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SB26-104 • 2026

Require Key Boxes at Schools

The bill requires each school district or, for an institute charter school or nonpublic school, the school, (local education provider) to install a an exterior key box that contains keys and other acc

Education
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Sen. L. Liston, Sen. M. Snyder, Rep. C. Clifford, Sen. M. Ball, Sen. J. Carson, Sen. J. Coleman, Sen. L. Cutter, Sen. L. Frizell, Sen. B. Kirkmeyer, Sen. K. Wallace, Rep. M. Carter, Rep. M. Duran, Rep. L. Goldstein, Rep. E. Hamrick, Rep. M. Lindsay, Rep. K. Nguyen, Rep. L. Smith
Last action
2026-04-16
Official status
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details about the exact requirements of the key boxes or the consequences if a provider fails to comply by July 1, 2030.

Require Key Boxes at Schools

This bill requires local education providers to install exterior key boxes containing necessary keys and access control devices for emergency use by law enforcement.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires each local education provider to install an exterior key box containing necessary keys and access control devices by July 1, 2030.
  • Specifies that the key box must be placed in a location agreed upon with local law enforcement agencies for easy emergency access.
  • Allows local education providers to use funds from the school security disbursement program to install these key boxes.
  • Exempts schools that already have an approved alternative plan and procedures for providing emergency access to law enforcement.

Who It Names or Affects

  • School districts, charter schools, nonpublic schools, and other local education providers in Colorado.
  • Local law enforcement agencies who will receive keys or codes to access the key boxes.

Terms To Know

local education provider
Includes school districts, charter schools authorized by a state institute, nonpublic schools, and other bodies responsible for administering schools.
key box
An exterior container that holds keys and access control devices necessary for emergency entry into school buildings and rooms.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if a local education provider applies but does not receive funding from the school security disbursement program.
  • It is unclear how existing key boxes that do not meet requirements will be handled beyond allowing alternative plans for emergency access.

Amendments

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

L.001

SEN Judiciary

Passed [*]

Plain English: SB104_L.001 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Judiciary.

  • SB104_L.001 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Judiciary.
  • SB26-104 be amended as follows: 1 Amend printed bill, page 3, after line 15 insert: 2 "(d) THIS SUBSECTION (2) DOES NOT REQUIRE A LOCAL EDUCATION 3 PROVIDER TO INSTALL A NEW EXTERIOR KEY BOX AT A SCHOOL THAT HAS 4 A KEY BOX INSTALLED THAT SATISFIES THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EXTERIOR 5 KEY BOXES SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION.".
  • ** *** ** *** ** LLS: Conrad Imel x2313
L.002

SEN Judiciary

Passed [*]

Plain English: SB104_L.002 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Judiciary.

  • SB104_L.002 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Judiciary.
  • SB26-104 be amended as follows: 1 Amend printed bill, page 4, after line 11 insert: 2 "(5) NOTWITHSTANDING THE REQUIREMENT TO INSTALL AN 3 EXTERIOR KEY BOX PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, A LOCAL EDUCATION 4 PROVIDER IS NOT REQUIRED TO INSTALL AN EXTERIOR KEY BOX AT A 5 SCHOOL IF THE SCHOOL HAS A KEY BOX THAT DOES NOT SATISFY THE 6 REQUIREMENTS FOR EXTERIOR KEY BOXES SET FORTH IN SUBSECTION (2) 7 OF THIS SECTION AND HAS AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN AND PROCEDURES TO 8 PROVIDE EMERGENCY ACCESS FOR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO EACH 9 BUILDING AND ROOM ON THE ENTIRE SCHOOL GROUNDS.".
  • ** *** ** *** ** LLS: Conrad Imel x2313
L.003

SEN Judiciary

Passed [*]

Plain English: SB104_L.003 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Judiciary.

  • SB104_L.003 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Judiciary.
  • SB26-104 be amended as follows: 1 Amend printed bill, page 3, line 1, strike "2028," and substitute "2030,".
  • ** *** ** *** ** LLS: Conrad Imel x2313
L.004

SEN Judiciary

Passed [*]

Plain English: SB104_L.004 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Judiciary.

  • SB104_L.004 SENATE COMMITTEE OF REFERENCE AMENDMENT Committee on Judiciary.
  • SB26-104 be amended as follows: 1 Amend printed bill, page 4, after line 11 insert: 2 "(5) NOTWITHSTANDING THE REQUIREMENT TO INSTALL AN 3 EXTERIOR KEY BOX PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, A LOCAL EDUCATION 4 PROVIDER IS NOT REQUIRED TO INSTALL AN EXTERIOR KEY BOX AT A 5 SCHOOL IF THE LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER APPLIED FOR BUT DOES NOT 6 RECEIVE A DISBURSEMENT FROM THE SCHOOL SECURITY DISBURSEMENT 7 PROGRAM CREATED IN SECTION 24-33.5-1810 THAT MAY BE USED TO 8 INSTALL AN EXTERIOR KEY BOX AT THE SCHOOL.".
  • ** *** ** *** ** LLS: Conrad Imel x2313
L.008

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: SB104_L.008 Amendment No.

  • SB104_L.008 Amendment No.
  • ___________ SB26-104 SENATE FLOOR AMENDMENT Second Reading BY SENATOR Snyder 1 Amend the Judiciary Committee Report, dated March 9, 2026, page 1, 2 line 16, before "NOTWITHSTANDING" insert "INSTALLING AN EXTERIOR 3 KEY BOX AT A SCHOOL AS REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION IS A PERMISSIBLE 4 USE OF A DISBURSEMENT FROM THE SCHOOL SECURITY DISBURSEMENT 5 PROGRAM PURSUANT TO SECTION 24-33.5-1810 (3)(a).".
  • 6 Amend printed bill, page 4, strike lines 12 through 22.
  • 7 Renumber succeeding sections accordingly.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-16 House

    House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  2. 2026-04-15 House

    House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments

  3. 2026-04-14 House

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

  4. 2026-03-13 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary

  5. 2026-03-13 Senate

    Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  6. 2026-03-12 Senate

    Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor

  7. 2026-03-09 Senate

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

  8. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary

Official Summary Text

The bill requires each school district or, for an institute charter school or nonpublic school, the school,
(local education provider)
to install
a

an exterior
key box that contains keys and other access control devices necessary for law enforcement agencies to access each building and room located on the school grounds.
A local education provider is not required to install an exterior key box at a school if:
The school has a key box that does not satisfy the requirements in the bill and has an alternative plan and procedures to provide emergency access for local law enforcement; or
The local education provider applied for but does not receive a disbursement from the school security disbursement program that may be used to install an exterior key box at the school.

The bill permits using school security disbursement program money to install a key box.
(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 26-104
BY SENATOR(S) Liston and Snyder, Ball, Carson, Cutter, Frizell,
Kirkmeyer, Wallace, Coleman;
also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Clifford, Carter, Duran, Goldstein, Hamrick,
Lindsay, Nguyen, Smith.
CONCERNING A REQUIREMENT TO INSTALL EXTERIOR KEY BOXES AT
SCHOOLS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 22-1-151 as
follows:
22-1-151. Key boxes required at schools - contents - immunity
- definitions.
(1) A S USED IN THIS SECTION , UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE
REQUIRES:
(a) "LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER" MEANS:
(I) FOR A SCHOOL OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT , INCLUDING A CHARTER
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.
SCHOOL THAT ENTERS INTO A CHARTER CONTRACT WITH A SCHOOL DISTRICT
PURSUANT TO PART 1 OF ARTICLE 30.5 OF THIS TITLE 22, THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT OR BOARD OF COOPERATIVE SERVICES;
(II) FOR A CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZED BY THE STATE CHARTER
SCHOOL INSTITUTE PURSUANT TO PART 5 OF ARTICLE 30.5 OF THIS TITLE 22,
THE SCHOOL;
(III) FOR A NONPUBLIC SCHOOL, THE SCHOOL; OR
(IV) F OR ANY OTHER SCHOOL , THE BODY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION OF THE SCHOOL.
(b) "LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY" MEANS A SHERIFF'S OFFICE,
POLICE DEPARTMENT, OR TOWN MARSHAL'S OFFICE.
(c) "SCHOOL" MEANS A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE STATE THAT ENROLLS
STUDENTS IN ANY OF GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE ,
INCLUDING A CHARTER SCHOOL OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT , AN INSTITUTE
CHARTER SCHOOL, OR A NONPUBLIC SCHOOL, WHERE STUDENTS ATTEND THE
SCHOOL FACILITIES. "SCHOOL" DOES NOT INCLUDE A HOME SCHOOL.
(2) (a) O N OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2030, EACH LOCAL EDUCATION
PROVIDER SHALL INSTALL AT EACH SCHOOL OF THE LOCAL EDUCATION
PROVIDER AT LEAST ONE EXTERIOR KEY BOX THAT MEETS OR EXCEEDS
UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES STANDARD 1037.
(b) E ACH KEY BOX MUST BE INSTALLED AT AN APPROPRIATE
LOCATION TO PERMIT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS EMERGENCY ACCESS TO
EACH BUILDING AND ROOM ON THE SCHOOL GROUNDS. THE LOCAL
EDUCATION PROVIDER SHALL DETERMINE THE PRECISE LOCATION OF EACH
KEY BOX AT A SCHOOL AFTER CONSULTATION WITH LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES OF THE JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE SCHOOL
BUILDING IS LOCATED.
(c) EACH LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER SHALL PROVIDE EACH LOCAL
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OF THE JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE SCHOOL
BUILDING IS LOCATED WITH A KEY OR ACCESS CODE THAT PERMITS ACCESS
TO THE CONTENTS OF THE EXTERIOR KEY BOX.
PAGE 2-SENATE BILL 26-104
(d) THIS SUBSECTION (2) DOES NOT REQUIRE A LOCAL EDUCATION
PROVIDER TO INSTALL A NEW EXTERIOR KEY BOX AT A SCHOOL THAT HAS A
KEY BOX INSTALLED THAT SATISFIES THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EXTERIOR KEY
BOXES SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION.
(3) EACH KEY BOX REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION MUST CONTAIN:
(a) THE KEYS AND OTHER ACCESS CONTROL DEVICES NECESSARY TO
ACCESS EACH BUILDING AND ROOM ON THE ENTIRE SCHOOL GROUNDS; AND
(b) A CCURATE MAPS OF THE ENTIRE SCHOOL GROUNDS THAT
IDENTIFY AND LABEL:
(I) A CCESS POINTS TO EACH BUILDING 'S INTERIOR , INCLUDING
ROOMS, DOORS, STAIRWELLS, AND HALLWAYS. THE MAPS MUST INCLUDE THE
IDENTIFIERS OR NAMES UTILIZED BY STAFF AND STUDENTS TO IDENTIFY THE
ROOMS, DOORS, STAIRWELLS, AND HALLWAYS ON THE MAP.
(II) L OCATIONS OF CRITICAL UTILITIES , KEY BOXES , AUTOMATED
EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS , TRAUMA KITS , AND OTHER EMERGENCY
RESPONSE AIDS; AND
(III) A REAS AT OR NEAR EACH BUILDING , INCLUDING PARKING
AREAS, ATHLETIC FIELDS , SURROUNDING ROADS , OUTBUILDINGS , AND
NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES.
(4) (a) T HE CONTENTS OF A KEY BOX AND THE INFORMATION
CONTAINED THEREIN IS NOT A PUBLIC RECORD FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE
"COLORADO OPEN RECORDS ACT", PART 2 OF ARTICLE 72 OF TITLE 24.
(b) AN EMPLOYEE OF A LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER OR SCHOOL IS
IMMUNE FROM CIVIL LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE
INSTALLATION AND USE OF KEY BOXES REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION UNLESS
THE EMPLOYEE ACTED WITH GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR BAD FAITH.
(5) NOTWITHSTANDING THE REQUIREMENT TO INSTALL AN EXTERIOR
KEY BOX PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, A LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER IS NOT
REQUIRED TO INSTALL AN EXTERIOR KEY BOX AT A SCHOOL IF THE SCHOOL
HAS A KEY BOX THAT DOES NOT SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EXTERIOR
KEY BOXES SET FORTH IN SUBSECTION (2) OF THIS SECTION AND HAS AN
PAGE 3-SENATE BILL 26-104
ALTERNATIVE PLAN AND PROCEDURES TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY ACCESS FOR
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO EACH BUILDING AND ROOM ON THE ENTIRE
SCHOOL GROUNDS.
(6) INSTALLING AN EXTERIOR KEY BOX AT A SCHOOL AS REQUIRED
BY THIS SECTION IS A PERMISSIBLE USE OF A DISBURSEMENT FROM THE
SCHOOL SECURITY DISBURSEMENT PROGRAM PURSUANT TO SECTION
24-33.5-1810 (3)(a). NOTWITHSTANDING THE REQUIREMENT TO INSTALL AN
EXTERIOR KEY BOX PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION , A LOCAL EDUCATION
PROVIDER IS NOT REQUIRED TO INSTALL AN EXTERIOR KEY BOX AT A SCHOOL
IF THE LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER APPLIED FOR BUT DOES NOT RECEIVE A
DISBURSEMENT FROM THE SCHOOL SECURITY DISBURSEMENT PROGRAM
CREATED IN SECTION 24-33.5-1810 THAT MAY BE USED TO INSTALL AN
EXTERIOR KEY BOX AT THE SCHOOL.
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-72-202, amend
(6)(b)(XVII) and (6)(b)(XVIII); and add (6)(b)(XIX) as follows:
24-72-202. Definitions.
As used in this part 2, unless the context otherwise requires:
(6) (b) "Public records" does not include:
(XVII) A complaint of harassment or discrimination, as described
in section 22-1-143, that is unsubstantiated and all records related to the
unsubstantiated complaint, including records of an investigation into the
complaint; or
(XVIII) Jail assessments conducted pursuant to section 30-10-530
(5)(d) or 24-31-118; OR
(XIX) THE CONTENTS OF A KEY BOX INSTALLED AT A SCHOOL , AS
DESCRIBED IN SECTION 22-1-151, AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED
THEREIN.
SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. 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
PAGE 4-SENATE BILL 26-104
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.
____________________________ ____________________________
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 5-SENATE BILL 26-104