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HB26-1302 • 2026

Colorado Bureau of Investigation Firearms InstaCheck Unit Operating Hours

In current law, the Colorado bureau of investigation (bureau) must remain open 12 hours a day, every calendar day except Christmas and Thanksgiving, to transmit requests for a background check to the

Firearms
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Rep. A. Boesenecker, Rep. M. Duran, Sen. C. Kipp, Rep. J. Bacon, Rep. K. Brown, Rep. S. Camacho, Rep. M. Froelich, Rep. J. Jackson, Rep. J. Joseph, Rep. M. Lindsay, Rep. J. McCluskie, Rep. K. Nguyen, Rep. S. Woodrow
Last action
2026-04-13
Official status
Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on how much cost savings or efficiency improvements will be achieved.

Colorado Bureau of Investigation's Firearm Background Check Hours

This bill allows the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to set its own operating hours for firearm background checks based on business needs, while still ensuring timely processing and reporting.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the CBI to determine its own hours of operation that best meet its business needs instead of being required to operate 12 hours a day every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas.
  • Requires the CBI to immediately place background check requests in the processing queue, regardless of waiting time requirements.
  • Requires the CBI to accept background check requests every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas, notwithstanding unforeseen system outages.
  • Requires the CBI to submit an annual report detailing background check processing times, operating hours changes, system outages, and steps taken to improve efficiency.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will have more flexibility in setting its operating hours for firearm background checks.
  • Firearm purchasers and licensed gun dealers who need background checks processed by the CBI.

Terms To Know

National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)
A system used to instantly check if a person is eligible to buy or receive firearms under federal law.
Background Check
An investigation into someone's criminal history and other factors before allowing them to purchase or possess a firearm.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact hours that the CBI will operate, as this is left up to the bureau.
  • It remains unclear how much cost savings and efficiency improvements will result from more flexible operating hours.
  • If a referendum petition is filed against this act within 90 days of its passage, it may not take effect until approved by voters in November.

Amendments

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

L.002

HOU State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs

Passed [*]

Plain English: The amendment changes the operating hours for background check requests at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, requiring immediate processing during business hours and allowing submissions from 9 AM to 9 PM every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas.

  • Adds a new section (7)(c) that requires the bureau to process background check requests immediately during its business hours.
  • Specifies that background checks can be submitted from 9 AM to 9 PM daily, excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas.
  • The exact impact on waiting times for background checks is not specified in the amendment text.
L.003

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes the way firearm background checks are processed by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, removing time restrictions and ensuring requests are placed in a processing queue.

  • Removes the requirement for the bureau to process background check requests only during business hours.
  • Eliminates specific timing requirements for initiating background checks from 9 AM until 9 PM.
  • Clarifies that the three-day waiting period for delivering firearms starts when a licensed gun dealer initiates a background check.
  • The exact operational changes and staffing implications of processing requests outside business hours are not detailed in the amendment text.
L.004

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes the days when the Colorado Bureau of Investigation Firearms InstaCheck Unit can be closed from just Thanksgiving and Christmas to include Easter as well.

  • Adds Easter Day to the list of holidays when the unit is allowed to close.
  • The amendment does not specify any other changes beyond adding Easter Day to the closure days.
L.005

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes the operating hours of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation's Firearms InstaCheck Unit from a minimum of 12 hours per day to 24 hours per day.

  • Changes the required operating hours for background checks from at least 9 AM to 9 PM every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas to 24 hours a day.
L.006

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: The amendment removes a clause that allowed the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to remain closed during unforeseen background check system outages.

  • Removes language allowing the bureau to close due to unexpected technical issues with the background check system.
  • It is unclear how often such outages occur and what impact this change will have on operational continuity during technical difficulties.
L.007

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes the operating hours of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation's Firearms InstaCheck Unit and adds conditions for when certain parts of the law will be repealed.

  • Changes the bureau's open hours to 9 AM to 9 PM every day except Easter, Christmas, and Thanksgiving.
  • Adds a condition under which subsection (7)(b)(IV)(A) is repealed and subsection (7)(d) takes effect if a court rules that section 18-12-115 is unconstitutional.
  • The exact impact of the repeal and replacement conditions is unclear without knowing the content of section 18-12-115 and subsection (7)(b)(IV)(A).
L.013

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes the reason for determining operating hours of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation's Firearms InstaCheck Unit from 'business needs' to 'consumer needs'.

  • Changes the criteria for setting operating hours from what is needed by the bureau (its business needs) to what is needed by consumers.
  • The amendment does not specify how consumer needs will be determined or if there are any limits on how much the unit must operate based on these new criteria.
L.015

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: The amendment requires the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to submit an annual report detailing background check processing times, changes in operating hours, system outages, and steps taken to improve access and efficiency.

  • Adds a new requirement for the Bureau to submit an annual report by January 15th each year.
  • The report must include details on average background check processing times, significant changes to operating hours, system outages or disruptions, and measures taken to enhance access and efficiency.
  • The amendment does not specify the format or length of the annual report.
L.016

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes the operating hours of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation's Firearms InstaCheck Unit and adds conditions for future legal changes.

  • Expands the unit's operating hours to be open from 9 AM to 9 PM every day except Easter, Christmas, and Thanksgiving.
  • Adds a condition that if a court rules a specific section of law unconstitutional, certain parts of the current law will be repealed and new subsections (7)(e) and (7)(f) will take effect.
  • The exact impact of the legal changes mentioned in the amendment is unclear without knowing more about Section 18-12-115 and its potential unconstitutionality.
  • Details on how the repeal and new subsections (7)(e) and (7)(f) will be implemented are not fully explained.
L.017

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes the Colorado Bureau of Investigation's Firearms InstaCheck Unit operating hours requirements and adds a requirement to notify the public about any changes to these hours.

  • Adds a new section (7)(e) requiring the bureau to inform the public about changes to its business hours for firearm transfer background checks at least twenty-four hours before those changes take effect.
  • The amendment text does not specify how or through what channels the public will be notified of these changes, which could affect how effectively people receive this information.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-13 Senate

    Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments

  2. 2026-04-10 Senate

    Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 04/13/2026 - No Amendments

  3. 2026-04-07 Senate

    Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole

  4. 2026-04-02 Senate

    Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs

  5. 2026-04-02 House

    House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  6. 2026-03-30 House

    House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

  7. 2026-03-27 House

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

  8. 2026-03-26 House

    House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

  9. 2026-03-23 House

    House Committee on State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole

  10. 2026-02-26 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs

Official Summary Text

In current law, the Colorado bureau of investigation (bureau) must remain open 12 hours a day, every calendar day except Christmas and Thanksgiving, to transmit requests for a background check to the national instant criminal background check system and search other databases. The bill allows the bureau to determine its own hours of operation that best meet its business needs.
The bill requires the bureau to immediately place in the processing queue a request for a background check and accept requests for a background check every calendar day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Additionally, the bill requires the bureau to submit a report every year to the house of representatives judiciary committee and the senate judiciary committee describing background check processing times, operating hours, system outages, and actions taken by the bureau to improve efficiency.
(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 
Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REVISED
This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted
on Second Reading in the Second House
LLS NO. 26-0840.01 Ken Fowler x2372 HOUSE BILL 26-1302
House Committees Senate Committees
State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs State, Veterans, & Military Affairs
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING THE COLORADO BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION'S FIREARMS101
BACKGROUND CHECK OPERATING HOURS.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.)
In current law, the Colorado bureau of investigation (bureau) must
remain open 12 hours a day, every calendar day except Christmas and
Thanksgiving, to transmit requests for a background check to the national
instant criminal background check system and search other databases.
The bill allows the bureau to determine its own hours of operation that
best meet its business needs.
SENATE
2nd Reading Unamended
April 13, 2026
HOUSE
3rd Reading Unamended
April 2, 2026
HOUSE
Amended 2nd Reading
March 27, 2026
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Duran and Boesenecker, Bacon, Brown, Camacho, Froelich, Jackson, Joseph, Lindsay,
McCluskie, Nguyen, Woodrow
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Kipp,
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.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly2
finds and declares that:3
(a) The Colorado bureau of investigation, or CBI, is currently4
mandated to provide background check services at least 12 hours a day5
every day of the year, excluding Thanksgiving day and Christmas day;6
(b) The current background check business hours requirement was7
established when firearm transfers could occur immediately upon8
approval of a background check;9
(c) House Bill 23-1219, enacted in 2023, implemented a 3-day10
waiting period for firearm transfers, which has reduced CBI's need to11
provide immediate background check services; and12
(d) Allowing CBI to flex its operational hours based on business13
needs will enable CBI to staff its background check services more14
strategically, streamline its processes, and reduce costs by eliminating15
unnecessary employee shifts, all while continuing to provide timely16
background check services.17
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-424, amend18
(7)(b) introductory portion, (7)(b)(IV) introductory portion, and19
(7)(b)(IV)(A); and add (7)(c) and (7)(d) as follows:20
24-33.5-424. National instant criminal background check21
system - state point of contact - fee - grounds for denial of firearm22
transfer - appeal - rule-making - unlawful acts - instant criminal23
background check cash fund - creation.24
(7) (b) The rules adopted pursuant to paragraph (a) of this25
subsection (7) shall SUBSECTION (7)(a) OF THIS SECTION MUST include, but26
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need not be limited to:1
(IV) Procedures for carrying out the duties under REQUIRED2
PURSUANT TO this section, including, at a minimum:3
(A) That the bureau shall be IS open for business at least twelve4
hours per day every calendar day, except Christmas day and Thanksgiving5
day, DURING HOURS THAT BEST MEET THE BUSINESS NEEDS OF THE BUREAU6
in order to TIMELY transmit the requests for a background check to the7
NICS system and search other databases. THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU,8
OR THEIR DESIGNEE, SHALL CONTINUOUSLY REVIEW THE BUSINESS NEEDS9
STATISTICS OF THE BUREAU'S UNIT THAT CONDUCTS FIREARM TRANSFER10
BACKGROUND CHECKS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION AND DETERMINE11
HOURS OF OPERATION THAT BEST MEET THE BUSINESS NEEDS OF THE12
BUREAU.13
(c) THE BUREAU SHALL IMMEDIATELY PLACE IN THE PROCESSING14
QUEUE A REQUEST FOR A BACKGROUND CHECK PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION15
(3)(a) OF THIS SECTION, REGARDLESS OF WAITING TIME REQUIREMENTS16
ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-12-115. THE BUREAU SHALL17
ALLOW THE SUBMISSION OF A BACKGROUND CHECK REQUEST EVERY DAY18
OF THE YEAR EXCEPT THANKSGIVING DAY AND CHRISTMAS DAY,19
NOTWITHSTANDING UNFORESEEN AND UNAVOIDABLE BACKGROUND20
CHECK SYSTEM OUTAGES. PURSUANT TO SECTION 18-12-115 (1)(a)(I), THE21
THREE-DAY WAITING PERIOD TO DELIVER A FIREARM TO A PURCHASER22
BEGINS WHEN A LICENSED GUN DEALER INITIATES A BACKGROUND CHECK23
OF THE PURCHASER.24
(d) ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 15 OF EACH YEAR, THE BUREAU SHALL25
SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUDICIARY26
COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, OR THEIR27
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SUCCESSOR COMMITTEES, DETAILING:1
(I) AVERAGE BACKGROUND CHECK PROCESSING TIMES;2
(II) ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO OPERATING HOURS;3
(III) SYSTEM OUTAGES OR DISRUPTIONS THAT RESULTED IN THE4
BUREAU'S INABILITY TO HAVE SUBMISSIONS ACCEPTED; AND5
(IV) STEPS TAKEN TO IMPROVE ACCESS AND EFFICIENCY.6
SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act7
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the8
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August9
12, 2026, if adj ournment sine die is on May 13, 2026); except that, if a10
referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the11
state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act12
within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect13
unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in14
November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the15
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.16
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