House Committee of Reference Report

Committee on Health & Human Services

All text that will be removed from the bill will be indicated by strikethrough as follows:

This is text that is removed from law.

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  • This all capitals text would be added to law.
  • This is bold & italic text that would be added to law.

April 15, 2026

After consideration on the merits, the Committee recommends the following:

HB26-1314   be amended as follows, and as so amended, be referred to the Committee of the Whole with favorable recommendation:

Page 1, Line 1Amend printed bill, page 2, line 7 after "parent;" insert "and".

Page 1, Line 2Page 3, strike lines 4 through 27 and substitute:

Page 1, Line 3"(2)  The general assembly finds, therefore, that targeted

Page 1, Line 4legislative reforms to prioritize kinship placements and preserve

Page 1, Line 5grandparent-grandchild relationships will promote the stability, safety,

Page 1, Line 6and well-being of children, youth, and families throughout the state.

Page 1, Line 7SECTION 2.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 14-10-124.4, amend

Page 1, Line 8(2)(a) and (2)(b) as follows:

Page 1, Line 914-10-124.4.  Family time for grandparents or

Page 1, Line 10great-grandparents - legislative declaration - definitions.

Page 1, Line 11(2)  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

Page 1, Line 12(a)  "Grandparent" means a person who is or, if the child's

Page 1, Line 13father or mother is deceased, was the parent of a child's father or

Page 1, Line 14mother, who is related to the child by blood, in whole or by half,

Page 1, Line 15adoption, or marriage; except that "grandparent" does not include the

Page 1, Line 16parent of a child's legal father or mother whose parental rights have been

Page 1, Line 17terminated in accordance with sections 19-5-101 and 19-1-104 (1)(d).

Page 1, Line 18(b)  "Great-grandparent" means a person who is or, if the child's

Page 1, Line 19father or mother or grandparent is deceased, was the grandparent

Page 1, Line 20of a child's father or mother, who is related to the child by blood, in whole

Page 1, Line 21or by half, adoption, or marriage; except that "great-grandparent" does not

Page 1, Line 22include the grandparent of a child's legal father or mother whose parental

Page 1, Line 23rights have been terminated in accordance with sections 19-5-101 and

Page 1, Line 2419-1-104 (1)(d).".

Page 1, Line 25Strike page 4.

Page 2, Line 1Page 5, strike lines 1 through 9.

Page 2, Line 2Page 5, after line 9 insert:

Page 2, Line 3"SECTION 3.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, repeal 19-1-117.7.".

Page 2, Line 4Page 5, line 11, strike "portion, (3.6)(a)(V), and (9)" and substitute

Page 2, Line 5"portion and (3.6)(a)(V)".

Page 2, Line 6Page 5, line 15, strike "active" and substitute "diligent".

Page 2, Line 7Page 5, strike lines 24 through 27.

Page 2, Line 8Page 6, lines 1 and 2, strike "the relative or kin is not in the best

Page 2, Line 9interests of the child or youth." and substitute:

Page 2, Line 10"and available for care. giving primary consideration to the child's or

Page 2, Line 11youth's mental, physical, and emotional needs, including the child's or

Page 2, Line 12youth's preference regarding placement. Placement of the child or

Page 2, Line 13youth with the relative or kin is presumed to be in the best

Page 2, Line 14interests of the child or youth. The presumption may be rebutted

Page 2, Line 15by a preponderance of the evidence, giving primary

Page 2, Line 16consideration to the child's or youth's mental, physical, and

Page 2, Line 17emotional needs, including the child's or youth's preference

Page 2, Line 18regarding placement.".

Page 2, Line 19Page 6, strike line 27.

Page 2, Line 20Strike pages 7 through 10.

Page 2, Line 21Page 11, strike lines 1 through 11.

Page 2, Line 22Renumber succeeding section accordingly.

Page 2, Line 23Page 1, strike lines 102 through 106 and substitute "therewith,

Page 2, Line 24prioritizing kinship placements in certain circumstances and

Page 2, Line 25facilitating grandparent contact."