HB26-1318 • 2026

Traffic Safety Near Schools

The bill defines school zones as all roadways within at least 1,000 feet of a school property boundary , except state highways without the written approval of the Colorado department of transportation

Education

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Rep. M. Froelich, Rep. K. Nguyen, Sen. L. Cutter, Rep. A. Boesenecker, Rep. K. Brown, Rep. M. Duran, Rep. L. Goldstein, Rep. E. Hamrick, Rep. J. Joseph, Rep. M. Lindsay, Rep. M. Rutinel, Rep. R. Stewart, Rep. T. Story, Rep. J. Willford
Last action: 2026-04-06
Official status: Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Transportation & Energy
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details about how local governments must manage traffic safety measures beyond defining zones.

Traffic Safety Near Schools

This bill defines school zones as roadways within at least 1,000 feet of a school's property boundary and sets rules for local governments to manage traffic safety around schools.

What This Bill Does

Defines 'school zone' as all roadways within at least 1,000 feet of a school's property line, except state highways without approval from the Colorado Department of Transportation.
Allows local governments to reduce or expand school zones after holding public hearings and posting signs indicating boundaries.
Limits requirements for placing automated vehicle identification systems along safe routes to schools.
Permits local governments to designate parts of roadways near schools as 'school streets' where vehicles may be restricted, with a maximum speed limit of 10 miles per hour.

Who It Names or Affects

Local governments that manage traffic around schools
Drivers near schools
Pedestrians, bicyclists, and micromobility users near schools

Terms To Know

School zone: An area within at least 1,000 feet of a school's property boundary where traffic rules apply.
Automated vehicle identification system: A system that detects traffic violations and can be used to monitor speed limits near schools.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how state highways will be included in school zones without approval from the Colorado Department of Transportation.
It is unclear what specific measures local governments must take when expanding or reducing school zones beyond 200 feet.

Amendments

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

L.001

HOU Transportation, Housing & Local Government

Passed [*]

Plain English: The amendment adds new rules for school zones and introduces the concept of 'school streets' near schools, setting specific speed limits and traffic regulations.

Defines state highways as not included in a school zone unless approved by the Colorado Department of Transportation.
Allows local governments to reduce or increase the size of school zones with certain conditions.
Introduces new provisions for 'school streets' near schools, setting speed limits and traffic rules.

The amendment includes technical legal language that may be difficult to fully explain without additional context.

L.002

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: The amendment removes specific sections from the bill related to defining school zones near schools.

Removes lines 20 through 27 on page 2 of the printed bill, which contain details about how school zones are defined.
Eliminates all content on page 3 of the bill.

The amendment does not provide new text to replace what is being removed, so it's unclear what specific changes or deletions this will make beyond removing sections.
Without seeing the original lines and page contents, we cannot explain exactly what information is being taken out.

L.003

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes how school zones are defined by focusing on areas immediately around schools or marked crossings instead of all roadways within a certain distance.

Changes the definition of school zones from including all roadways within at least 1,000 feet of a school property boundary to only those areas immediately adjacent to a school's grounds or marked school crossing as designated by local government or the Department of Transportation.

The amendment text does not specify how far 'immediately adjacent' is from a school, which could leave some uncertainty about the exact boundaries of school zones.
It is unclear if this change will affect existing regulations on state highways without written approval from the Colorado Department of Transportation.

L.004

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to the bill that restricts how data from automated vehicle identification systems can be used and maintained.

Adds a new clause (9) after existing clauses, which states that data collected by an automated vehicle identification system cannot be sold or used for any purpose other than traffic enforcement.
Specifies that such data must follow law enforcement data standards when processed and maintained.

The amendment does not provide details on what specific types of data are covered under the automated vehicle identification systems.

L.005

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: The amendment adds a new requirement for local governments to review automated traffic enforcement violations in school zones before issuing notices.

Adds a new section (9) that requires local governments to have a sworn peace officer review any violation detected by an automated system in a school zone or along a safe route to school before sending out a notice of violation.

The amendment does not specify what happens if the peace officer does not review the violation, leaving some uncertainty about enforcement procedures.

Bill History

2026-04-06 Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Transportation & Energy
2026-04-02 House
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
2026-03-31 House
House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
2026-03-30 House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
2026-03-27 House
House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
2026-03-24 House
House Committee on Transportation, Housing & Local Government Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
2026-03-04 House
Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation, Housing & Local Government

Official Summary Text

The bill defines school zones as all roadways within at least 1,000 feet of a school property boundary
, except state highways without the written approval of the Colorado department of transportation.

The bill allows a local government that has jurisdiction over a school zone to reduce the size of a school zone after first holding a public hearing but does not allow a school zone to be reduced to less than 200 feet from a school property boundary. Additionally, the bill allows local governments to expand school zones to beyond 1,000 feet from a school property boundary.
The bill limits requirements the state, a county, a city and county, or a municipality must complete regarding placing and using an automated vehicle identification system along a safe route to school.
The bill allows a local government to designate a portion of a roadway immediately adjacent to a school property boundary as a school street. The local government may close a school street to traffic. If there is traffic on the school street, the maximum speed limit is 10 miles per hour and vehicles shall yield the right-of-way to, and the local government may suspend additional traffic provisions on the school street that endanger, pedestrians, bicyclists, or micromobility users.
(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
REENGROSSED
This Version Includes All Amendments
Adopted in the House of Introduction
LLS NO. 26-0852.01 Ken Fowler x2372 HOUSE BILL 26-1318
House Committees Senate Committees
Transportation, Housing & Local Government
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING TRAFFIC SAFETY NEAR SCHOOLS.101
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 defines "school zones" as all roadways within at least
1,000 feet of a school property boundary and adds and modifies
additional corresponding definitions. The bill limits requirements the
state, a county, a city and county, or a municipality must complete
regarding placing and using an automated vehicle identification system
along a safe route to school.
HOUSE
3rd Reading Unamended
April 2, 2026
HOUSE
Amended 2nd Reading
March 30, 2026
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Nguyen and Froelich, Boesenecker, Brown, Duran, Goldstein, Hamrick, Joseph, Lindsay,
Rutinel, Stewart R., Story, Willford
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Cutter,
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. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 42-4-615, amend (2);2
and add (4) and (5) as follows:3
42-4-615. School zones - increase in penalties for moving4
traffic violations.5
(2) (a) For the purposes of AS USED IN this section, "school zone"6
means an area that is designated as a school zone and has ALL ROADWAYS7
WITHIN AT LEAST ONE THOUSAND FEET OF A SCHOOL PROPERTY8
BOUNDARY; EXCEPT THAT:9
(I) STATE HIGHWAYS, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 42-4-110.5, ARE NOT10
INCLUDED IN A SCHOOL ZONE UNLESS DESIGNATED AS PART OF A SCHOOL11
ZONE BY THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OR BY A12
COUNTY, CITY AND COUNTY , OR MUNICIPALITY WITH THE WRITTEN13
APPROVAL OF THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION;14
(II) A SCHOOL ZONE THAT EXISTS ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS15
SUBSECTION (2), AS AMENDED, THAT EXTENDS TO BETWEEN TWO16
HUNDRED FEET AND ONE THOUSAND FEET FROM A SCHOOL PROPERTY17
BOUNDARY IS THE SCHOOL ZONE FOR THAT SCHOOL PROPERTY; AND18
(III) IF A COUNTY, CITY AND COUNTY, OR MUNICIPALITY THAT HAS19
JURISDICTION OVER A SCHOOL ZONE REDUCES THE SIZE OF THE SCHOOL20
ZONE PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (4) OF THIS SECTION, THEN ONLY THE21
REDUCED SCHOOL ZONE IS THE SCHOOL ZONE FOR THAT SCHOOL22
PROPERTY.23
(b) A SCHOOL ZONE MUST HAVE appropriate signs posted24
indicating THE BOUNDARIES OF THE SCHOOL ZONE AND INDICATING that25
the penalties and surcharges WITHIN A SCHOOL ZONE will be doubled. The26
state or local government having jurisdiction over the placement of traffic27
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signs and traffic control devices in the A school zone area shall designate1
when the area will be deemed to be a school zone for the purposes of this2
section, In making such designation, the state or local government shall3
consider when increased penalties are necessary to protect the safety of4
school children WHICH, EXCEPT IF REDUCED AS PERMITTED IN SUBSECTION5
(4) OF THIS SECTION, MUST INCLUDE ALL ROADWAYS WITHIN ONE6
THOUSAND FEET OF THE SCHOOL PROPERTY BOUNDARY AND SHALL POST7
THE SIGNS REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION. 8
(4) A COUNTY, CITY AND COUNTY, OR MUNICIPALITY THAT HAS9
JURISDICTION OVER A SCHOOL ZONE MAY REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE SCHOOL10
ZONE TO EXTEND TO LESS THAN ONE THOUSAND FEET FROM A SCHOOL11
PROPERTY BOUNDARY BUT SHALL NOT REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE SCHOOL12
ZONE TO LESS THAN TWO HUNDRED FEET FROM A SCHOOL PROPERTY13
BOUNDARY. A COUNTY, CITY AND COUNTY, OR MUNICIPALITY SHALL NOT 14
REDUCE THE SIZE OF A SCHOOL ZONE WITHOUT FIRST HOLDING A PUBLIC15
HEARING.16
(5) N OTHING IN THIS SECTION PROHIBITS A COUNTY , CITY AND17
COUNTY, OR MUNICIPALITY FROM INCREASING THE SIZE OF A SCHOOL ZONE18
TO LARGER THAN ONE THOUSAND FEET FROM A SCHOOL PROPERTY19
BOUNDARY OR, IN COLLABORATION WITH A LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD, FROM20
RAISING REVENUE THROUGH BONDING TO FINANCE INCREASED SCHOOL21
ZONE SIGNAGE. 22
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 42-4-110.5, amend23
(1.1)(a)(II) and (2)(g)(III); and add (1.1)(a.5) as follows:24
42-4-110.5. Automated vehicle identification systems - school25
buses - safe route to school - exceptions to liability - penalty -26
contracting - limits on use of photographs and video - rules -27
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legislative declaration - definitions.1
(1.1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise2
requires:3
(a) (II) "Automated vehicle identification system" includes a4
system used to detect a violation of part 11 of this article 4 or a local5
speed ordinance; a system used to detect violations of traffic restrictions6
imposed by traffic signals or traffic signs; a system used to detect the7
overtaking of a stopped school bus with actuated visual signal lights in8
violation of section 42-4-1903 (1)(a); A SYSTEM USED TO DETECT A9
MOVING TRAFFIC VIOLATION IN A SCHOOL ZONE OR ALONG A SAFE ROUTE10
TO SCHOOL; and a system used to detect violations of bus lane or bicycle11
lane restrictions.12
(a.5) "S AFE ROUTE TO SCHOOL " MEANS A ROADWAY THAT IS13
FREQUENTED BY PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS ON THEIR WAY TO OR FROM14
A NEARBY SCHOOL THAT A COUNTY , A CITY AND C OUNTY, OR A15
MUNICIPALITY DESIGNATES TO INCREASE PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLIST16
SAFETY.17
(2) A county, city and county, or municipality may adopt an18
ordinance authorizing the use of an automated vehicle identification19
system to detect violations of traffic regulations adopted by the county,20
city and county, or municipality, or the state, a county, a city and county,21
or a municipality may utilize an automated vehicle identification system22
to detect traffic violations under state law, subject to the following23
conditions and limitations and, as applicable, the requirements for state24
highways set fo rth in and any rules adopted by the department of25
transportation pursuant to subsection (2.5) of this section:26
(g) (III) This subsection (2)(g) does not apply to an automated27
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vehicle identification system designed to detect disobedience to a traffic1
control signal, or the overtaking of a school bus with actuated visual2
signal lights, OR A MOVING VIOLATION ALONG A SAFE ROUTE TO SCHOOL 3
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 42-4-119 as4
follows:5
42-4-119. Establishment of a school street - speed limit -6
definition.7
(1) AS USED IN THIS SECTION, "SCHOOL STREET" MEANS A PORTION8
OF A ROADWAY IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO A SCHOOL PROPERTY9
BOUNDARY THAT IS DESIGNATED AS A SCHOOL STREET.10
(2) A COUNTY, CITY AND COUNTY, OR MUNICIPALITY MAY11
DESIGNATE A ROADWAY AS A SCHOOL STREET ; EXCEPT THAT A STATE12
HIGHWAY, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 42-4-110.5, MUST NOT BE DESIGNATED13
AS A SCHOOL STREET, UNLESS DESIGNATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION14
42-4-615 (2).15
(3) A COUNTY, CITY AND COUNTY, OR MUNICIPALITY SHALL NOT16
DESIGNATE A ROADWAY THAT DIRECTLY CONNECTS TO A STATE HIGHWAY17
AS A SCHOOL STREET WITHOUT THE WRITTEN APPROVAL OF THE18
COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.19
(4) A COUNTY, CITY AND COUNTY , OR MUNICIPALITY THAT20
DESIGNATES A ROADWAY AS A SCHOOL STREET MAY CLOSE THE SCHOOL21
STREET TO VEHICLES.22
(5) A LL VEHICLES TRAVELING ALONG A SCHOOL STREET SHALL23
YIELD THE RIGHT -OF-WAY TO A PEDESTRIAN , BICYCLIST , OR24
MICROMOBILITY USER. A BICYCLIST OR OPERATOR OF A MICROMOBILITY25
DEVICE SHALL YIELD THE RIGHT-OF-WAY TO A PEDESTRIAN ON A SCHOOL26
STREET.27
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(6) A STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAVING JURISDICTION OVER1
THE PLACEMENT OF TRAFFIC SIGNS AND TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES ON A2
SCHOOL STREET SHALL POST CONSPICUOUS TRAFFIC SIGNS INDICATING AN3
AREA DESIGNATED AS A SCHOOL STREET AS A SCHOOL STREET.4
(7) THE MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT ON A SCHOOL STREET IS TEN MILES5
PER HOUR. A STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAVING JURISDICTION OVER6
THE PLACEMENT OF TRAFFIC SIGNS SHALL POST SPEED LIMIT SIGNS ON A7
SCHOOL STREET.8
(8) SECTIONS 42-4-801, 42-4-803, AND 42-4-805 (1) AND ( 2) DO9
NOT APPLY TO SCHOOL STREETS.10
(9) A COUNTY, CITY AND COUNTY, OR MUNICIPALITY THAT11
DESIGNATES A ROADWAY AS A SCHOOL STREET MAY SUSPEND ADDITIONAL12
TRAFFIC PROVISIONS ON THE SCHOOL STREET THAT ENDANGER13
PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS, OR MICROMOBILITY USERS AND FRUSTRATE14
EASE OF PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE MOVEMENT.15
SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act16
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the17
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly18
(August 12, 2026, if adj ournment sine die is on May 13, 2026); except19
that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article20
V of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of21
this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not22
take effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be23
held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of24
the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.25
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