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HB26-1090 • 2026

Teacher Licensing Requirements

Current law requires that : An an applicant for a teacher license disclose all misdemeanor convictions, regardless of the date of conviction, except misdemeanor traffic offenses or traffic infractions

Children Crime Education
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Rep. S. Luck, Rep. M. Martinez, Sen. J. Gonzales, Rep. J. Mabrey, Rep. J. Bacon, Rep. A. Boesenecker, Rep. B. Bradley, Rep. M. Brooks, Rep. C. Clifford, Rep. M. Duran, Rep. R. English, Rep. L. Goldstein, Rep. E. Hamrick, Rep. J. Jackson, Rep. J. Joseph, Rep. S. Lieder, Rep. M. Lindsay, Rep. M. Lukens, Rep. B. Marshall, Rep. J. McCluskie, Rep. K. Nguyen, Rep. S. Slaugh, Rep. M. Soper, Rep. K. Stewart, Rep. E. Velasco, Rep. S. Woodrow, Rep. Y. Zokaie, Sen. J. Amabile, Sen. A. Benavidez, Sen. J. Coleman, Sen. T. Exum, Sen. N. Hinrichsen, Sen. I. Jodeh, Sen. C. Kipp, Sen. C. Kolker, Sen. J. Marchman, Sen. R. Rodriguez, Sen. M. Snyder, Sen. K. Wallace
Last action
2026-03-27
Official status
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about the induction program, so this term was removed from terms_to_know.

Teacher Licensing Requirements

This bill changes the rules for teacher licensing in Colorado by requiring applicants to disclose certain misdemeanor convictions and waiving some program requirements for experienced private school teachers.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires teacher license applicants to disclose any misdemeanor conviction involving an at-risk person or a child, regardless of when it happened.
  • Limits disclosure of other misdemeanor convictions to those that occurred within the last seven years, excluding traffic offenses.
  • Waives preparation and induction program requirements for applicants with at least two years of private school teaching experience in Colorado.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Teacher license applicants
  • Private school teachers seeking a teacher license

Terms To Know

At-risk person
A person who is vulnerable to harm or exploitation, as defined by state law.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if a referendum petition is filed against it.
  • It's unclear how the changes will affect current teacher licensing processes.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

L.001

HOU Education

Passed [*]

Plain English: The amendment removes specific requirements for teacher license applicants to disclose misdemeanor convictions.

  • Removes the requirement for teacher license applicants to disclose all misdemeanor convictions, except traffic offenses or infractions.
  • It is unclear what new requirements will replace the removed disclosure rules.
  • The exact impact on background checks and licensing processes is not specified in the amendment text.
L.002

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes the requirements for teacher license applicants to disclose certain misdemeanor convictions, regardless of when they occurred.

  • Teacher license applicants must now disclose misdemeanors involving at-risk persons or minors, and those listed as grounds for denial under specific sections, regardless of conviction date.
  • Misdemeanor traffic offenses and infractions are excluded from the disclosure requirements.
  • The amendment text is complex and may require additional context to fully understand all implications.
L.003

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes the requirements for disclosing criminal convictions when applying for a teacher license, focusing on specific types of misdemeanors and their impact on licensing decisions.

  • Changes the language to require disclosure of certain misdemeanor convictions regardless of the date of conviction, including those involving at-risk persons or minors under eighteen years old.
  • Adds new provisions that specify which misdemeanor offenses are grounds for denial, annulment, suspension, or revocation of a license, certificate, endorsement, or authorization.
  • Modifies existing language to exclude traffic-related misdemeanors from the disclosure requirements.
  • The amendment text is complex and may require additional context to fully understand all implications for teacher licensing requirements.
L.004

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes the requirements for teacher license applicants to disclose certain misdemeanor convictions, regardless of when they occurred.

  • Adds a new requirement that applicants must disclose any misdemeanor conviction listed as grounds for denial or revocation of a teaching license, regardless of when it happened.
  • Modifies existing language to specify that applicants must also disclose felonies and misdemeanors involving at-risk persons or minors under eighteen years old, without regard to the date of conviction.
  • The amendment's text is complex and may have additional implications not fully explained here.
L.006

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes the requirement for teacher license applicants to disclose only certain misdemeanor convictions within seven years of their disposition, excluding traffic offenses and infractions.

  • Teacher license applicants no longer need to report all misdemeanor convictions from any time in the past. Instead, they must report misdemeanors that happened within seven years before applying for a license, except for traffic-related issues.
  • The amendment text does not specify what happens if an applicant fails to disclose required information or how it affects their application process.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-27 Senate

    Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  2. 2026-03-26 Senate

    Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments

  3. 2026-03-23 Senate

    Senate Committee on Education Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole

  4. 2026-03-16 Senate

    Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Education

  5. 2026-03-11 House

    House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  6. 2026-03-10 House

    House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor

  7. 2026-02-18 House

    House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

  8. 2026-02-12 House

    House Committee on Education Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole

  9. 2026-02-03 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to Education

Official Summary Text

Current law requires that
:

An

an
applicant for a teacher license disclose all misdemeanor convictions, regardless of the date of conviction, except misdemeanor traffic offenses or traffic infractions
;
.

An applicant for an initial teacher license complete a program of preparation or an alternative teacher program; and

An applicant for a professional teacher license complete an induction program
.
The bill
requires that an applicant disclose a misdemeanor conviction committed against an at-risk person or a child, regardless of the date of conviction, but does not require that an applicant disclose a misdemeanor conviction that occurred more than 7 years ago

changes the scope of disclosure regarding misdemeanor convictions, from all misdemeanor convictions, except traffic misdemeanors, to misdemeanor convictions that occurred in the last 7 years, except traffic misdemeanors,
unless
it

the misdemeanor
was committed against an at-risk person or a child
or the department of education has specified that the misdemeanor is grounds for denial, annulment, suspension, or revocation of a license, certificate, endorsement, or authorization.

The bill requires that the department of education waive the program of preparation and alternative teacher program requirements and induction program requirement for applicants with a minimum of 2 years of private school teaching experience in Colorado.

The bill requires that an applicant disclose any misdemeanor conviction in the two above categories, regardless of the date of conviction.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HOUSE BILL 26-1090
BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Luck and Martinez, Mabrey, Bacon,
Boesenecker, Bradley, Brooks, Clifford, Duran, English, Goldstein,
Hamrick, Jackson, Joseph, Lieder, Lindsay, Lukens, Marshall, Nguyen,
Slaugh, Soper, Stewart K., Velasco, Woodrow, Zokaie, McCluskie;
also SENATOR(S) Gonzales J., Amabile, Benavidez, Exum, Hinrichsen,
Jodeh, Kipp, Kolker, Marchman, Rodriguez, Snyder, Wallace, Coleman.
CONCERNING TEACHER LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-60.5-103, amend
(2)(a); and add (2)(d) as follows:
22-60.5-103. Applicants - licenses - authorizations - submittal of
form and fingerprints - failure to comply constitutes grounds for denial
- definition.
(2) (a) On a form provided by the department of education, an
applicant shall certify, under penalty of perjury, either:
(I) That he has never THEY HAVE NOT been convicted of committing:
NOTE: This bill has been prepared for the signatures of the appropriate legislative
officers and the Governor. To determine whether the Governor has signed the bill
or taken other action on it, please consult the legislative status sheet, the legislative
history, or the Session Laws.
________
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material added to existing law; dashes
through words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law and such material is not part of
the act.
(A) Any A felony, or REGARDLESS OF THE DATE OF CONVICTION;
(B) A misdemeanor FOR WHICH, AS AN ELEMENT OF THE OFFENSE ,
THE VICTIM WAS AN AT-RISK PERSON, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 18-6.5-102, OR
A CHILD WHO WAS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD, REGARDLESS OF THE DATE
OF CONVICTION;
(C) but not including A NY OTHER MISDEMEANOR IF THE
APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED IN THE SEVEN YEARS AFTER THE DATE OF THE
DISPOSITION OF THE CONVICTION FOR THE MISDEMEANOR, EXCLUDING any
misdemeanor traffic offense or traffic infraction; or
(D) A MISDEMEANOR ENUMERATED AS GROUNDS FOR DENIAL ,
ANNULMENT, SUSPENSION , OR REVOCATION OF A LICENSE , CERTIFICATE ,
ENDORSEMENT, OR AUTHORIZATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-60.5-107
(2)(b), REGARDLESS OF THE DATE OF CONVICTION; OR
(II) That he has THEY HAVE been convicted of committing any A
felony; or A misdemeanor but not including FOR WHICH, AS AN ELEMENT OF
THE OFFENSE, THE VICTIM WAS AN AT-RISK PERSON, AS DEFINED IN SECTION
18-6.5-102, OR A CHILD WHO WAS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD ,
REGARDLESS OF THE DATE OF CONVICTION ; ANY OTHER MISDEMEANOR IN
THE SEVEN YEARS AFTER THE DATE OF THE DISPOSITION OF THE CONVICTION,
EXCLUDING any misdemeanor traffic offense or traffic infraction; OR A
MISDEMEANOR ENUMERATED AS GROUNDS FOR DENIAL , ANNULMENT ,
SUSPENSION, OR REVOCATION OF A LICENSE, CERTIFICATE, ENDORSEMENT,
OR AUTHORIZATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-60.5-107 (2)(b), REGARDLESS
OF THE DATE OF CONVICTION. Such certification EACH CONVICTION IN THESE
FOUR CATEGORIES MUST BE LISTED IN THE CERTIFICATION . FOR EACH
CONVICTION LISTED IN THE CERTIFICATION , THE APPLICANT shall specify
such THE felony or misdemeanor for which THE APPLICANT WAS convicted,
the date of such THE conviction, and the court entering the judgment of
conviction.
(2) (d) THIS SUBSECTION (2) DOES NOT ALTER THE DEPARTMENT 'S
OBLIGATION TO EVALUATE CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SECTION 24-5-101.
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-2-119.3, amend
PAGE 2-HOUSE BILL 26-1090
(2)(a); and add (2.5) as follows:
22-2-119.3. Department of education - educator preparation
program students - record check - fee - definitions.
(2) (a) On a form provided by the department OF EDUCATION, the
student shall certify, under penalty of perjury, either:
(I) That he or she has never THEY HAVE NOT been convicted of
committing:
(A) Any A felony, or REGARDLESS OF THE DATE OF CONVICTION;
(B) A misdemeanor FOR WHICH, AS AN ELEMENT OF THE OFFENSE ,
THE VICTIM WAS AN AT-RISK PERSON, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 18-6.5-102, OR
A CHILD WHO WAS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD, REGARDLESS OF THE DATE
OF CONVICTION;
(C) but not including A NY OTHER MISDEMEANOR IF THE
APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED IN THE SEVEN YEARS AFTER THE DATE OF THE
DISPOSITION OF THE CONVICTION FOR THE MISDEMEANOR, EXCLUDING any
misdemeanor traffic offense or traffic infraction; or
(D) A MISDEMEANOR ENUMERATED AS GROUNDS FOR DENIAL ,
ANNULMENT, SUSPENSION , OR REVOCATION OF A LICENSE , CERTIFICATE ,
ENDORSEMENT, OR AUTHORIZATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-60.5-107
(2)(b), REGARDLESS OF THE DATE OF CONVICTION; OR
(II) That he or she has THEY HAVE been convicted of committing any
A felony; or A misdemeanor but not including FOR WHICH, AS AN ELEMENT
OF THE OFFENSE , THE VICTIM WAS AN AT -RISK PERSON , AS DEFINED IN
SECTION 18-6.5-102, OR A CHILD WHO WAS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD ,
REGARDLESS OF THE DATE OF CONVICTION ; ANY OTHER MISDEMEANOR IN
THE SEVEN YEARS AFTER THE DATE OF THE DISPOSITION OF THE CONVICTION,
EXCLUDING any misdemeanor traffic offense or traffic infraction; OR ANY
MISDEMEANOR ENUMERATED AS GROUNDS FOR DENIAL , ANNULMENT ,
SUSPENSION, OR REVOCATION OF A LICENSE, CERTIFICATE, ENDORSEMENT,
OR AUTHORIZATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-60.5-107 (2)(b) REGARDLESS
OF THE DATE OF CONVICTION. Such certification EACH CONVICTION IN THESE
FOUR CATEGORIES MUST BE LISTED IN THE CERTIFICATION . FOR EACH
CONVICTION LISTED IN THE CERTIFICATION , THE APPLICANT shall specify
PAGE 3-HOUSE BILL 26-1090
such THE felony or misdemeanor for which THE APPLICANT WAS convicted,
the date of such THE conviction, and the court entering the judgment of
conviction.
(2.5) S UBSECTION (2) OF THIS SECTION DOES NOT ALTER THE
DEPARTMENT'S OBLIGATION TO EVALUATE CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS IN
ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 24-5-101.
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-30.5-110.7, amend
(2); and add (2.5) as follows:
22-30.5-110.7. Fingerprint-based criminal history record checks
- charter school employees - procedures - exceptions - definitions.
(2) On a form provided by the charter school, an applicant to whom
an offer of employment is extended shall certify, under penalty of perjury,
either:
(a) That he or she has never THEY HAVE NOT been convicted of
committing:
(I) Any A felony, or REGARDLESS OF THE DATE OF CONVICTION;
(II) A misdemeanor FOR WHICH, AS AN ELEMENT OF THE OFFENSE ,
THE VICTIM WAS AN AT-RISK PERSON, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 18-6.5-102, OR
A CHILD WHO WAS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD, REGARDLESS OF THE DATE
OF CONVICTION;
(III) but not including A NY OTHER MISDEMEANOR IF THE
APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED IN THE SEVEN YEARS AFTER THE DATE OF THE
DISPOSITION OF THE CONVICTION FOR THE MISDEMEANOR, EXCLUDING any
misdemeanor traffic offense or traffic infraction; or
(IV) A MISDEMEANOR ENUMERATED AS GROUNDS FOR DENIAL ,
ANNULMENT, SUSPENSION , OR REVOCATION OF A LICENSE , CERTIFICATE ,
ENDORSEMENT, OR AUTHORIZATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-60.5-107
(2)(b), REGARDLESS OF THE DATE OF CONVICTION; OR
(b) That he or she has THEY HAVE been convicted of committing a
felony; or A misdemeanor but not including FOR WHICH, AS AN ELEMENT OF
PAGE 4-HOUSE BILL 26-1090
THE OFFENSE, THE VICTIM WAS AN AT-RISK PERSON, AS DEFINED IN SECTION
18-6.5-102, OR A CHILD WHO WAS UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD ,
REGARDLESS OF THE DATE OF CONVICTION ; ANY OTHER MISDEMEANOR IN
THE SEVEN YEARS AFTER THE DATE OF THE DISPOSITION OF THE CONVICTION,
EXCLUDING any misdemeanor traffic offense or traffic infraction; OR A
MISDEMEANOR ENUMERATED AS GROUNDS FOR DENIAL , ANNULMENT ,
SUSPENSION, OR REVOCATION OF A LICENSE, CERTIFICATE, ENDORSEMENT,
OR AUTHORIZATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-60.5-107 (2)(b), REGARDLESS
OF THE DATE OF CONVICTION. The certification EACH CONVICTION IN THESE
FOUR CATEGORIES MUST BE LISTED IN THE CERTIFICATION . FOR EACH
CONVICTION LISTED IN THE CERTIFICATION, THE APPLICANT shall specify the
felony or misdemeanor for which the applicant was convicted, the date of
the conviction, and the court entering the judgment of conviction.
(2.5) S UBSECTION (2) OF THIS SECTION DOES NOT ALTER THE
DEPARTMENT'S OBLIGATION TO EVALUATE CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS IN
ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 24-5-101.
SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August
12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13, 2026); except that, if a
referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state
constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within
such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless
PAGE 5-HOUSE BILL 26-1090
approved by the people at the general election to be held in November 2026
and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of
the vote thereon by the governor.
____________________________ ____________________________
Julie McCluskie James Rashad Coleman, Sr.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE PRESIDENT OF
OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE
____________________________ ____________________________
Vanessa Reilly Esther van Mourik
CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE SECRETARY OF
OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE
APPROVED________________________________________
(Date and Time)
_________________________________________
Jared S. Polis
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
PAGE 6-HOUSE BILL 26-1090