Colorado legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Colorado HB1218: Clarifying Validity of Common Law Marriage
Status: Signed into law, May 5, 2026
Concerning clarifying the validity of common law marriage by restoring a previously repealed provision.
What the bill says
From the chaptered text, May 5, 2026:
HOUSE BILL 26-1218 BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Espenoza and Luck, Bradley, Carter; also SENATOR(S) Catlin and Ball, Coleman. CONCERNING CLARIFYING THE VALIDITY OF COMMON LAW MARRIAGE BY RESTORING A PREVIOUSLY REPEALED PROVISION. SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 14-2-104, recreate and reenact, with amendments, (3) as follows: 14-2-104. Formalities. (3) THIS SECTION DOES NOT REPEAL OR INV ALIDA TE ANY OTHERWISE VALID COMMON LAW OR (b) ENTERED INTO ON OR AFTER SEPTEMBER 1, 2006, AND COMPLIES WITH SECTION 14-2-109.5. SECTION 2. Safety clause. The general assembly finds, Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material added to existing law; dashes through words or numbers indicate deletionsji·om existing law and such material is not part of the act. determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state ins ti tu ti ons. Ju~ James Rashad Coleman, Sr. SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE PRESIDENT OF OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE - ~ Vanessa Reilly Esther van Mourik CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE SECRETARY OF OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE PAGE 2-HOUSE BILL 26-1218
Sponsors
- Espenoza, Cecelia (D, 4) · primary sponsor
- Luck, Stephanie (R, 60) · primary sponsor
- Bradley, Brandi (R, 39)
- Carter, Michael (D, 36)
- Catlin, Marc (R, 5) · primary sponsor
- Ball, Matt (D, 31) · primary sponsor
- Coleman, James (D, 33)
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 Laid Over to 04/02/2026 - 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
Votes
- Third Reading: BILL (April 7, 2026): 34 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Refer House Bill 26-1218 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 9, 2026): 59 yea, 3 nay, passed
- Refer House Bill 26-1218 to the Committee of the Whole. (March 5, 2026): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Marriage, Children & Domestic Matters
Common questions
- What is HB1218?
- HB1218 is a bill in the Colorado Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Clarifying Validity of Common Law Marriage.
- What does HB1218 do?
- Concerning clarifying the validity of common law marriage by restoring a previously repealed provision.
- What is the status of HB1218?
- Signed into law as of May 5, 2026. Latest action: Governor Signed (May 5, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1218?
- Espenoza, Cecelia (D, 4), with 6 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1218?
- On the Colorado Legislature website: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb26-1218
Source: official Colorado record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.