Colorado Bill Allows Vehicle Plate Transfer to New Owner
Summary
Colorado HB26-1053 would repeal the requirement that license plates be retired and new plates issued when a vehicle's ownership is transferred, instead allowing owners to transfer existing plates to a new motor vehicle. The bill also requires the Department of Revenue to develop an application programming interface for its electronic vehicle registration and titling system, and to create a comprehensive contingency plan for continuity of operations. An appropriation of $18,170 is made to implement the act.
“The bill repeals this requirement and authorizes the owner to transfer the plates to a new motor vehicle.”
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What changed
HB26-1053 would allow vehicle owners to transfer existing license plates to a new motor vehicle rather than having plates retired and reissued upon each ownership transfer. The bill requires the Colorado Department of Revenue to develop an application programming interface for its electronic vehicle registration and titling system, which authorized agents may use or integrate with their own systems. The department must also develop and maintain a comprehensive contingency plan to ensure continuity of vehicle licensing operations during disruptions.\n\nAffected parties include Colorado vehicle owners, the Department of Revenue, and authorized agents who handle vehicle registration and titling. These stakeholders should monitor the bill's progress through the Senate, as the amendments and API requirements may impose new compliance obligations on authorized agents if enacted.
Hearing
- Date
- 2026-04-24 at 08:00
- Location
- LSB B
Archived snapshot
Apr 24, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
HB26-1053
Motor Vehicle Regulation Administration
| Type | Bill |
|---|---|
| Session | 2026 Regular Session |
| Subjects | Local Government State Government Transportation & Motor Vehicles |
Concerning the administration of duties related to the ownership of a vehicle, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
Recent Bill (PDF) Recent Fiscal Note (PDF) Bill Summary:
Under current law, an owner of a vehicle that pays specific ownership tax, except intrastate commercial carriers, have their license plates retired and are reissued new plates when the vehicle's ownership is transferred. The bill repeals this requirement and authorizes the owner to transfer the plates to a new motor vehicle.
Current law provides for an electronic vehicle registration and titling system (electronic system). The bill requires the department of revenue (department) to develop an application programming interface for this electronic system. The department must provide the application programming interface to its authorized agents. An authorized agent may use this interface or use the agent's own interface system. The department may adopt rules governing the authorized agent's use of such an interface with the electronic system.
The bill requires the department to develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive contingency plan to ensure continuity of operations and the protection of critical services in the event of a disruption in vehicle licensing operations. Standards are set for the contingency plan. The governor's office of information technology must provide the appropriate network and equipment support to the department.
~~Current law provides for the keep Colorado wild pass, which allows people to obtain a Colorado parks pass for a motor vehicle for a reduced fee when registering the motor vehicle. The bill requires the authorized agent of the department to retain 3.33% of the fee.~~
To implement this act, $18,170 is appropriated to the department from the Colorado DRIVES vehicle services account.
(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Prime Sponsors
Tisha Mauro
Senator
Byron Pelton
Senator
Katie Wallace
Committees
House
Senate
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Status
Under Consideration
Introduced
Under Consideration
Upcoming Schedule
2 meetings
Apr 24
Senate Appropriations
8:00 AM LSB B Fri
Apr 24
Senate Special Orders - Second Reading of Bills
9:00 AM Senate Chamber
Related Documents & Information
| Date | Version | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| 03/16/2026 | Reengrossed | |
| 03/13/2026 | Engrossed | |
| 01/14/2026 | Introduced |
| Date | Version | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| 04/08/2026 | PA3 | |
| 03/13/2026 | PA2 | |
| 02/10/2026 | PA1 |
| Date | Version | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| 04/15/2026 | Second Revised Fiscal Note | |
| 02/25/2026 | First Revised Fiscal Note | |
| 02/05/2026 | Initial Fiscal Note |
| Date | Version | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| 04/23/2026 | SA2 | |
| 03/09/2026 | SA1 |
| Activity | Vote | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| Refer House Bill 26-1053 to the Committee of the Whole. | The motion passed on a vote of 7-0. | Vote summary |
| Activity | Vote | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| Adopt amendment L.003 (Attachment A) | The motion passed without objection. | Vote summary |
| Refer House Bill 26-1053, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. | The motion passed on a vote of 9-0. | Vote summary |
| Hearing Summary | Committee Report: PDF | |
| Activity | Vote | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Adopt amendment J.001 | The motion passed without objection. | Vote summary |
| Refer House Bill 26-1053, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. | The motion passed on a vote of 11-0. | Vote summary |
| Hearing Summary | Committee Report: PDF | |
| Activity | Vote | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Adopt amendment L.001 | The motion passed without objection. | Vote summary |
| Refer House Bill 26-1053, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. | The motion passed on a vote of 11-0. | Vote summary |
| Hearing Summary | Committee Report: PDF | |
| Date | Calendar | Motion |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/16/2026 | Third Reading | BILL |
| Date | Amendment Number | Committee/ Floor Hearing | Status | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/07/2026 | L.003 | SEN Finance | Passed [*] | |
| 03/13/2026 | L.002 | Second Reading | Passed [**] | |
| 03/13/2026 | J.001 | HOU Appropriations | Passed [*] | |
| 02/09/2026 | L.001 | HOU Finance | Passed [*] |
- Amendments passed in committee are not incorporated into the measure unless adopted by the full House or Senate.
** The status of Second Reading amendments may be subsequently affected by the adoption of an amendment to the Committee of the Whole Report. Refer to the House or Senate Journal for additional information.
| Date | Location | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 04/24/2026 | Senate | Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole |
| 04/07/2026 | Senate | Senate Committee on Finance Refer Amended to Appropriations |
| 03/19/2026 | Senate | Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Finance |
| 03/16/2026 | House | House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments |
| 03/13/2026 | House | House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor |
| 03/13/2026 | House | House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole |
| 02/09/2026 | House | House Committee on Finance Refer Amended to Appropriations |
| 01/14/2026 | House | Introduced In House - Assigned to Finance |
Prime Sponsor
Sen. B. Pelton | Sen. K. Wallace
Sponsor
(None) Co-Sponsor
Rep. J. Caldwell | Rep. C. Clifford | Rep. M. Duran | Rep. L. Garcia Sander | Rep. R. Keltie | Rep. M. Lindsay | Rep. J. McCluskie | Rep. K. Nguyen | Rep. M. Rutinel | Rep. R. Weinberg | Rep. T. Winter
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