KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Colorado

HB26-1127 • 2026

Reporting After Fatal Car Crash

The act repeals the requirement for coroners, or other officials performing like functions, to report to the department of transportation (department) deaths resulting from traffic accidents on a mont

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Rep. J. Joseph, Rep. M. Rutinel, Sen. D. Roberts, Rep. J. Bacon, Rep. A. Boesenecker, Rep. S. Camacho, Rep. M. Duran, Rep. R. English, Rep. M. Froelich, Rep. L. García, Rep. S. Lieder, Rep. M. Lindsay, Rep. B. Marshall, Rep. K. Nguyen, Rep. A. Valdez, Sen. M. Ball, Sen. A. Benavidez, Sen. J. Coleman, Sen. L. Cutter, Sen. T. Exum, Sen. J. Gonzales, Sen. N. Hinrichsen, Sen. I. Jodeh, Sen. C. Kipp, Sen. B. Kirkmeyer, Sen. C. Kolker, Sen. W. Lindstedt, Sen. L. Liston, Sen. J. Marchman, Sen. K. Mullica, Sen. B. Pelton, Sen. M. Snyder, Sen. K. Wallace, Sen. M. Weissman
Last action
2026-05-04
Official status
Governor Signed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

HB26-1127: Changes How Fatal Car Crashes Are Reported

This law stops coroners from sending monthly death reports to the Department of Transportation and instead requires them to send toxicology results every three months.

What This Bill Does

  • Removes the rule that required coroners to report traffic accident deaths on a monthly basis.
  • Requires coroners to send all available toxicology test results for people who died in car crashes.
  • Sets a deadline of the last business day of each quarter for submitting these new reports.
  • Asks law enforcement officers to submit an updated crash report within five days if someone dies from injuries up to 30 days after the accident.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Coroners and other officials who perform similar duties
  • Law enforcement officers who investigate or are notified of crashes
  • The Department of Transportation

Terms To Know

Toxicology results
Test findings that show if drugs, alcohol, or other substances were in a person's body.
Quarter of the calendar year
A three-month period used for reporting deadlines (January-March, April-June, July-September, October-December).

Limits and Unknowns

  • The official text does not list a specific date when this law takes effect.
  • The summary does not explain what happens if reports are submitted late or contain missing information.

Amendments

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

L.004

SEN Transportation & Energy

Passed [*]

Plain English: This amendment updates the law to require police officers to submit a new report if someone dies within thirty days after being injured in a car crash.

  • Police must file an updated accident report with the Department of Transportation if a person involved in a crash dies within 30 days from their injuries.
  • The officer who originally handled or was notified about the crash has five days to submit this new report after learning about the death.
  • This amendment only changes how police officers must handle reports; it does not change rules for coroners mentioned in the original bill title.
  • The text uses both 'accident' and 'crash,' but this appears to be a stylistic update rather than a legal difference.
L.005

SEN Transportation & Energy

Passed [*]

Plain English: This amendment limits the Department of Transportation to only asking for personal details about people who died in car crashes if those details are needed to follow federal rules.

  • The bill now says the Department of Transportation can only request specific identifying information about a deceased person.
  • The amendment text does not list exactly which pieces of personal information are allowed or what happens if the department asks for too much.
  • It is unclear from this short text how often these reports must be sent to meet federal requirements.
L.002

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: This amendment adds a rule stating that coroners do not have to order or pay for extra drug and alcohol tests just because they are reporting fatal car crashes.

  • Coroners will not be forced to run new toxicology tests if those tests would not normally happen as part of their regular job duties.
  • This amendment was voted down and did not pass, so it does not change the law.
  • The text only mentions coroners and does not explain how other officials performing similar jobs are affected by this specific rule.
L.003

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: This amendment limits the personal information that officials must include in reports about deaths from traffic accidents to only what is needed for federal rules.

  • Officials reporting fatal car crashes can no longer share all available details about the deceased person.
  • The amendment does not list exactly which specific pieces of information are allowed or banned, only that they must be necessary for federal requirements.
  • It is unclear how officials will decide what counts as 'necessary' without more detailed rules from the state.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-04 Governor

    Governor Signed

  2. 2026-04-23 Governor

    Sent to the Governor

  3. 2026-04-22 Senate

    Signed by the President of the Senate

  4. 2026-04-22 House

    Signed by the Speaker of the House

  5. 2026-04-02 House

    House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass

  6. 2026-04-01 House

    House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily

  7. 2026-03-31 Senate

    Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  8. 2026-03-30 Senate

    Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee

  9. 2026-03-25 Senate

    Senate Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole

  10. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Transportation & Energy

  11. 2026-03-05 House

    House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  12. 2026-03-04 House

    House Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor

  13. 2026-03-04 House

    House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee

  14. 2026-03-04 House

    House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Floor

  15. 2026-03-02 House

    House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

  16. 2026-02-25 House

    House Committee on Transportation, Housing & Local Government Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole

  17. 2026-02-04 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation, Housing & Local Government

Official Summary Text

The act repeals the requirement for coroners, or other officials performing like functions, to report to the department of transportation (department) deaths resulting from traffic accidents on a monthly basis. The act requires coroners, or other officials performing like functions, to report all available toxicology results to the department for each deceased party who has died as a result of a motor vehicle crash. The report must be submitted by the final business day of each quarter of the calendar year.
If a participant in a crash dies within 30 days as a result of a crash, the act requires the law enforcement officer who was notified of, or investigated, the crash to submit an amended report to the department within five days after receiving a notification of the death.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)