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.
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 1-2-202.5, add (3)(c)(III) and (9) as follows:
Page 2, Line 31-2-202.5. Online voter registration - online changes in elector
Page 2, Line 4information. (3) The electronic voter registration form must include:
Page 3, Line 1(c) (III) On and after January 1, 2026, a place for the
Page 3, Line 2elector to indicate that they are a first responder, as defined in
Page 3, Line 3section 24-72-204 (3.7)(a), and request that the address
Page 3, Line 4information in their registration records be kept confidential pursuant to section 24-72-204 (3.7).
Page 3, Line 5(9) On and after January 1, 2026, the secretary of state
Page 3, Line 6shall ensure that a registered elector may access the
Page 3, Line 7registered elector's voter registration through the secretary
Page 3, Line 8of state's official website, indicate that the registered elector
Page 3, Line 9is a first responder and request that the address information in
Page 3, Line 10their registration records be kept confidential pursuant to section 24-72-204 (3.7).
Page 3, Line 11SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-72-204, add (3.7) as follows:
Page 3, Line 1224-72-204. Allowance or denial of inspection - grounds -
Page 3, Line 13procedure - appeal - definitions - repeal. (3.7) (a) As used in this
Page 3, Line 14subsection (3.7), unless the context otherwise requires, "first
Page 3, Line 15responder" means an elector, as defined in section 1-1-104 (12), who is or who has been one of the following:
Page 3, Line 16(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 17(III) A volunteer firefighter, as defined in section 31-30-1102 (9)(a);
Page 3, Line 18(IV) An emergency medical service provider, as defined in section 25-3.5-103 (8);
Page 3, Line 19(V) Any other individual, whether an employee,
Page 3, Line 20independent contractor, volunteer, or other agent who responds to a public safety emergency; or
Page 4, Line 1(VI) The spouse of an individual who serves or has served
Page 4, Line 2as a responder to public safety emergencies as specified in
Page 4, Line 3subsection (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 4, Line 4(b) On and after January 1, 2026, a first responder may
Page 4, Line 5request that the address included in any public record
Page 4, Line 6concerning the first responder that is required to be made,
Page 4, Line 7maintained, or kept pursuant to sections 1-2-227 and 1-2-301 be kept confidential.
Page 4, Line 8(c) (I) A first responder may make the request for
Page 4, Line 9confidentiality allowed by subsection (3.7)(b) of this section by
Page 4, Line 10indicating on the electronic voter registration form or record
Page 4, Line 11created by the secretary of state pursuant to section 1-2-202.5
Page 4, Line 12that they are a first responder and requesting that the address
Page 4, Line 13information in their registration records be kept confidential pursuant to this subsection (3.7).
Page 4, Line 14(II) The secretary of state shall ensure that the
Page 4, Line 15electronic voter registration form and an elector's voter
Page 4, Line 16registration record created pursuant to section 1-2-202.5
Page 4, Line 17include a place for a first responder to indicate that they are a
Page 4, Line 18first responder and request that the address information in
Page 4, Line 19their voter registration records be kept confidential pursuant to subsection (3.7)(b) of this section.
Page 4, Line 20(III) The secretary of state shall ensure that when a first
Page 4, Line 21responder indicates on their voter registration form or record
Page 4, Line 22that they are a first responder and request that the address
Page 5, Line 1information in their voter registration records be kept
Page 5, Line 2confidential, the first responder is automatically directed to
Page 5, Line 3an electronic application form developed by the secretary of
Page 5, Line 4state. The electronic application form shall provide space for
Page 5, Line 5the first responder to provide their name, address, date of birth,
Page 5, Line 6and any other identifying information determined by the
Page 5, Line 7secretary of state to be necessary to carry out this subsection
Page 5, Line 8(3.7). In addition, the form shall include an affirmation in the
Page 5, Line 9area immediately above a line for the first responder's
Page 5, Line 10signature and the date, stating the following: "I swear or
Page 5, Line 11affirm, under penalty of perjury, that I am or have been a first
Page 5, Line 12responder or am or have been the spouse of a first responder and
Page 5, Line 13am eligible to have my address kept confidential pursuant to
Page 5, Line 14section 24-72-204 (3.7), C.R.S." Immediately below the signature
Page 5, Line 15line, there shall be printed a notice, in a type that is larger than
Page 5, Line 16the other information contained on the form, that the
Page 5, Line 17individual may be prosecuted for perjury in the second degree
Page 5, Line 18under section 18-8-503 if the individual signs such affirmation
Page 5, Line 19but is not a first responder. The secretary of state shall ensure
Page 5, Line 20that a first responder may electronically sign the application form.
Page 5, Line 21(IV) The secretary of state shall provide a copy of each
Page 5, Line 22completed application to the clerk and recorder of the county
Page 5, Line 23where the first responder is registered to vote for purposes of the records maintained by the county clerk and recorder.
Page 5, Line 24(V) The secretary of state shall not charge a processing
Page 5, Line 25fee or any other fee in connection with a first responder's request for confidentiality pursuant to this subsection (3.7).
Page 6, Line 1(d) The custodian of any record specified in subsection
Page 6, Line 2(3.7)(b) of this section that concerns a first responder who has
Page 6, Line 3made a request for confidentiality pursuant to this subsection
Page 6, Line 4(3.7) shall deny the right of inspection of the first responder's
Page 6, Line 5address contained in the record on the ground that disclosure would be contrary to the public interest.
Page 6, Line 6(e) Any request for confidentiality made pursuant to this
Page 6, Line 7subsection (3.7) is confidential and is not open to inspection as a
Page 6, Line 8public record unless a written release is executed by the first responder who made the request.
Page 6, Line 9SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 6, Line 10takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
Page 6, Line 11ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
Page 6, Line 12that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V
Page 6, Line 13of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this
Page 6, Line 14act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take
Page 6, Line 15effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
Page 6, Line 16November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.