearm dealer regulation and law enforcement tracing, housing protections and behavioral health; lawmakers clashed over whether two firearms measures would create state-level surveillance and burden small dealers.
The Colorado Senate on April 14 approved a slate of bills on third reading and final passage, including measures about firearm dealer regulation, use of federal tracing systems by local law enforcement, housing protections for people with disabilities, and behavioral-health statutory alignment.
The chamber moved several consent items — including House Bills 12-28, 11-16 and 12-13 — and approved them as presented. Senators recorded no votes on some consent items; the clerk announced the bills as passed.
A substantive debate preceded the vote on House Bill 11-26, a measure concerning requirements for firearms dealers. Senator Kipp moved the bill for third reading and final passage. Senator Zamora Wilson urged colleagues to oppose the measure, arguing it would "build, without using the word, a functional firearm registry accessible to state agents without warrant or cause" and would impose compliance costs that could force small dealers out of business and reduce lawful access in rural communities. The Senate approved HB 11-26 on a recorded vote of 20 ayes and 15 no.
Lawmakers also debated House Bill 12-65, which would require participation in the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' National Tracing System (eTrace) for state law enforcement agencies. Senator Zamora Wilson said the bill "conscripts local agencies into a federal data collection program" and warned it could funnel data into a state bureau alongside other measures that increase electronic transaction records for gun sales. Despite those objections, the Senate passed HB 12-65; the clerk recorded the vote as 23 ayes and 12 no.
Other bills passed on final reading included: - House Bill 13-02 (background-check operating hours at the Colorado Bureau of Investigations), passed by recorded vote (22 ayes, 13 no). - House Bill 10-45 (housing protections for individuals with disabilities), passed by recorded vote (23 ayes, 12 no). - House Bill 13-05 (aligning state and federal statutes to enhance access to inpatient behavioral health), moved by Senator Roberts and passed with cosponsors entered into the record.
Several committee reports were read into the record earlier in the day, with the Transportation and Energy Committee and Judiciary Committee recommending amendments or referrals to appropriations or the committee of the whole for multiple Senate bills. The majority leader moved several procedural layovers of resolutions and one Senate bill (SB 90) to later dates to manage the calendar.
The session included a ceremonial moment recognizing the Liberty Common High School graduating class of 2026 and acknowledging former senator and headmaster Bob Schafer as a guest in the chamber. Senators also announced caucus meetings and committee schedules before the Senate recessed to allow clerks to process floor business.
Next steps: several bills that were laid over will return to the calendar on their scheduled dates; bills passed today will proceed to enrollment and transmittal to the governor or return to the House as required.
