Colorado Bill Requires Law Enforcement Use of ATF Firearm Tracing System

Detected March 6th, 2026

Summary

Colorado Bill HB26-1265 requires all law enforcement agencies in the state to register for and use the ATF's national electronic firearm tracing system. Agencies must transmit recovered or confiscated firearm information to the system and share all related data with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

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What changed

Colorado Bill HB26-1265, introduced for the 2026 Regular Session, mandates that all law enforcement agencies within the state register for and utilize the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives' (ATF) national electronic tracing system. The bill requires these agencies to transmit information on every firearm they recover or confiscate into this system. Furthermore, agencies must share all data received from or transmitted to the ATF tracing system with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

This legislation imposes new operational requirements on Colorado law enforcement agencies, necessitating the adoption of the ATF system and establishing a mandatory data-sharing protocol with the state's investigative bureau. Compliance will require agencies to update their procedures for firearm recovery and record-keeping. The bill is currently in the 'Under Consideration' stage, with a scheduled meeting on March 6, 2026, indicating that further legislative action is pending. The exact compliance deadline will be determined upon the bill's passage and enactment.

What to do next

Review Colorado Bill HB26-1265 for potential impact on firearm tracing and data sharing procedures.
Monitor the legislative progress of HB26-1265.
Prepare to implement registration and data transmission requirements to the ATF tracing system and Colorado Bureau of Investigation upon enactment.

Source document (simplified)

HB26-1265

Law Enforcement National Electronic Tracing System & Share Program

| Type | Bill |
| --- | --- |
| Session | 2026 Regular Session |
| Subjects | Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement |
Concerning a law enforcement agency's use of the United States bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and explosives' national electronic tracing system.

Recent Bill (PDF) Recent Fiscal Note (PDF) Bill Summary:

The bill requires each law enforcement agency to register for the United States bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and explosives national electronic tracing system and transmit to the electronic tracing system information about each firearm it recovers or confiscates.

The law enforcement agency is required to share with the Colorado bureau of investigation all information shared with and received from the electronic tracing system. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Prime Sponsors

Representative

Manny Rutinel
Representative

Chad Clifford
Senator

Katie Wallace

Committees

House

State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs

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Status

Under Consideration

Introduced

Under Consideration

Upcoming Schedule

1 meeting

Fri

Mar 6

House General Orders - Second Reading of Bills

9:00 AM House Chamber

Related Documents & Information

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 02/19/2026 | Introduced | PDF |

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/03/2026 | PA1 | PDF |

| Date | Version | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/04/2026 | FN2 | PDF |
| 03/03/2026 | MEMO1 | PDF |
| 02/26/2026 | FN1 | PDF |

| Activity | Vote | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Refer House Bill 26-1265, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. | The motion passed on a vote of 7-3. | Vote summary |
Committee Report: PDF
| Date | Amendment Number | Committee/ Floor Hearing | Status | Documents |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 03/02/2026 | L.001 | HOU State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs | Passed [*] | PDF |
* 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 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 03/05/2026 | House | House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments |
| 03/02/2026 | House | House Committee on State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole |
| 02/19/2026 | House | Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs |
Prime Sponsor

Rep. C. Clifford | Rep. M. Rutinel

Sen. K. Wallace

Sponsor

(None) Co-Sponsor

(None)