HB26-1123 · Bill · 2026 Regular Session · Colorado

Preventing Sexual Abuse in Jails

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Concerning measures to prevent sexual abuse in jails, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

Official status: Became Law

17 proposed amendments

Prime sponsors

• Katie Stewart (House) — Prime Sponsor
• Javier Mabrey (House) — Prime Sponsor
• Judy Amabile (Senate) — Prime Sponsor
• Mike Weissman (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.

The act permits a county or municipal jail (local detention facility) to conduct a strip search of a person who is detained in the local detention facility, only: When the facility is conducting intake of the detained person who has come in from outside the facility and a strip search upon intake is part of the detention facility's policy; When 2 personnel of the facility have determined and reasonably believe the detained person is concealing a controlled substance, a dangerous instrument, or contraband; or Under a circumstance or set of conditions in which there has been a prior incident of possession of a controlled substance, a dangerous instrument, contraband, or any other item that creates grave danger to property or injury to persons and substantially obstructs the performance of the institutional functions of the local detention facility, the circumstance or set of conditions give rise to a substantial likelihood that a similar incident may occur again, and the local detention facility has a written policy authorizing a strip search under the circumstances or set of conditions. The act requires that each local detention facility document the number of, reason for, and results of a strip search in a report that each facility must submit annually to the jail standards advisory committee and the Colorado attorney general. The act requires detention facility personnel to record strip searches via body-worn camera and limits access to the recordings. The act requires each sheriff to coordinate with the sheriff's body-worn camera vendor to implement a tag for strip searches in body-worn camera footage tagging options and ensure that strip search footage has the most restrictive level of access available within the sheriff's body-worn camera system. The act requires local detention facilities to have a policy detailing staff protocol for responding to suspected, alleged, or witnessed sexual abuse and requires staff to report suspected, alleged, or witnessed sexual abuse. The act creates whistleblower protection policies for jail staff and creates a right of action against a local detention facility for a staff member who was subject to an adverse employment action because the staff member disclosed information to the proper supervising authority about sexual abuse or sex-based harassment in the local detention facility. The act requires local detention facilities to inform prisoners of their rights and the resources available to them if they are a victim of sexual abuse while in jail and allow sexual assault advocates to access prisoners who request advocacy services. The act requires local detention facilities to designate a 'Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003' (PREA) coordinator and requires jails to provide the coordinator's contact information to prisoners and the public. The act requires the removal of peace officers standards and training board (P.O.S.T. board) certification from any peace officer who is found by an administrative law judge, hearing officer, or internal investigation to have sexually abused a prisoner in a local detention facility. The act appropriates $38,916 to the department of law from the P.O.S.T. board cash fund for P.O.S.T. board support. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Status timeline

Recorded votes

• 04/28/2026 — Senate Appropriations: “Refer House Bill 26-1123 to the Committee of the Whole.” — the motion passed on a vote of 7–0.
• 04/22/2026 — Senate Judiciary: “Refer House Bill 26-1123, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.” — the motion passed on a vote of 5–2.
• 03/20/2026 — House Appropriations: “Adopt amendment J.001” — the motion passed on a vote of 8–3.
• 03/20/2026 — House Appropriations: “Refer House Bill 26-1123, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.” — the motion passed on a vote of 8–3.
• 03/11/2026 — House Judiciary: “Refer House Bill 26-1123, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.” — the motion passed on a vote of 7–4.

Proposed amendments (17 proposed amendments)

Source: Colorado General Assembly (leg.colorado.gov) · Data as of 2026-11-05

Full text

• Signed Act version (official PDF), 05/28/2026
• Final Act version (official PDF), 05/19/2026
• Rerevised version (official PDF), 05/05/2026
• Revised version (official PDF), 05/04/2026
• Reengrossed version (official PDF), 04/02/2026
• Engrossed version (official PDF), 03/31/2026
• Introduced version (official PDF), 02/04/2026

Official record

View HB26-1123 on leg.colorado.gov

Source: Colorado General Assembly (leg.colorado.gov) · Data as of 2026-11-05