Colorado Firearm Legislation

Click the blue links to see the full bill. Bulleted points are non-attorney interpretations.

Introduced as Senate Bill 25-003 – Semiautomatic firearms & Rapid-Fire Devices

  • Prohibits the manufacture, distribution, sale and purchase of semi-automatic firearms
    • Defines the penalty as a Class 2 Misdemeanor. Second offense is Class 6 Felony
  • Classifies a device that increases the rate of fire of a semi-automatic firearm as a Dangerous Weapon
    • Existing law prohibits the possession of a Dangerous Weapon
  • Introduced – January 8, 2025
  • Proposed Effective Date – September 1, 2025

Introduced as House Bill 24-1349 – Establish excise tax on firearm related sales

  • Creates an 6.5% excise tax on the sale of any firearm, firearm precursor part, or ammunition
    • Exemptions: Peace officers, law enforcement agencies, active duty military
  • Requires excise revenue be spent on mental health services, school safety and gun violence prevention, and victims of violent crimes
  • Introduced – February 28, 2024
  • Signed Act – June 5, 2024
  • Proposed Effective Date – April 1, 2024

Senate Bill 23-279 – Ghost Guns

  • Bans the manufacture and possession of un-serialized frames and receivers
  • Sections 18-12-111.5 (1) and (3), takes effect January 1, 2024, and applies to offenses committed on or after said date.
  • First Penalty – Class 1 misdemeanor, up to 364 days in jail
  • Subsequent Penalty – Class 5 felony, up to 3 years in jail
  • People who possess un-serialized guns or gun parts have until Jan 1, 2024, to have them serialized by a licensed firearms dealer
  • Introduced – April 12, 2023
  • Signed as an act – June 3, 2023
  • Effective Date – January 1, 2024

House Bill 23-1219 – 3-Day Waiting Period

  • Establishes a minimum 3-day waiting period prior to the delivery of a purchased firearm
  • Introduced – February 23, 2023
  • Signed as an Act – April 28, 2023
  •   Effective Date – October 1, 2023

Senate Bill 23-168 – Firearms Industry Accountability

  • Expands product liability to include a ‘firearms industry member’ when a person or entity has suffered harm as a result of an industry member violation of the firearm industry standards for responsible conduct.
  • Introduced – February 23, 2023
  • Signed as an Act – April 28, 2023
  • Effective Date – October 1, 2023

Senate Bill 23-169 – Raise age from 18 to 21

  • It is unlawful for a person who is less than twenty-one years of age to purchase a firearm.
  •        Penalty – Class 2 misdemeanor to attempt to buy
  •        Penalty – Class 1 misdemeanor for a dealer to sell
  • Introduced – February 23, 2023
  • Signed as an act – April 28, 2023
    • Postponed til General Election, November 2024
  • Effective Date – November 27, 2024

Senate Bill 23-170 – Red Flag expansion

  •  Expands the list of who can petition for an extreme risk protection order from family/household member/law enforcement to now include licensed medical/mental providers, educators, district attorneys.
  •   Effective Date – this was a repeal and re-enact, so currently effective
  •    Restrictions:  A person under an extreme risk protection order may not have custody or control of a firearm or purchase, posess, receive or attempt to purchase or receive a firearm while the order is in effect.  All firearms in their custody or control, and any concealed carry permit, must be surrendered immediately(Selling or transferring possession to an FFL)
  •      Penalty – Class 2 Misdemeanor, for both the person under the ERPO and a person who knowingly transacts a firearms to a person under an ERPO
  • Introduced – February 23, 2023
  • Signed as an Act – April 28, 2023
  • Effective Date – April 28, 2023

House Bill 13-1224 – High Capacity Magazine Ban

  • Prohibits the sale, transfer, or possession of an ammunition feeding device that is capable of accepting, or that can be readily converted to accept, more than 15 rounds of ammunition or more than 5 shotgun shells.
  • First Penalty – Class 1 misdemeanor
  • Effective Date – July 1, 2013