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HB26-1227 • 2026

Minors' Rights in Dependency & Neglect Proceedings

Current law states that a child or youth named in a petition related to dependency and neglect proceedings is a party to the proceedings and has a right to attend and fully participate in all hearings

Children Parental Rights
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Rep. M. Bradfield, Rep. L. Gilchrist, Sen. K. Mullica
Last action
2026-03-04
Official status
House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to Appropriations
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how guardians ad litem or counsel for youth should articulate a basis for adjudication if the minor objects to dismissal.

Minors' Rights in Dependency & Neglect Proceedings

This bill affirms that minors involved in dependency and neglect cases have the right to attend and fully participate in all hearings, including appeals, and can object to the dismissal of a petition before an adjudicatory hearing.

What This Bill Does

  • Confirms that minors named in dependency or neglect petitions are parties to the proceedings with full rights to attend and participate in all related hearings.
  • Ensures minors have legal standing regarding matters affecting their interests throughout the process, including appeals.
  • Requires guardians ad litem or counsel for youth to represent minors' interests fully during proceedings.
  • Gives minors the right to a court determination on dependency or neglect if they object to the dismissal of a petition before an adjudicatory hearing.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Children and youth involved in dependency and neglect cases
  • Guardians ad litem and counsel for youth representing minors

Terms To Know

guardian ad litem
A person appointed by the court to represent a minor's interests in legal proceedings.
counsel for youth
Legal representation provided specifically for minors involved in dependency and neglect cases.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how guardians ad litem or counsel for youth should articulate a basis for adjudication if the minor objects to dismissal.
  • It is unclear what happens if a minor cannot articulate a basis upon which adjudication can be granted when objecting to dismissal.

Amendments

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

L.001

HOU Health & Human Services

Passed [*]

Plain English: The amendment changes the law to require a hearing before a judicial officer if someone representing the child or youth objects to dismissing a case related to dependency and neglect.

  • Adds that a hearing must be held by a judge if the legal guardian or lawyer for the child disagrees with ending the case.
  • The amendment text does not specify what happens after the hearing, so it's unclear how the decision will affect the case.
L.002

HOU Health & Human Services

Passed [*]

Plain English: The amendment changes when a new law about minors' rights in dependency and neglect proceedings will take effect.

  • Removes lines from page 3 of the bill that were previously set to determine the effective date of the act.
  • Adds new language on page 4 specifying that the act will take effect after a ninety-day period following the end of the general assembly, unless there is a referendum petition filed against it.
  • The exact details about what was removed from page 3 are not provided in the amendment text.
  • It's unclear how specific parts of the act might be affected if only certain sections face a referendum.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-04 House

    House Committee on Health & Human Services Refer Amended to Appropriations

  2. 2026-02-18 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to Health & Human Services

Official Summary Text

Current law states that a child or youth named in a petition related to dependency and neglect proceedings is a party to the proceedings and has a right to attend and fully participate in all hearings related to the case. The bill affirms that as a party to the proceedings, the child or youth has legal standing regarding all matters related to the child's or youth's interests and the right to have the child's or youth's interests fully represented by the guardian ad litem or counsel for youth throughout the proceedings, including appeals.
Once a petition is filed, ordered, or authorized for a dependency and neglect proceeding, if a county department of human or social services seeks dismissal of the petition prior to the adjudicatory hearing and the child or youth, through the child's or youth's guardian ad litem or counsel for youth, objects to the dismissal, the child has a right to a determination by the court as to whether the child or youth is dependent or neglected.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED

LLS NO. 26-0441.01 Shelby Ross x4510 HOUSE BILL 26-1227
House Committees Senate Committees
Health & Human Services
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING AFFIRMING THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN101
DEPENDENCY AND NEGLECT PROCEEDINGS.102
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.)
Current law states that a child or youth named in a petition related
to dependency and neglect proceedings is a party to the proceedings and
has a right to attend and fully participate in all hearings related to the
case. The bill affirms that as a party to the proceedings, the child or youth
has legal standing regarding all matters related to the child's or youth's
interests and the right to have the child's or youth's interests fully
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Gilchrist and Bradfield,
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Mullica,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
represented by the guardian ad litem or counsel for youth throughout the
proceedings, including appeals.
Once a petition is filed, ordered, or authorized for a dependency
and neglect proceed ing, if a county department of human or social
services seeks dismissal of the petition prior to the adjudicatory hearing
and the child or youth, through the child's or youth's guardian ad litem or
counsel for youth, objects to the dismissal, the child has a right to a
determination by the court as to whether the child or youth is dependent
or neglected.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 19-3-502, amend2
(4.5); and add (4.7) as follows:3
19-3-502. Petition form and content - limitations on claims in4
dependency or neglect actions.5
(4.5) A child OR YOUTH named in the petition shall be a party to6
the proceedings and have the right to attend and fully participate in all7
hearings related to the child's OR YOUTH 'S case. A S A PARTY TO THE8
PROCEEDINGS, A CHILD OR YOUTH HAS LEGAL STANDING REGARDING ALL9
MATTERS RELATED TO THE CHILD'S OR YOUTH'S INTERESTS AND THE RIGHT10
TO HAVE THE CHILD'S OR YOUTH'S INTERESTS FULLY REPRESENTED BY THE11
GUARDIAN AD LITEM OR COUNSEL FOR YOUTH THROUGHOUT THE12
PROCEEDINGS, INCLUDING APPEALS. The child's OR YOUTH'S guardian ad13
litem or counsel for youth shall provide developmentally appropriate14
notice to the child OR YOUTH of all hearings related to the child's OR15
YOUTH'S case.16
(4.7) (a) O NCE A PETITION HAS BEEN FILED , ORDERED , OR17
AUTHORIZED, IF A COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN OR SOCIAL SERVICES18
SEEKS DISMISSAL OF THE PETITION PRIOR TO THE ADJUDICATORY HEARING19
AND THE CHILD OR YOUTH, THROUGH THE CHILD'S OR YOUTH'S GUARDIAN20
HB26-1227-2-
AD LITEM OR COUNSEL FOR YOUTH, OBJECTS TO THE DISMISSAL, THE CHILD1
OR YOUTH HAS A RIGHT TO PURSUE A DETERMINATION BY THE COURT AS2
TO WHETHER THE CHILD OR YOUTH IS DEPENDENT OR NEGLECTED, UNLESS3
THE CHILD OR YOUTH, THROUGH THE CHILD'S OR YOUTH'S GUARDIAN AD4
LITEM OR COUNSEL FOR YOUTH , CANNOT ARTICULATE A BASIS UPON5
WHICH ADJUDICATION CAN BE GRANTED.6
(b) THIS SUBSECTION (4.7) DOES NOT LIMIT A PARENT'S RIGHT TO7
DEMAND A JURY TRIAL PURSUANT TO SECTION 19-3-202.8
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 19-3-203, amend (6)9
as follows:10
19-3-203. Right to guardian ad litem and counsel for youth.11
(6) A person appointed to serve as counsel for youth pursuant to12
this section shall comply with the Colorado rules of professional conduct,13
provisions set forth in a chief justice directive concerning the court14
appointment of counsel for youth in this title 19, and subsequent chief15
justice directives or practice standards established by rule or directive of16
the chief justice pursuant to section 13-91-105 concerning the duties and17
responsibilities of a guardian ad litem and counsel for youth in legal18
matters affecting children or youth. Counsel for youth shall ensure that19
the child or youth has representation through pending appeals20
PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THE PROCEEDINGS TO THE DEGREE NECESSARY TO21
REPRESENT THE YOUTH, INCLUDING APPEALING MATTERS TO THE COURT22
OF APPEALS OR THE SUPREME COURT.23
SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,24
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate25
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for26
HB26-1227-3-
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state1
institutions.2
HB26-1227-4-