A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning a firearm serial number check, and, in
Page 1, Line 102connection therewith, creating a standardized
Page 1, Line 103procedure for a federal firearms licensee to request
Page 1, Line 104a firearm serial number check and imposing a penalty
Page 1, Line 105under certain circumstances if a licensee does not file
Page 1, Line 106a report with law enforcement.
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 establishes a procedure allowing a federal firearms licensee to request a firearm serial number check prior to purchasing a firearm from an individual and requires a local county sheriff's office to complete the serial number check within 72 hours after the request. The bill imposes a penalty on a licensee if a licensee fails to file a report with law enforcement when the licensee reasonably believes, knows or should know, or becomes aware that a person sold or attempted to sell a firearm that is stolen, lost, or involved in an open criminal investigation.
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 29-11.7-105 as follows:
Page 2, Line 329-11.7-105. Firearm serial number check - procedure -
Page 2, Line 4processing fee - penalty. (1) (a) A federal firearms licensee, as
Page 2, Line 5described in section 18-12-101, may request a firearm serial
Page 2, Line 6number check from the sheriff's office of the county in which the
Page 2, Line 7licensee maintains their federally licensed place of business prior to purchasing a firearm from an individual.
Page 2, Line 8(b) Upon request by a federal firearms licensee, a sheriff's
Page 2, Line 9office shall perform the firearm serial number check and
Page 2, Line 10respond with the result of the check to the licensee within seventy-two hours after the request.
Page 2, Line 11(c) The firearm serial number check must include, at a
Page 2, Line 12minimum, information regarding whether the gun is reported stolen, lost, or is involved in an open criminal investigation.
Page 2, Line 13(d) A sheriff's office shall establish a reasonable and
Page 2, Line 14uniform system to receive a firearm serial number check request and provide a response to a requesting licensee.
Page 2, Line 15(2) (a) A sheriff's office may charge a fee to perform the
Page 2, Line 16firearm serial number check. The fee amount must reflect the
Page 2, Line 17actual and indirect costs to the sheriff's office of performing the firearm serial number check.
Page 3, Line 1(b) If a sheriff's office does not perform the firearm serial
Page 3, Line 2number check and provide a response to the licensee within
Page 3, Line 3seventy-two hours after the request, the sheriff's office shall
Page 3, Line 4refund, or shall not charge, the licensee for the firearm serial number check.
Page 3, Line 5(3) Each sheriff's office shall begin providing firearm serial number checks no later than July 1, 2026.
Page 3, Line 6(4) (a) If a firearms dealer who holds a state permit to
Page 3, Line 7deal firearms pursuant to section 18-12-401.5 reasonably
Page 3, Line 8believes, knows or should know, or becomes aware that a person
Page 3, Line 9sold or attempted to sell a firearm that is stolen, lost, or
Page 3, Line 10involved in an open criminal investigation, the dealer shall
Page 3, Line 11report that information to a law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the dealer's place of business.
Page 3, Line 12(b) Failure to make the report as required by this
Page 3, Line 13subsection (4) within forty-eight hours after the dealer
Page 3, Line 14reasonably believes, knows or should know, or becomes aware
Page 3, Line 15of the firearm being stolen, lost, or involved in an open criminal
Page 3, Line 16investigation is subject to the penalties described in section 18-12-401.5 (7).
Page 3, Line 17SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 18-12-401.5, amend (7)(a) introductory portion as follows:
Page 3, Line 1818-12-401.5. Permit required - issuing agency - cash fund -
Page 3, Line 19inspections - penalty - report - rules - repeal. (7) (a) Except as
Page 3, Line 20provided in subsection (8) of this section, if the department finds that a
Page 3, Line 21dealer failed to post the required notice or make a report concerning
Page 4, Line 1unlawful purchases in violation of section 18-12-111; failed to make a
Page 4, Line 2record required pursuant to section 18-12-402; transferred a firearm
Page 4, Line 3without a locking device or failed to post the required notice concerning
Page 4, Line 4locking devices, in violation of section 18-12-405; failed to comply with
Page 4, Line 5any of the requirements of section 18-12-406; failed to comply with
Page 4, Line 6any of the requirements of section 29-11.7-105 (4); violated any
Page 4, Line 7other provision of this article 12 or any other state or local law concerning
Page 4, Line 8the sale of firearms; or violated any federal law or rule concerning the
Page 4, Line 9sale of firearms or firearm components for which the penalty includes
Page 4, Line 10potential revocation of the person's federal firearms license, the department shall:
Page 4, Line 11SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 4, Line 12takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
Page 4, Line 13ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except
Page 4, Line 14that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V
Page 4, Line 15of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this
Page 4, Line 16act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take
Page 4, Line 17effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
Page 4, Line 18November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.