Colorado legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Colorado HB1297: Uniform Language for Misdemeanor Traffic Offense
Status: Chaptered, May 5, 2026
Concerning using uniform language to reference misdemeanor traffic offenses.
What the bill says
From the chaptered text, May 5, 2026:
HOUSE BILL 26-1297 BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Carter and Luck, Caldwell, Clifford, Duran, Espenoza, Keltie, Phillips, Weinberg; also SENATOR(S) Rich and Exum, Jodeh, Snyder, Coleman. CONCERNING USING UNIFORM LANGUAGE TO REFERENCE MISDEMEANOR TRAFFIC OFFENSES. SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 18-1-410.6, amend (2), (3)(a)(III), and (4) introductory portion as follows: 18-1-410.6. Relief from improperly entered guilty pleas for certain misdemeanor and municipal offenses - legislative declaration. (2) Therefore, the general assembly declares that noncitizen defendants must have the opportunity to meaningfully challenge an unconstitutionally entered guilty plea for certain class 1 misdemeanors, class 2 misdemeanors, class 3 misdemeanors, traffie misdemeanm s MISDEMEANOR TRAFFIC OFFENSES, petty offenses, and municipal offenses. (3) (a) Notwithstanding a limitation contained in section 16-5-402, a municipal ordinance, or a municipal court rule of procedure, at any time Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material added to existing law; dashes through words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law and such material is not part of the act. following the entry of a guilty plea, a criminal defendant may challenge the guilty plea on the grounds set forth in subsection (4 ) of this section to or (4 ) A defendant moving to vacate a guilty plea to a class 1, class 2, or class 3 misdemeanor as classified at the time the guilty plea was …
Sponsors
- Carter, Michael (D, 36) · primary sponsor
- Luck, Stephanie (R, 60) · primary sponsor
- Caldwell, Jarvis (R, 20)
- Clifford, Chad (D, 37)
- Duran, Monica (D, 23)
- Espenoza, Cecelia (D, 4)
- Keltie, Rebecca (R, 16)
- Phillips, Jacque (D, 31)
- Weinberg, Ron (R, 51)
- Rich, Janice (R, 7) · primary sponsor
- Exum, Tony (D, 11) · primary sponsor
- Jodeh, Iman (D, 29)
Latest actions
- : Governor Signed
- : Sent to the Governor
- : Signed by the President of the Senate
- : Signed by the Speaker of the House
- : Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
- : Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments
- : Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
- : Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs
- : House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
- : House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments
Votes
- Third Reading: BILL (April 7, 2026): 34 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Refer House Bill 26-1297 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. (March 31, 2026): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading: BILL (March 16, 2026): 62 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Refer House Bill 26-1297 to the Committee of the Whole. (March 12, 2026): 9 yea, 2 nay, passed
Subjects: Criminal Law & Procedure, Other
Common questions
- What is HB1297?
- HB1297 is a bill in the Colorado Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Uniform Language for Misdemeanor Traffic Offense.
- What does HB1297 do?
- Concerning using uniform language to reference misdemeanor traffic offenses.
- What is the status of HB1297?
- Chaptered as of May 5, 2026. Latest action: Governor Signed (May 5, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1297?
- Carter, Michael (D, 36), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1297?
- On the Colorado Legislature website: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb26-1297
Source: official Colorado record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.