Jul 1, 2025 - News
10 Colorado laws going into effect July 1
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Photo Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photo: DivInc
More than a dozen new Colorado laws take effect Tuesday.
Why it matters: Passed across the last two legislative sessions, these measures signal the state's shifting political priorities and touch nearly every corner of life β from gun safety and criminal justice to privacy rights and health care access.
Here are 10 to know:
π Housing
- Local governments are barred from adopting zoning policies that lower overall housing density. If they cut density in one spot, they have to increase it elsewhere.
π« Guns
- Applicants for a concealed carry permit are required to complete eight hours of in-person training, plus written and live-fire exams.
- Firearm dealers must obtain state-approved training, conduct fingerprint background checks on prospective employees and report suspected illegal buyers within 48 hours of a purchase.
βοΈ Criminal justice
- Cities are banned from using flat fees to hire defense attorneys in domestic violence cases and must match state rates to help ensure fair representation β especially for indigent defendants facing serious charges.
- It's now easier to seal and expunge criminal records, expanding second chances for Coloradans with non-conviction histories.
- Defense attorneys are guaranteed at least 35 days to review physical evidence pre-trial, to strengthen due process rights and criminal defense.
- More judges will be added to five judicial districts to clear case backlogs and expand court access.
π₯ Health care
- The longstanding Colorado Indigent Care Program has been repealed and replaced by a new oversight committee to guide low-income hospital billing.
π Consumer protection
- Biometric data like fingerprints and facial scans must be deleted within two years or once no longer needed. Violators face deceptive trade practice penalties.
π΅ Taxes
- Colorado's revenue department must administer local sales and use taxes the same way it does for the state, giving business owners and local governments clarity on tax enforcement.
