HB26-1309 · Bill · 2026 Regular Session · Colorado

Abuse in Cases of Separation

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Concerning measures related to forms of abuse in cases regarding a separation of a relationship.

Official status: Became Law

8 proposed amendments

Prime sponsors

• Meg Froelich (House) — Prime Sponsor
• Tammy Story (House) — Prime Sponsor
• Katie Wallace (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 clarifies that, for the purposes of the 'Uniform Dissolution of Marriage Act', domestic violence includes specified acts or threatened acts of harm or property damage against a family or household member; and clarifies that the conduct in the definition of domestic violence is domestic violence regardless of whether it constitutes a criminal offense. A person's protective behaviors do not constitute domestic violence. For purposes of determining the allocation of parental responsibilities based on the best interests of the child, the act requires that for any evidence submitted to the court concerning whether a party has committed domestic violence, child abuse or neglect, or sexual assault that resulted in the conception of a child, the court may consider any relevant and admissible evidence, and the court shall make findings on the record by a preponderance of the evidence whether the party has committed domestic violence, child abuse or neglect, or sexual assault that resulted in the conception of a child. If the court determines by a preponderance of the evidence that a party has committed domestic violence, child abuse or neglect, or sexual assault that resulted in the conception of a child, the act outlines the considerations that the court must undertake when determining decision-making responsibility and parenting time. Under current law, prior to a court ordering a party accused of domestic violence or child abuse to take steps to improve a relationship with a protected party, a mental health professional who is approved by the domestic violence offender management board must verify the accused party's behavior. Instead, the act requires that the accused party participate in treatment with a mental health professional who holds a master's or doctoral degree and a mental health professional license and has specialized training and expertise in treating survivors and perpetrators of domestic violence and child abuse and the effects of domestic violence and child abuse. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Status timeline

Recorded votes

• 05/07/2026 — Senate State, Veterans, & Military Affairs: “Adopt amendment L.009 (Attachment D).” — the motion passed on a vote of 3–1.
• 05/07/2026 — Senate State, Veterans, & Military Affairs: “Refer House Bill 26-1309, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.” — the motion passed on a vote of 3–1.
• 05/05/2026 — House Appropriations: “Refer House Bill 26-1309, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.” — the motion passed on a vote of 8–2.
• 03/31/2026 — House Judiciary: “Adopt amendment L.003 (Attachment C).” — the motion failed on a vote of 4–6.
• 03/31/2026 — House Judiciary: “Refer House Bill 26-1309, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.” — the motion passed on a vote of 6–5.

Proposed amendments (8 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), 05/21/2026
• Rerevised version (official PDF), 05/13/2026
• Revised version (official PDF), 05/12/2026
• Reengrossed version (official PDF), 05/06/2026
• Engrossed version (official PDF), 05/05/2026
• Introduced version (official PDF), 03/02/2026

Official record

View HB26-1309 on leg.colorado.gov

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