A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning the creation of a missing and murdered
Page 1, Line 102Indigenous relatives license plate.
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 creates the missing and murdered Indigenous relatives license plate. An applicant becomes eligible to use the license plate by providing a certificate to the department of revenue confirming that the applicant has made a minimum donation of $25 to the office of liaison for missing and murdered Indigenous relatives.
In addition to the normal fees for a license plate, a person must pay an additional one-time fee in the amount of $25, which money is credited to the highway users tax fund.
This Unofficial Version Includes Committee
Amendments Not Yet Adopted on Second Reading
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 42-3-272 as
Page 2, Line 3follows:
Page 2, Line 442-3-272. Special plates - missing and murdered Indigenous
Page 2, Line 5relatives - legislative declaration - definitions. (1) The general
Page 2, Line 6assembly finds and declares that:
Page 2, Line 7(a) Indigenous communities in Colorado, including the
Page 2, Line 8Southern Ute Indian and Ute Mountain Ute Reservations, and
Page 2, Line 9across the United States have been disproportionately impacted
Page 2, Line 10by the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people. This
Page 2, Line 11crisis has affected the safety, well-being, and cultural fabric
Page 2, Line 12of Indigenous peoples and continues to demand urgent attention
Page 2, Line 13and action.
Page 2, Line 14(b) There is significant underreporting of cases involving
Page 2, Line 15missing and murdered Indigenous relatives, and the absence of
Page 2, Line 16specialized resources and services to address these cases
Page 2, Line 17contributes to the ongoing violence and neglect faced by
Page 2, Line 18Indigenous communities. Families and tribal nations often face
Page 2, Line 19systemic barriers in obtaining justice, services, and resources to
Page 2, Line 20assist in the search for and recovery of their loved ones.
Page 2, Line 21(c) Adequate funding is essential to support the office of
Page 2, Line 22liaison for missing and murdered Indigenous relatives and to
Page 2, Line 23strengthen initiatives aimed at providing resources for affected
Page 2, Line 24families, improving investigation protocols, facilitating
Page 2, Line 25communication between law enforcement agencies, and raising
Page 3, Line 1awareness of this critical issue. Increased funding would also
Page 3, Line 2help provide culturally relevant victim services, support the
Page 3, Line 3prevention of violence, and ensure a coordinated response to
Page 3, Line 4the crisis.
Page 3, Line 5(d) Colorado has a shared responsibility to ensure the
Page 3, Line 6safety and dignity of all its citizens, including Indigenous
Page 3, Line 7peoples. The creation of specialized programs and services to
Page 3, Line 8address the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous
Page 3, Line 9relatives is a necessary step in honoring the lives and
Page 3, Line 10experiences of Indigenous communities and aligns with the
Page 3, Line 11state's commitment to justice, equity, and the well-being of all
Page 3, Line 12residents.
Page 3, Line 13(e) Public awareness is vital to addressing the issue of
Page 3, Line 14missing and murdered Indigenous relatives, and funding for the
Page 3, Line 15office of liaison for missing and murdered Indigenous relatives
Page 3, Line 16will be significantly enhanced through a program that allows
Page 3, Line 17Coloradans to voluntarily contribute to this cause.
Page 3, Line 18(f) Establishing a special license plate will create a
Page 3, Line 19dedicated funding stream for the office of liaison for missing
Page 3, Line 20and murdered Indigenous relatives. Proceeds from the sale of
Page 3, Line 21these license plates will directly support initiatives aimed at
Page 3, Line 22providing resources for missing and murdered Indigenous
Page 3, Line 23relatives, enhancing investigation efforts, and improving
Page 3, Line 24culturally competent victim support services. A special license
Page 3, Line 25plate will honor the lives of Indigenous individuals who have
Page 3, Line 26gone missing or been murdered and ensure that their families
Page 3, Line 27receive support.
Page 4, Line 1(g) A special license plate will serve as a powerful symbol
Page 4, Line 2of solidarity and recognition for the Indigenous communities of
Page 4, Line 3Colorado. By creating this license plate, the state reaffirms its
Page 4, Line 4commitment to supporting efforts aimed at addressing the
Page 4, Line 5violence faced by Indigenous peoples and to working toward the
Page 4, Line 6eradication of this violation.
Page 4, Line 7(h) The general assembly calls on the citizens of
Page 4, Line 8Colorado to unite in the effort to combat the crisis of missing
Page 4, Line 9and murdered Indigenous relatives. Through the purchase and
Page 4, Line 10display of the special license plate, Coloradans will have the
Page 4, Line 11opportunity to contribute directly to an important cause and
Page 4, Line 12demonstrate their commitment to justice, equity, and the safety
Page 4, Line 13of Indigenous communities.
Page 4, Line 14(2) Beginning on January 1, 2026, or when the department
Page 4, Line 15is able to issue the plates, the department shall issue special
Page 4, Line 16license plates to qualified applicants in accordance with this
Page 4, Line 17section for motorcycles, passenger cars, trucks, or
Page 4, Line 18noncommercial or recreational motor vehicles that do not
Page 4, Line 19exceed sixteen thousand pounds empty weight.
Page 4, Line 20(3) (a) There is established the missing and murdered
Page 4, Line 21Indigenous relatives license plate.
Page 4, Line 22(b) (I) The department shall use a design developed by an
Page 4, Line 23interested person with ties to Colorado, but the design must
Page 4, Line 24conform to department standards and be approved by the
Page 4, Line 25department.
Page 4, Line 26(II) On or before Indigenous Peoples' Day, October 13,
Page 4, Line 272025, the following individuals, in coordination with other
Page 5, Line 1interested persons, shall collaborate to select a design:
Page 5, Line 2(A) One member of the office;
Page 5, Line 3(B) At least two members of the advisory board, which
Page 5, Line 4members must represent a Ute tribe; and
Page 5, Line 5(C) Two additional members of the advisory board, to be
Page 5, Line 6determined by the office.
Page 5, Line 7(4) (a) The office shall qualify applicants to be issued the
Page 5, Line 8missing and murdered Indigenous relatives license plate.
Page 5, Line 9(b) A person may apply for a missing and murdered
Page 5, Line 10Indigenous relatives license plate if the person pays the taxes
Page 5, Line 11and fees required under this section and provides to the
Page 5, Line 12department or an authorized agent a certificate issued by the
Page 5, Line 13office confirming that the applicant has made a minimum
Page 5, Line 14donation of twenty-five dollars to the office. The state
Page 5, Line 15treasurer shall credit the donation to the missing and murdered
Page 5, Line 16Indigenous relatives victims fund created in section 24-33.5-2607.
Page 5, Line 17The office shall use the donation to carry out the office's duties
Page 5, Line 18and to provide financial support to missing or murdered
Page 5, Line 19Indigenous relatives' families.
Page 5, Line 20(5) The amount of the taxes and fees for special license
Page 5, Line 21plates under this section is the same as the amount of the taxes
Page 5, Line 22and fees for regular motor vehicle license plates; except that
Page 5, Line 23the department shall collect the fee specified in section 42-3-312
Page 5, Line 24and an additional one-time fee of twenty-five dollars for
Page 5, Line 25issuance or replacement of the license plate. The state
Page 5, Line 26treasurer shall credit the additional one-time fee to the
Page 5, Line 27highway users tax fund created in section 43-4-201.
Page 6, Line 1(6) An applicant may apply for personalized missing and
Page 6, Line 2murdered Indigenous relatives license plates. Upon payment of
Page 6, Line 3the additional fee required by section 42-3-211 (6)(a) for
Page 6, Line 4personalized license plates, the department may issue the plates
Page 6, Line 5if the applicant complies with section 42-3-211. If an applicant
Page 6, Line 6has existing personalized license plates for a motor vehicle, the
Page 6, Line 7applicant may transfer the combination of letters or numbers
Page 6, Line 8to a new set of missing and murdered Indigenous relatives
Page 6, Line 9license plates for the vehicle upon paying the fee required by
Page 6, Line 10section 42-3-211 (6)(a) and upon turning in the existing plates to
Page 6, Line 11the department. A person that has obtained personalized license
Page 6, Line 12plates under this subsection (6) shall pay the annual fee imposed
Page 6, Line 13by section 42-3-211 (6)(b) for renewal of the personalized plates.
Page 6, Line 14The fees under this subsection (6) are in addition to all other
Page 6, Line 15applicable taxes and fees.
Page 6, Line 16(7) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise
Page 6, Line 17requires:
Page 6, Line 18(a) "Advisory board" means the community volunteer
Page 6, Line 19advisory board established pursuant to section 24-33.5-2603 (4).
Page 6, Line 20(b) "Office" means the office of liaison for missing and
Page 6, Line 21murdered Indigenous relatives created pursuant to section
Page 6, Line 2224-33.5-2603 (1).
Page 6, Line 23SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 24-33.5-2607 as
Page 6, Line 24follows:
Page 6, Line 2524-33.5-2607. Missing and murdered Indigenous relatives
Page 6, Line 26victims fund - creation - administration - definition. (1) The missing
Page 6, Line 27and murdered Indigenous relatives victims fund is created in the
Page 7, Line 1state treasury. The fund consists of donations credited to the
Page 7, Line 2fund pursuant to section 42-3-272 and any other money that the
Page 7, Line 3general assembly may appropriate or transfer to the fund.
Page 7, Line 4(2) The state treasurer shall credit all interest and
Page 7, Line 5income derived from the deposit and investment of money in the
Page 7, Line 6fund to the fund.
Page 7, Line 7(3) Subject to annual appropriation by the general
Page 7, Line 8assembly, the office of liaison for missing and murdered
Page 7, Line 9Indigenous relatives may expend money from the fund to carry
Page 7, Line 10out the office's duties described in section 24-33.5-2603.
Page 7, Line 11(4) As used in this section, "fund" means the missing and
Page 7, Line 12murdered Indigenous relatives victims fund.
Page 7, Line 13SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 42-3-312 as
Page 7, Line 14follows:
Page 7, Line 1542-3-312. Special license plate surcharge. In addition to any
Page 7, Line 16other fee imposed by this article 3, an applicant for a special license plate
Page 7, Line 17created by rule in accordance with section 42-3-207, as the section existed
Page 7, Line 18when the plate was created, personalized plates issued under section
Page 7, Line 1942-3-211, or special license plates issued under sections 42-3-212 to
Page 7, Line 2042-3-214, sections 42-3-217 to 42-3-218, sections 42-3-221 to 42-3-234,
Page 7, Line 21sections 42-3-237 to 42-3-258, sections 42-3-260 to 42-3-265, and
Page 7, Line 22sections 42-3-267 to
42-3-271Page 7, Line 23twenty-five dollars; except that the fee is not imposed on special license
Page 7, Line 24plates exempted from additional fees for the issuance of a military special
Page 7, Line 25license plate by section 42-3-213 (1)(b)(II). The department shall transfer
Page 7, Line 26the money from the fee to the state treasurer, who shall credit it to the
Page 7, Line 27Colorado DRIVES vehicle services account created in section 42-1-211
Page 8, Line 1(2).
Page 8, Line 2SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 8, Line 3takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
Page 8, Line 4ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
Page 8, Line 5that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V
Page 8, Line 6of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this
Page 8, Line 7act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take
Page 8, Line 8effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
Page 8, Line 9November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the
Page 8, Line 10official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.