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SB26-018 • 2026

Legal Protections for Dignity of Minors

Beginning July 1, 2026, if a petitioner is under 18 years old at the time of filing a petition seeking to change the petitioner's name, the bill requires the court to suppress a record associated with

Children Crime Healthcare Housing Parental Rights
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Sen. C. Kolker, Sen. K. Wallace, Rep. M. Froelich, Rep. L. García, Sen. N. Hinrichsen, Sen. I. Jodeh, Sen. C. Kipp, Sen. M. Weissman, Rep. J. Bacon, Rep. A. Boesenecker, Rep. K. Brown, Rep. S. Camacho, Rep. M. Carter, Rep. M. Duran, Rep. L. Gilchrist, Rep. J. Joseph, Rep. M. Lindsay, Rep. M. Martinez, Rep. K. McCormick, Rep. K. Nguyen, Rep. A. Paschal, Rep. G. Rydin, Rep. E. Sirota, Rep. L. Smith, Rep. T. Story, Rep. B. Titone, Rep. A. Valdez, Rep. E. Velasco, Rep. J. Willford, Rep. S. Woodrow, Rep. Y. Zokaie
Last action
2026-04-08
Official status
Sent to the Governor
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on how the bill will be enforced regarding considerations of a child's identity in decisions about parenting time and decision-making responsibility.

Legal Protections for Dignity of Minors

This bill requires courts to suppress records related to name changes for minors under 18 years old, unless the minor has been convicted of a felony.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the court to suppress a record when a minor under 18 years old files a petition to change their name, unless they have been convicted of a felony.
  • Allows the court to use suppressed records for administrative purposes but prohibits publishing the petitioner's names online.
  • Exempts minors from having to give public notice if they are changing their name.
  • Permits individuals to access suppressed records with verbal consent and an affidavit stating this consent was given.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Minors under the age of 18 who want to change their name
  • Courts handling petitions for minors' name changes
  • Individuals seeking access to suppressed court records

Terms To Know

Suppressed Court Record
A record that is only accessible to judges, court staff, parties involved in the case and their attorneys, authorized judicial department staff, and individuals with a valid affidavit or court order.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if a minor under 18 has been convicted of a felony.
  • It is unclear how courts will enforce the requirement to consider a child's identity in decisions about parenting time and decision-making responsibility.

Amendments

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

S.001

Committee of the Whole

Lost

Plain English: The amendment changes the requirement for minors to get their parents' or legal guardians' consent when filing a petition to change their name.

  • Adds a new rule that requires minors to have their parents' or legal guardians' permission before they can file a petition to change their name.
  • The amendment text is incomplete and does not provide full details about the original line being replaced, making it hard to explain all aspects of the change.
L.001

SEN Judiciary

Passed [*]

Plain English: The amendment changes Colorado law to allow minors under 18 years old to change their name without having to give public notice, which was previously required.

  • Adds a new section (3.5) in the Colorado Revised Statutes that allows petitioners under 18 years of age to file for a name change without giving public notice as required by existing law.
  • The amendment text does not specify all details about how this change will be implemented or enforced, such as specific procedures or exceptions.
L.002

SEN Judiciary

Passed [*]

Plain English: The amendment changes the bill to start applying its rules for minors changing their names on July 1, 2026, and adds a provision allowing people who filed such petitions before that date to still have their records suppressed.

  • Changes the effective date of the bill's provisions for minors from immediately upon enactment to beginning July 1, 2026.
  • Adds an exception allowing individuals who petitioned to change their name before July 1, 2026, to still have their records suppressed if they request it.
  • The amendment text does not provide details on how the court will handle requests for suppression of records filed before July 1, 2026, beyond stating that such requests shall be granted.
L.003

SEN Judiciary

Passed [*]

Plain English: The amendment changes the wording in a bill to require courts to grant, rather than issue an order authorizing, certain actions when dealing with minors who want to change their names.

  • Changes the phrase 'ISSUE AN ORDER AUTHORIZING' to 'GRANT'.
  • The amendment does not provide further details on what specific records or actions are being granted, which limits a full understanding of its implications.
L.005

SEN Judiciary

Passed [*]

Plain English: The amendment removes specific sections from the bill related to name changes for minors and makes a minor change to the title of the bill.

  • Removes lines 9 through 27 on page 3, which contain details about suppressing records associated with minors seeking to change their names.
  • Eliminates all content on page 4.
  • Strikes lines 1 through 9 on page 5, removing further details related to the suppression of records for minor name changes.
  • Makes a small edit by changing 'NAME AND' to just 'NAME.' in the title.
  • The amendment does not provide new text or information about what will replace the removed sections, so it's unclear how the bill will address these issues after the changes.
  • Without the full context of the original bill and the purpose behind removing certain sections, some aspects of this amendment may be hard to fully understand.
L.006

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes the wording in a section of the bill to add 'OR AFFIDAVIT' after 'ORDER', and it also replaces 'SUBSECTION (1)' with 'SUBSECTION (7)(b)(I)'.

  • Adds 'OR AFFIDAVIT' after 'ORDER' on page 2, line 9 of the bill.
  • Replaces 'SUBSECTION (1)' with 'SUBSECTION (7)(b)(I)' in the Judiciary Committee Report.
  • The amendment text does not explain what these changes mean or how they will affect the bill's requirements for minors seeking to change their name.
L.007

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes the requirement for minors to get their parents' or legal guardians' consent when filing a petition to change their name.

  • Adds that if a minor files a petition to change their name, they must have the consent of their parents or legal guardians.
  • The amendment text is incomplete and does not provide full context about what happens after obtaining parental consent.
L.010

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: The amendment removes a specific section of the bill that deals with court records for minors under 18 who file name change petitions.

  • Removes lines from the bill that require courts to suppress certain records when a minor under 18 files a petition to change their name.
  • The amendment text does not provide details about what specific records would be suppressed or why they are being removed, making it hard to understand the full impact of this change.
L.011

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes the bill so that a court must suppress a minor's record only if there is a specific safety risk to the minor, such as domestic abuse or human trafficking.

  • Changes the condition under which a court must suppress a minor's record from automatic suppression to requiring proof of a documented safety risk.
  • The amendment does not specify what constitutes 'specific, documented safety risks,' leaving some uncertainty about how courts will interpret this requirement.
L.014

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes when a bill about protecting minors' dignity in name change petitions becomes effective.

  • Changes the effective date of the bill to August 13, 2026, unless a referendum petition is filed against it within ninety days after final adjournment of the general assembly.
  • The exact impact and details of the amendment are limited by incomplete information in the provided text.
L.015

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes the conditions under which a court must suppress records for minors seeking to change their name.

  • Adds new condition (A) that requires suppression if 'the name' is involved.
  • Adds new condition (B) requiring suppression if the minor was adjudicated for certain offenses.
  • The amendment text does not specify all details about how these conditions will be applied or enforced, which may lead to some uncertainty in implementation.
L.018

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes the date when certain legal protections for minors seeking to change their names will take effect from July 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027.

  • Changes the start date of the bill's provisions from July 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027.
L.019

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: The amendment adds a requirement for minors under 18 to get written and notarized consent from both parents when filing a name change petition, with an exception if one parent's parental rights have been terminated.

  • Requires minors under 18 to include written and notarized consent from both parents in their name change petition.
  • Allows for the requirement of only one parent’s consent if the court finds clear evidence that the other parent has had their parental rights terminated.
  • The amendment text does not specify what happens if a minor cannot obtain consent from either parent or if both parents refuse to give consent.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect existing name change processes for minors under the current law.
L.020

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: The amendment adds a requirement for minors to get written and notarized consent from both parents when filing a name change petition, with an exception if one parent's parental rights have been terminated.

  • Adds the need for written and notarized consent of both parents when a minor files a name change petition.
  • Allows for the requirement to be met by only one parent’s consent if the court finds clear evidence that the other parent has had their parental rights terminated.
  • The amendment text does not specify what happens if neither parent consents or is available, leaving some uncertainty about how such cases would be handled.
L.021

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: The amendment adds a religious exemption to the bill, allowing religious organizations and camps to access suppressed or sealed records when necessary for identifying participants.

  • Adds new section 13-15-103 in Colorado Revised Statutes that allows religious entities to obtain court orders for accessing suppressed or sealed records if needed for identification purposes related to enrollment, supervision, housing, safety, medical care, parental communication, and compliance with the entity's policies.
  • Modifies the title of the bill to include an exemption for religious camps and overnight facilities.
  • The exact limits on further disclosure after accessing records are not specified in the amendment text.
L.022

Second Reading

Lost [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes the requirement for a petitioner under 18 years old to file a name change petition by replacing 'A' with 'AN ADULT'.

  • Replaces the word 'A' with 'AN ADULT' in the bill text.
  • This change implies that an adult must be involved when a minor files for a name change.
  • The amendment's text is incomplete and does not provide full context, making it unclear how exactly this change will affect minors seeking to change their names.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 Governor

    Sent to the Governor

  2. 2026-04-07 House

    Signed by the Speaker of the House

  3. 2026-04-07 Senate

    Signed by the President of the Senate

  4. 2026-04-02 House

    House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  5. 2026-04-01 House

    House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments

  6. 2026-03-30 House

    House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

  7. 2026-03-25 House

    House Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole

  8. 2026-02-25 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary

  9. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  10. 2026-02-23 Senate

    Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor

  11. 2026-02-18 Senate

    Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole

  12. 2026-01-14 Senate

    Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary

Official Summary Text

Beginning July 1, 2026, if a petitioner is under 18 years old at the time of filing a petition seeking to change the petitioner's name,
the bill requires the court to suppress
a record associated with a petition seeking to change the name of a petitioner who is less than 18 years of age

the record
unless the petitioner was previously convicted of a felony. The bill authorizes the court to use the suppressed court record for administrative purposes, but the court is prohibited from publishing the petitioner's name or the petitioner's new name online.
A petitioner who is under 18 years old is not required to give public notice of the name change.
The bill authorizes an individual to access a suppressed court record without a court order if the individual obtains verbal consent from a party to the case and submits an affidavit to the court, upon penalty of perjury, that the individual has obtained the verbal consent.

In determining parenting time and the allocation of decision-making responsibility, the bill requires the court to consider whether the parties recognize the child's identity as it relates to a protected class.
(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 
SENATE BILL 26-018
BY SENATOR(S) Wallace and Kolker, Hinrichsen, Jodeh, Kipp,
Weissman;
also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Froelich and Garcia, Bacon, Boesenecker,
Brown, Camacho, Carter, Duran, Gilchrist, Joseph, Lindsay, Martinez,
McCormick, Nguyen, Paschal, Rydin, Sirota, Smith, Story, Titone, Valdez,
Velasco, Willford, Woodrow, Zokaie.
CONCERNING LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR THE DIGNITY OF A MINOR , AND, IN
CONNECTION THEREWITH , SUPPRESSING A COURT RECORD
ASSOCIATED WITH CHANGING A MINOR'S NAME.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 13-15-101, add (7) as
follows:
13-15-101. Petition - proceedings - applicability - definition.
(7) (a) A S USED IN THIS SUBSECTION (7), "SUPPRESSED COURT
RECORD" MEANS A COURT RECORD THAT IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE TO JUDGES ;
COURT STAFF ; A PARTY TO THE CASE , INCLUDING A PARTY 'S ATTORNEY ;
AUTHORIZED JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT STAFF ; AND AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A
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.
VALID COURT ORDER OR AFFIDAVIT AUTHORIZING ACCESS TO THE COURT
RECORD.
(b) (I) BEGINNING JULY 1, 2026, IF A PETITIONER IS UNDER EIGHTEEN
YEARS OLD AT THE TIME OF FILING THE PETITION , A COURT RECORD
ASSOCIATED WITH A PETITION SEEKING TO CHANGE THE PETITIONER'S NAME
IS A SUPPRESSED COURT RECORD. NOTWITHSTANDING SECTION 13-15-102,
THE SUPPRESSED COURT RECORD MAY BE USED BY THE COURT FOR
ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSES, BUT THE COURT SHALL NOT UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCE PUBLISH THE PETITIONER'S NAME OR THE PETITIONER'S NEW
NAME ONLINE.
(II) THIS SUBSECTION (7)(b) DOES NOT APPLY IF THE NAME CHANGE
IS GRANTED PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (3) OF THIS SECTION AND THE GOOD
CAUSE DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (3)(b)(II) OF THIS SECTION APPLIES.
(III) NOTWITHSTANDING SUBSECTION (7)(b)(I) OF THIS SECTION, IF
A PERSON PETITIONS THE COURT TO SUPPRESS A COURT RECORD ASSOCIATED
WITH A PETITION TO CHANGE THE PETITIONER'S NAME THAT IS FILED BEFORE
JULY 1, 2026, THE COURT SHALL GRANT THE REQUEST AND ORDER THE
RECORDS SUPPRESSED.
(c) A COURT SHALL GRANT AN INDIVIDUAL ACCESS TO A SUPPRESSED
COURT RECORD IF THE INDIVIDUAL OBTAINS VERBAL CONSENT FROM A
PARTY TO THE CASE AND SUBMITS AN AFFIDAVIT TO THE COURT, UNDER
PENALTY OF PERJURY , THAT THE INDIVIDUAL HAS OBTAINED THE VERBAL
CONSENT.
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 13-15-102, add (3.5)
as follows:
13-15-102. Publication of change.
(3.5) A PETITIONER IS NOT REQUIRED TO GIVE PUBLIC NOTICE OF A
NAME CHANGE AS REQUIRED BY SUBSECTION (1) OF THIS SECTION IF THE
PETITION IS BEING FILED BY , OR ON BEHALF OF , A PERSON WHO IS UNDER
EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD.
SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
PAGE 2-SENATE BILL 26-018
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state
institutions.
____________________________ ____________________________
James Rashad Coleman, Sr. Julie McCluskie
PRESIDENT OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES
____________________________ ____________________________
Esther van Mourik Vanessa Reilly
SECRETARY OF CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APPROVED________________________________________
(Date and Time)
_________________________________________
Jared S. Polis
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
PAGE 3-SENATE BILL 26-018