A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning the ability of a first responder or the spouse of
Page 1, Line 102a first responder to request that the address in their
Page 1, Line 103voter registration records maintained by the county
Page 1, Line 104clerk and recorder or the secretary of state be kept
Page 1, Line 105confidential.
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.)
Beginning January 1, 2026, an elector or the spouse of an elector who is or has been a peace officer, firefighter, volunteer firefighter, emergency medical service provider, or other individual who responds to a public safety emergency (first responder) may request that the address included in the following records concerning the first responder be kept confidential (address confidentiality):
- Voter registration records in the custody of a county clerk and recorder; and
- Voter registration records in the centralized statewide registration system maintained by the secretary of state (secretary).
A first responder may request address confidentiality on the electronic voter registration form or record created by the secretary. The secretary is required to ensure that the electronic voter registration form and an elector's voter registration record includes a place for a first responder to indicate that they are a first responder and request address confidentiality. The secretary is also required to ensure that when a first responder indicates on their voter registration form or record that they are requesting address confidentiality, the first responder is automatically directed to an electronic application form that requests certain information to allow the secretary to implement the address confidentiality request.
The secretary is required to provide a copy of each completed application to the clerk and recorder of the county where the first responder is registered to vote for the purpose of implementing address confidentiality for the records maintained by the county clerk and recorder.
The secretary is prohibited from charging a fee in connection with a first responder's request for address confidentiality.
The custodian of any voter registration records that concern a first responder who has requested address confidentiality is required to deny the right of inspection of the first responder's address contained in the records on the ground that disclosure would be contrary to the public interest.
A first responder's request for address confidentiality is not a public record subject to public inspection.
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, 24-72-204, add (3.7) as follows:
Page 2, Line 324-72-204. Allowance or denial of inspection - grounds -
Page 3, Line 1procedure - appeal - definitions - repeal. (3.7) (a) As used in this
Page 3, Line 2subsection (3.7), unless the context otherwise requires, "first
Page 3, Line 3responder" means an elector, as defined in section 1-1-104 (12), who is or who has been one of the following:
Page 3, Line 4(I) A peace officer, as described in section 16-2.5-101;
(II) A firefighter, as defined in section 29-5-203 (10);
Page 3, Line 5(III) A volunteer firefighter, as defined in section 31-30-1102 (9)(a);
Page 3, Line 6(IV) An emergency medical service provider, as defined in section 25-3.5-103 (8);
Page 3, Line 7(V) An emergency communications specialist, as defined in section 29-11-101 (10.5);
Page 3, Line 8(VI) Any other individual, whether an employee,
Page 3, Line 9independent contractor, volunteer, or other agent who responds to a public safety emergency; or
Page 3, Line 10(VII) The spouse or civil union partner of an individual
Page 3, Line 11specified in subsection (3.7)(a)(I), (3.7)(a)(II), (3.7)(a)(III), (3.7)(a)(IV), or (3.7)(a)(V) of this section.
Page 3, Line 12(b) On and after January 1, 2026, a first responder may
Page 3, Line 13request that the address included in any public record
Page 3, Line 14concerning the first responder that is required to be made,
Page 3, Line 15maintained, or kept pursuant to sections 1-2-227 and 1-2-301 be kept confidential.
Page 3, Line 16 (c) A first responder may make the request for
Page 3, Line 17confidentiality allowed by subsection (3.7)(b) of this section to
Page 3, Line 18the county clerk and recorder where the individual making the
Page 3, Line 19request resides, on an application form approved by the
Page 4, Line 1secretary of state. The application form shall provide space for
Page 4, Line 2the first responder to provide their name, address, date of birth,
Page 4, Line 3and any other identifying information determined by the
Page 4, Line 4secretary of state to be necessary to carry out this subsection
Page 4, Line 5(3.7). In addition, the form shall include an affirmation in the
Page 4, Line 6area immediately above a line for the first responder's
Page 4, Line 7signature and the date, stating the following: "I swear or
Page 4, Line 8affirm, under penalty of perjury, that I am or have been a first
Page 4, Line 9responder or am or have been the spouse or civil union partner
Page 4, Line 10of a first responder and am eligible to have my address kept
Page 4, Line 11confidential pursuant to section 24-72-204 (3.7), C.R.S."
Page 4, Line 12Immediately below the signature line, there shall be printed a
Page 4, Line 13notice, in a type that is larger than the other information
Page 4, Line 14contained on the form, that the individual may be prosecuted
Page 4, Line 15for perjury in the second degree under section 18-8-503 if the individual signs such affirmation but is not a first responder.
Page 4, Line 16(d) Each county clerk and recorder shall:
Page 4, Line 17(I) Make the confidentiality request application forms available in their offices;
Page 4, Line 18(II) Provide the confidentiality request application forms
Page 4, Line 19to interested persons by United States mail, email delivery, or facsimile transmission, if requested;
Page 4, Line 20(III) Permit first responders to submit completed and
Page 4, Line 21signed confidentiality request application forms by United
Page 4, Line 22States mail, personal delivery, email delivery, or facsimile transmission; and
Page 4, Line 23(IV) Not charge a processing or any other fee in
Page 5, Line 1connection with a first responder's request for confidentiality pursuant to this subsection (3.7).
Page 5, Line 2(e) The custodian of any record specified in subsection
Page 5, Line 3(3.7)(b) of this section that concerns a first responder who has
Page 5, Line 4made a request for confidentiality pursuant to this subsection
Page 5, Line 5(3.7) shall deny the right of inspection of the first responder's
Page 5, Line 6address contained in the record on the ground that disclosure would be contrary to the public interest.
Page 5, Line 7(f) Any request for confidentiality made pursuant to this
Page 5, Line 8subsection (3.7) is confidential and is not open to inspection as a
Page 5, Line 9public record unless a written release is executed by the first responder who made the request.
Page 5, Line 10SECTION 2. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 5, Line 11takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
Page 5, Line 12ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
Page 5, Line 13that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V
Page 5, Line 14of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this
Page 5, Line 15act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take
Page 5, Line 16effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
Page 5, Line 17November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.