HB26-1298 Criminal Background Checks Child Welfare Providers
Summary
Colorado HB26-1298 would revise state law to grant counties and the Colorado Department of Human Services statutory authority to conduct criminal background checks on child welfare out-of-home placement providers in compliance with FBI standards. Current law does not meet FBI requirements, and the FBI-granted grace period allowing Colorado to perform these checks expires in May 2026. The bill cleared the House Third Reading on April 21, 2026 (63 AYE, 0 NO, 2 OTHER) and was introduced in the Senate on April 24, 2026, assigned to the Senate Health & Human Services Committee. An appropriation is included.
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What changed
HB26-1298 modifies the statutory framework governing criminal background checks for individuals providing out-of-home care to child-welfare-involved youth. The bill's primary purpose is to align Colorado's background-check procedures with FBI standards, addressing a compliance gap that the FBI has previously tolerated through a temporary grace period expiring May 2026. The bill grants explicit statutory authority to counties and the Colorado Department of Human Services to perform these checks directly.
Counties and the Colorado Department of Human Services should monitor the bill's progress through the Senate and prepare to implement any new background-check procedures upon enactment. Out-of-home placement providers (foster parents, group homes, and related agencies) should anticipate potential changes to the vetting requirements they are subject to, as the bill seeks to ensure checks are conducted at the FBI's prescribed standard rather than under the existing state-level framework.
Archived snapshot
Apr 25, 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.
HB26-1298
Background Checks for Child Welfare Placements
| Type | Bill |
|---|---|
| Session | 2026 Regular Session |
| Subjects | Children & Domestic Matters |
Concerning the authority for criminal background checks for child welfare out-of-home placement providers, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
Recent Bill (PDF) Recent Fiscal Note (PDF) Bill Summary:
Under current law, background checks are required for all individuals who provide out-of-home care for child-welfare-involved youth. Current law does not comply with the federal bureau of investigation's (FBI) standards for background checks, and the FBI granted Colorado a temporary grace period to allow Colorado to perform these background checks through the FBI. The temporary grace period ends May 2026.
The bill revises statutory provisions to give counties and the Colorado department of human services the statutory authority needed to conduct the required background checks in accordance with the FBI's standards.
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Prime Sponsors
Gretchen Rydin
Representative
Rebecca Keltie
Senator
Lisa Cutter
Committees
House
Health & Human Services Appropriations
Senate
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Status
Under Consideration
Introduced
Under Consideration
Related Documents & Information
| Date | Version | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| 04/21/2026 | Reengrossed | |
| 04/17/2026 | Engrossed | |
| 02/25/2026 | Introduced |
| Date | Version | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| 04/17/2026 | PA2 | |
| 03/18/2026 | PA1 |
| Date | Version | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| 03/13/2026 | Initial Fiscal Note |
| Date | Version | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| 04/15/2026 | SA1 |
| Activity | Vote | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| Adopt amendment J.001 | The motion passed without objection. | Vote summary |
| Refer House Bill 26-1298, 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 (Attachment K). | The motion passed without objection. | Vote summary |
| Refer House Bill 26-1298, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. | The motion passed on a vote of 13-0. | Vote summary |
| Hearing Summary | Committee Report: PDF | |
| Date | Calendar | Motion |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 04/21/2026 | Third Reading | BILL |
| Date | Amendment Number | Committee/ Floor Hearing | Status | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/17/2026 | L.002 | Second Reading | Passed [**] | |
| 04/17/2026 | J.001 | HOU Appropriations | Passed [*] | |
| 03/17/2026 | L.001 | HOU Health & Human Services | 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 | Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Health & Human Services |
| 04/21/2026 | House | House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments |
| 04/20/2026 | House | House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments |
| 04/17/2026 | House | House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor |
| 04/17/2026 | House | House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole |
| 03/17/2026 | House | House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to Appropriations |
| 02/25/2026 | House | Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services |
Prime Sponsor
Rep. R. Keltie | Rep. G. Rydin
Sponsor
(None) Co-Sponsor
Rep. A. Boesenecker | Rep. S. Camacho | Rep. C. Clifford | Rep. M. Duran | Rep. A. Flanell | Rep. L. Gilchrist | Rep. R. Gonzalez | Rep. J. Jackson | Rep. J. Joseph | Rep. S. Lieder | Rep. M. Lindsay | Rep. K. Nguyen | Rep. C. Richardson | Rep. N. Ricks | Rep. M. Rutinel
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