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SB26-026 • 2026

Weight for Vehicles with Child Restraint System

As it relates to child restraint system requirements, current law defines a "motor vehicle" to include certain passenger vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 10,000 pounds. Th

Children
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Sen. M. Catlin, Sen. K. Mullica, Rep. S. Lieder, Rep. T. Winter, Sen. S. Bright, Sen. J. Coleman, Sen. L. Daugherty, Sen. T. Exum, Sen. L. Frizell, Sen. I. Jodeh, Sen. B. Kirkmeyer, Sen. L. Liston, Sen. B. Pelton, Sen. D. Roberts, Sen. M. Snyder, Rep. J. Bacon, Rep. C. Barron, Rep. A. Boesenecker, Rep. J. Caldwell, Rep. M. Duran, Rep. L. Goldstein, Rep. D. Johnson, Rep. J. Joseph, Rep. R. Keltie, Rep. K. Nguyen, Rep. J. Phillips, Rep. M. Rutinel, Rep. R. Taggart, Rep. R. Weinberg
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 specific details on enforcement and public awareness impacts.

Increasing Gross Vehicle Weight for Child Restraint Systems

This bill changes the definition of 'motor vehicle' to include passenger vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating under 16,000 pounds when it comes to child restraint system requirements.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law so that passenger vehicles weighing less than 16,000 pounds must use child restraint systems.
  • Expands the types of vehicles covered by child safety seat laws.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Parents and caregivers who transport children in vehicles under 16,000 pounds.
  • Manufacturers of child restraint systems.
  • Law enforcement officers enforcing traffic laws.

Terms To Know

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
The maximum weight that a vehicle can safely carry, including the weight of the vehicle itself and all passengers, cargo, and fuel.
Child Restraint System
A safety device like a car seat or booster seat designed to protect children in case of a crash.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if there is a referendum against it.
  • It's unclear how this change will affect enforcement and public awareness.

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 Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

  6. 2026-03-31 House

    House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments

  7. 2026-03-30 House

    House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

  8. 2026-03-25 House

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

  9. 2026-03-03 House

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

  10. 2026-03-03 Senate

    Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  11. 2026-03-02 Senate

    Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments

  12. 2026-02-25 Senate

    Senate Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole

  13. 2026-01-14 Senate

    Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Transportation & Energy

Official Summary Text

As it relates to child restraint system requirements, current law defines a "motor vehicle" to include certain passenger vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 10,000 pounds. The bill increases the gross vehicle weight rating criteria in the definition to less than 16,000 pounds.
(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 26-026
BY SENATOR(S) Catlin and Mullica, Bright, Daugherty, Exum, Frizell,
Jodeh, Kirkmeyer, Liston, Pelton B., Roberts, Snyder, Coleman;
also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Lieder and Winter T., Bacon, Barron,
Boesenecker, Caldwell, Duran, Goldstein, Johnson, Joseph, Keltie, Nguyen,
Phillips, Rutinel, Taggart, Weinberg.
CONCERNING INCREASING THE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING LIMIT FOR A
PASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLE FOR WHICH THE USE OF A CHILD
RESTRAINT SYSTEM IS REQUIRED.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 42-4-236, amend
(1)(a.8) as follows:
42-4-236. Child restraint systems required - exemptions -
penalty - definitions.
(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a.8) "Motor vehicle" means a passenger car; a pickup truck; or a
van, minivan, or sport utility vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of
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.
less than ten SIXTEEN thousand pounds. "Motor vehicle" does not include
motorcycles, low-power scooters, and farm tractors and implements of
husbandry designed primarily or exclusively for use in agricultural
operations.
SECTION 2. Act subject to petition - effective date -
applicability. (1) This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following
the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the
general assembly (August 12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13,
2026); except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3)
of article V of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or
part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will
not take effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be
held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.
PAGE 2-SENATE BILL 26-026
(2) This act applies to infractions committed on or after the
applicable effective date of this act.
____________________________ ____________________________
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 26-026