House Committee of Reference Report

Committee on Judiciary

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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April 14, 2026

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

HB26-1281   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 5, after line 20 insert:

Page 1, Line 2"SECTION 5.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 18-3-105 as

Page 1, Line 3follows:

Page 1, Line 418-3-105.  Criminally negligent homicide.

Page 1, Line 5(1) (a)  Any A person who causes the death of another person by

Page 1, Line 6conduct amounting to with criminal negligence commits criminally

Page 1, Line 7negligent homicide. which

Page 1, Line 8(b)  If a person operates or drives a motor vehicle with

Page 1, Line 9criminal negligence and the conduct is the proximate cause of

Page 1, Line 10the death of another person, the person commits criminally

Page 1, Line 11negligent homicide.

Page 1, Line 12(2)  Criminally negligent homicide is a class 5 felony.

Page 1, Line 13SECTION 6.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 42-4-239, repeal

Page 1, Line 14(4)(d) as follows:

Page 1, Line 1542-4-239.  Use of a mobile electronic device - definitions -

Page 1, Line 16penalty.

Page 1, Line 17(4) (d)  If the individual's actions are the proximate cause of death

Page 1, Line 18to another, the individual commits a class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense

Page 1, Line 19and shall be punished as provided in section 42-4-1701 (3)(a)(II).

Page 1, Line 20SECTION 7.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 42-2-125, amend (1)

Page 1, Line 21introductory portion and (1)(a) as follows:

Page 1, Line 2242-2-125.  Mandatory revocation of license and permit.

Page 1, Line 23(1)  The department shall immediately revoke the license or permit

Page 1, Line 24of any a driver or minor driver upon receiving a record showing that the

Page 1, Line 25driver has:

Page 1, Line 26(a)  Been convicted of vehicular homicide or vehicular assault as

Page 1, Line 27described in sections 18-3-106 and 18-3-205 C.R.S., or of criminally

Page 2, Line 1negligent homicide while operating or driving a motor vehicle, as

Page 2, Line 2described in section 18-3-105, C.R.S., while driving a motor vehicle

Page 2, Line 3section 18-3-105 (1)(b);

Page 2, Line 4SECTION 8.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 42-2-128 as

Page 2, Line 5follows:

Page 2, Line 642-2-128.  Vehicular homicide - criminally negligent homicide

Page 2, Line 7while operating a motor vehicle - revocation of license.

Page 2, Line 8The department shall revoke the driver's license of any a person

Page 2, Line 9convicted of vehicular homicide pursuant to section 18-3-106 or

Page 2, Line 10criminally negligent homicide pursuant to section 18-3-105

Page 2, Line 11(1)(b), including the driver's license of any a juvenile who has been

Page 2, Line 12adjudicated a delinquent upon conduct which that would establish the

Page 2, Line 13crime of vehicular homicide pursuant to section 18-3-106 or

Page 2, Line 14criminally negligent homicide pursuant to section 18-3-105 (1)(b)

Page 2, Line 15if committed by an adult.

Page 2, Line 16SECTION 9.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 42-2-202, amend

Page 2, Line 17(2)(a)(V) as follows:

Page 2, Line 1842-2-202.  Habitual offenders - frequency and type of

Page 2, Line 19violations.

Page 2, Line 20(2) (a)  An habitual offender is a person having three or more

Page 2, Line 21convictions of any of the following separate and distinct offenses arising

Page 2, Line 22out of separate acts committed within a period of seven years:

Page 2, Line 23(V)  Vehicular assault or vehicular homicide, or manslaughter or

Page 2, Line 24criminally negligent homicide which results from the operation of while

Page 2, Line 25operating or driving a motor vehicle pursuant to section 18-3-105

Page 2, Line 26(1)(b), or motor vehicle theft, as such the offenses are described in title

Page 2, Line 2718;

Page 2, Line 28SECTION 10.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 42-4-1301, amend

Page 2, Line 29(6)(e) as follows:

Page 2, Line 3042-4-1301.  Driving under the influence - driving while

Page 2, Line 31impaired - driving with excessive alcoholic content - definitions -

Page 2, Line 32penalties.

Page 2, Line 33(6) (e)  Involuntary blood test - admissibility. Evidence acquired

Page 2, Line 34through an involuntary blood test pursuant to section 42-4-1301.1 (3)

Page 2, Line 35shall be is admissible in any a prosecution for DUI, DUI per se, DWAI,

Page 2, Line 36or UDD, and in any a prosecution for criminally negligent homicide

Page 2, Line 37while operating or driving a motor vehicle pursuant to section

Page 2, Line 3818-3-105, C.R.S. section 18-3-105 (1)(b), vehicular homicide pursuant

Page 2, Line 39to section 18-3-106 (1)(b), C.R.S., assault in the third degree pursuant to

Page 2, Line 40section 18-3-204, C.R.S., or vehicular assault pursuant to section

Page 2, Line 4118-3-205 (1)(b). C.R.S.

Page 2, Line 42SECTION 11.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 42-4-1301.1,

Page 2, Line 43amend (3) as follows:

Page 3, Line 142-4-1301.1.  Expressed consent for the taking of blood, breath,

Page 3, Line 2urine, or saliva sample - testing - rules - definition.

Page 3, Line 3(3)  Any A person who is required to take and to complete, and to

Page 3, Line 4cooperate in the completing of, any a test or tests shall cooperate with the

Page 3, Line 5person authorized to obtain specimens of such the person's blood, breath,

Page 3, Line 6saliva, or urine, including the signing of any release or consent forms

Page 3, Line 7required by any a person, hospital, clinic, or association authorized to

Page 3, Line 8obtain such the specimens. If such a person does not cooperate with the

Page 3, Line 9person, hospital, clinic, or association authorized to obtain such the

Page 3, Line 10specimens, including the signing of any release or consent forms, such

Page 3, Line 11the person's noncooperation shall be is considered a refusal to submit

Page 3, Line 12to testing. No A law enforcement officer shall not physically restrain any

Page 3, Line 13a person for the purpose of obtaining a specimen of such the person's

Page 3, Line 14blood, breath, saliva, or urine for testing except when the officer has

Page 3, Line 15probable cause to believe that the person has committed criminally

Page 3, Line 16negligent homicide while operating or driving a motor vehicle

Page 3, Line 17pursuant to section 18-3-105, C.R.S. section 18-3-105 (1)(b), vehicular

Page 3, Line 18homicide pursuant to section 18-3-106 (1)(b), C.R.S., assault in the third

Page 3, Line 19degree pursuant to section 18-3-204, C.R.S., or vehicular assault pursuant

Page 3, Line 20to section 18-3-205 (1)(b), C.R.S., and the person is refusing to take or to

Page 3, Line 21complete, or to cooperate in the completing of, any test or tests, then in

Page 3, Line 22such event, the law enforcement officer may require a blood test.".

Page 3, Line 23Renumber succeeding sections accordingly.

Page 3, Line 24Page 5, line 22, strike "and (1.7)".

Page 3, Line 25Page 5, strike lines 23 and 24 and substitute:

Page 3, Line 26"18-3-106. Vehicular homicide - definitions.".

Page 3, Line 27Page 6, strike lines 21 through 25.