A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning a firearm serial number check, and, in
Page 1, Line 102connection therewith, creating a standardized
Page 1, Line 103procedure for a federal firearms licensee to request
Page 1, Line 104a firearm serial number check and imposing a penalty
Page 1, Line 105under certain circumstances if a licensee does not file
Page 1, Line 106a report with law enforcement.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill establishes a procedure allowing a federal firearms licensee to request a firearm serial number check prior to purchasing a firearm from an individual and requires a local county sheriff's office to complete the serial number check within 72 hours after the request. The bill imposes a penalty on a licensee if a licensee fails to file a report with law enforcement when the licensee reasonably believes, knows or should know, or becomes aware that a person sold or attempted to sell a firearm that is stolen, lost, or involved in an open criminal investigation.
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 29-11.7-105 as follows:
Page 2, Line 329-11.7-105. Firearm serial number check - procedure -
Page 2, Line 4processing fee - penalty. (1) (a) A federal firearms licensee, as
Page 2, Line 5described in section 18-12-101, may request a firearm serial
Page 2, Line 6number check prior to purchasing a firearm from an
Page 2, Line 7individual. If a federal firearms licensee's place of business is
Page 2, Line 8located within incorporated city limits and requests a firearm
Page 2, Line 9serial number check, the licensee must request the firearm
Page 2, Line 10serial number check from the police department within the city
Page 2, Line 11limits in which the federal firearms licensee's place of business
Page 2, Line 12is located. If a federal firearms licensee's place of business is
Page 2, Line 13located in an unincorporated part of a county and requests a
Page 2, Line 14firearm serial number check, the licensee must request the
Page 2, Line 15firearm serial number check from the sheriff's department of the
Page 2, Line 16county in which the federal firearms licensee's place of business is located.
Page 2, Line 17(b) Upon request by a federal firearms licensee, a sheriff's
Page 2, Line 18office or police department shall perform the firearm serial
Page 2, Line 19number check and respond with the result of the check to the
Page 2, Line 20licensee within three days after the request.
Page 3, Line 1(c) The firearm serial number check must include
Page 3, Line 2information regarding whether the gun is reported stolen, lost, or is involved in an open criminal investigation.
Page 3, Line 3(d) A sheriff's office or police department shall establish
Page 3, Line 4a reasonable and uniform system to receive a firearm serial
Page 3, Line 5number check request and provide a response to a requesting licensee.
Page 3, Line 6(2) (a) A sheriff's office or police department may charge
Page 3, Line 7a fee to perform the firearm serial number check. The fee
Page 3, Line 8amount must reflect the actual and indirect costs to the
Page 3, Line 9sheriff's office or police department of performing the firearm serial number check.
Page 3, Line 10(b) If a sheriff's office or police department does not
Page 3, Line 11perform the firearm serial number check and provide a response
Page 3, Line 12to the licensee within three days after the request, the sheriff's
Page 3, Line 13office or police department shall refund, or shall not charge, the licensee for the firearm serial number check.
Page 3, Line 14(3) Each sheriff's office or police department shall begin
Page 3, Line 15providing firearm serial number checks no later than July 1, 2026.
Page 3, Line 16(4) If the federal government allows a federal firearms
Page 3, Line 17licensee to access the federal government's firearm tracing
Page 3, Line 18program to allow the federal firearms licensee to perform a
Page 3, Line 19firearm serial number check, the federal firearms licensee may
Page 3, Line 20perform the firearms serial number check themself. The federal
Page 3, Line 21firearms licensee is still subject to the reporting requirements
Page 3, Line 22described in subsection (5) of this section. This subsection (4) will
Page 4, Line 1take effect as soon as the technology and infrastructure for a
Page 4, Line 2federal firearms licensee to perform a firearm serial number search is available.
Page 4, Line 3(5) (a) If a firearms dealer who holds a state permit to
Page 4, Line 4deal firearms pursuant to section 18-12-401.5 reasonably
Page 4, Line 5believes, knows or should know, or becomes aware that a person
Page 4, Line 6sold or attempted to sell a firearm that is stolen, lost, or
Page 4, Line 7involved in an open criminal investigation, the dealer shall
Page 4, Line 8report that information to a law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the dealer's place of business.
Page 4, Line 9(b) Failure to make the report as required by this
Page 4, Line 10subsection(5)within forty-eight hours after the dealer
Page 4, Line 11reasonably believes, knows or should know, or becomes aware
Page 4, Line 12of the firearm being stolen, lost, or involved in an open criminal
Page 4, Line 13investigation is subject to the penalties described in section 18-12-401.5 (7).
Page 4, Line 14SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 18-12-401.5, amend (7)(a) introductory portion as follows:
Page 4, Line 1518-12-401.5. Permit required - issuing agency - cash fund -
Page 4, Line 16inspections - penalty - report - rules - repeal. (7) (a) Except as
Page 4, Line 17provided in subsection (8) of this section, if the department finds that a
Page 4, Line 18dealer failed to post the required notice or make a report concerning
Page 4, Line 19unlawful purchases in violation of section 18-12-111; failed to make a
Page 4, Line 20record required pursuant to section 18-12-402; transferred a firearm
Page 4, Line 21without a locking device or failed to post the required notice concerning
Page 4, Line 22locking devices, in violation of section 18-12-405; failed to comply with
Page 4, Line 23any of the requirements of section 18-12-406; failed to comply with
Page 5, Line 1any of the requirements of section 29-11.7-105 (5); violated any
Page 5, Line 2other provision of this article 12 or any other state or local law concerning
Page 5, Line 3the sale of firearms; or violated any federal law or rule concerning the
Page 5, Line 4sale of firearms or firearm components for which the penalty includes
Page 5, Line 5potential revocation of the person's federal firearms license, the department shall:
Page 5, Line 6SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 5, Line 7takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
Page 5, Line 8ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
Page 5, Line 9that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V
Page 5, Line 10of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this
Page 5, Line 11act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take
Page 5, Line 12effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
Page 5, Line 13November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.