Colorimetric Field Drug Tests in Drug Possessions
Concerning colorimetric field drug tests in cases involving drug possession.
Official status: Became Law
Prime sponsors
- Lindsay Gilchrist (House) — Prime Sponsor
- Jennifer Bacon (House) — Prime Sponsor
- Matt Ball (Senate) — Prime Sponsor
- Lisa Frizell (Senate) — Prime Sponsor
Progress (from the official record)
Official summary
Official text — shown in English exactly as published by the official source. The official text controls.
Under current law, a person may be arrested and detained for level 1 drug misdemeanor possession. The act requires that when a colorimetric field drug test was used to test for the presence of a controlled substance and a person is solely suspected of a level 1 drug misdemeanor for possession or solely suspected of a municipal drug possession charge, a peace officer shall not arrest the person and instead shall issue a summons. The act also requires that when a colorimetric field drug test was used, before accepting a plea from a person charged with a drug possession for level 4 drug felony possession and lower, the trial court is required to issue an advisement with specified language, including language stating that colorimetric field drug tests have known error rates and that the defendant has the right to enter a not guilty plea and to request drug testing from an accredited forensic laboratory. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Status timeline
| Date | Location | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 01/14/2026 | House | Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary |
| 02/04/2026 | House | House Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole |
| 02/09/2026 | House | House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee |
| 02/10/2026 | House | House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments |
| 02/17/2026 | Senate | Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary |
| 03/02/2026 | Senate | Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole |
| 03/05/2026 | Senate | Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments |
| 03/06/2026 | Senate | Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments |
| 03/16/2026 | House | Signed by the Speaker of the House |
| 03/17/2026 | Senate | Signed by the President of the Senate |
| 03/17/2026 | Governor | Sent to the Governor |
| 03/26/2026 | Governor | Governor Signed |
Recorded votes
- 03/02/2026 — Senate Judiciary: “Refer House Bill 26-1020 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.” — the motion passed on a vote of 7–0.
- 02/04/2026 — House Judiciary: “Refer House Bill 26-1020, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.” — the motion passed on a vote of 11–0.
Proposed amendments (1 proposed amendment)
| Amendment | Committee / floor hearing | Offered | Disposition | Official document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L.001 | Committee amendment — Judiciary (House) | 02/04/2026 | Passed | View official document |
Source: Colorado General Assembly (leg.colorado.gov) · Data as of
Full text
- Signed Act version (official PDF), 03/27/2026
- Final Act version (official PDF), 03/12/2026
- Rerevised version (official PDF), 03/06/2026
- Revised version (official PDF), 03/05/2026
- Reengrossed version (official PDF), 02/10/2026
- Engrossed version (official PDF), 02/09/2026
- Introduced version (official PDF), 01/14/2026
Official record
View HB26-1020 on leg.colorado.gov
Source: Colorado General Assembly (leg.colorado.gov) · Data as of
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