HB 1281 Colorado House · 2026 Regular Session

Homicide Criminal Offenses

Summary
Under current law, if a person engages in conduct that creates a grave risk to human life with an extreme indifference to the value of human life and causes the death of another person, the person commits first degree murder. The bill requires that the person:Cause the death of more than one person;Cause the death of one person and cause serious bodily injury to 2 or more persons by means of a deadly weapon;Cause the death of a child who is under 12 years old; orCause the death of a peace officer, emergency medical service provider, emergency medical care provider, or firefighter engaged in the performance of their duties.     The bill creates a new charge of murder in the second degree if a person engages in conduct that creates a grave risk to human life with an extreme indifference to the value of human life and causes the death of only one other person.      The bill expands the conduct by which a person can commit criminally negligent homicide to include proximately causing the death of another person while operating or driving a motor vehicle with criminal negligence.     The bill creates the offense of aggravated vehicular homicide by operating a motor vehicle in a reckless manner or while under the influence of or impaired by alcohol or other drugs and causing the death of another person when the person also:Has been convicted twice of driving under the influence or driving while ability impaired;Has been convicted of vehicular homicide or vehicular assault;Commits the offense while eluding or attempting to elude law enforcement;Commits the offense while in flight from the commission of another felony offense, not including a traffic offense; orCommits the offense while driving at a high rate of speed, creating an imminent risk of death or serious bodily injury to another person.      The bill creates the new offense of negligent vehicular homicide if a person drives a motor vehicle with criminal negligence and causes the death of another person. Negligent vehicular homicide is a class 5 felony.(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.)
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 20, 2026 Last action May 12, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Reengrossed · 3 edits · Apr 29, 2026
MINOR
The bill title was updated from 'Engrossed' to 'Reengrossed' to reflect that it now includes all amendments adopted during the House of Introduction. Additionally, the list of House co-sponsors was expanded to include five new legislators. A new notice was added stating that a summary for the reengrossed version will be available after the third reading.
TECHNICAL

Added five new House co-sponsors to the bill sponsorship list.

Changed the bill status header from 'Engrossed' to 'Reengrossed' and updated the amendment adoption description.

Inserted a notice indicating a future summary for the reengrossed version will be available on April 29, 2026.

Floor votes · House Apr 29, 2026

How they voted

3232
Passed
Total votes 64
Apr 29, 2026
D Democratic42
32 Yea 10 Nay
76% Yea
R Republican22
22 Nay
100% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
11
Key actions
3
Committee
2
May 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
upper
Apr 30, 2026
Introduced
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to
upper
Apr 30, 2026
Introduced
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary
upper
Apr 29, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
lower
Apr 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
House Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
lower
Feb 20, 2026
Introduced
Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary
lower
4 primary · 6 co-sponsors

Sponsors