By Rocky Mountain Voice Editorial Board
The 2025 legislative session officially adjourned Wednesday evening after 120 days, leaving behind a flood of new laws, deep partisan divides, and a public increasingly skeptical of the pace and priorities of progressive lawmakers. From sweeping gender identity mandates to gun control and TABOR attacks, the Democrat supermajority pushed through one of the most ideologically driven sessions in recent memory.
Here’s a full breakdown of what passed, what failed—and what it all means for Colorado:
🔺 The Most Controversial Bills of Session
SB25-003 – Gun Permit-to-Purchase Law (BECAME LAW): What began as a sweeping semi-auto ban was revised—under pressure from Gov. Polis—into a permit-to-purchase system. Starting in 2026, Coloradans must take government-sanctioned training to buy common firearms. The bill passed with zero Republican support. Governor Polis signed it into law on April 10.
HB25-1312 – The “Kelly Loving Act” (PASSED): This bill dominated headlines and committee rooms alike. HB25-1312 updates Colorado’s anti-discrimination law (CADA) to add protections for gender identity and expression in schools, public spaces, and the courts. Supporters say it ensures equal treatment, but critics warn the language is too broad and could force compliance with gender ideology, raising concerns about free speech, parental rights, and custody battles. Hundreds of Coloradans testified in opposition, and over 500 were turned away at the Capitol due to time constraints. Despite multiple amendments, the bill’s core remained intact and passed along party lines. It now awaits Governor Polis’ signature.
SB25-276 – Sanctuary State Expansion (PASSED): Another flashpoint came with SB25-276, which restricts cooperation between local governments and ICE agents. It limits federal immigration enforcement in places like schools and hospitals, repeals affidavit requirements for driver’s licenses, and is widely seen as an extension of “sanctuary” policies. Just as the Department of Justice filed suit against the state and Denver for similar practices, Colorado lawmakers doubled down. It now awaits Governor Polis’ signature.
HB25-1309 – Gender-Affirming Care Coverage (PASSED): Requires state-regulated health insurance to cover gender-affirming care, including for minors. Opponents argue it removes parental discretion and increases taxpayer burden. It is headed to Governor Polis for signature.
HB25-1327 – Modify Statewide Ballot Measure Processes (PASSED): Shortens the time window for Title Board hearings and adds new reporting requirements and fines for ballot initiatives. Critics say it’s a legislative workaround to Amendment K, which voters rejected in 2024. Opponents argue it will suppress citizen-led initiatives—especially conservative ones—by making the process more burdensome and expensive. It is headed to Governor Polis for signature.
💸 The Budget, TABOR Tensions & Fiscal Maneuvers
SB25-206 – 2025-26 Long Appropriations Bill: Despite facing a $1.2 billion budget shortfall, Democrats passed a $44 billion budget that increased overall spending by $3 billion. Cuts came from transportation and local government funding, while health and education costs soared.
HB25-1321 – Lawsuit Fund for Federal Challenges (PASSED): HB25-1321 sparked Republican ire for its $4 million earmark to fund legal action against potential “federal overreach.” Critics dubbed it “Polis suing Trump with taxpayer money”—a jab at Governor Polis using federal Jobs Act funds to preemptively challenge Trump-era regulations. It is headed to Governor Polis for signature.
HJR25-1023 – Proposed TABOR Lawsuit (FAILED): Would have allowed the Legislature to sue over the constitutionality of TABOR. Shelved after major public backlash and legal threats.
🔫 Gun Control & 2nd Amendment Restrictions
HB25-1133 (BECAME LAW): Raises the age to purchase ammo to 21 and restricts access to ammunition displays in stores. Governor Polis signed it into law on April 18.
HB25-1238 (BECAME LAW): Tightens regulations on gun show transactions and imposes new data-sharing requirements. Governor Polis signed it into law on April 18.
HB25-1062 (PASSED): Increases penalties for firearm theft, part of broader package on gun access and enforcement. It now awaits Governor Polis’ signature.
HB25-1225 (PASSED): Creates a centralized background check system run by the state. Critics say it duplicates federal processes and opens the door to registry abuse. It now awaits Governor Polis’ signature.
HB25-1250 (PASSED): Authorizes local governments to enact stricter firearm ordinances than state law, overriding local preemption protections. It is headed to Governor Polis for signature.
🏛 Education, Speech & Parental Rights
SB25-063 – School Board Transparency Rules (BECAME LAW): Otherwise labeled as “Speak and Be Doxxed,” as any parent who requests that a book be reconsidered for a school library will have their name made public. That request becomes a CORA-able document, meaning it falls under the Colorado Open Records Act. This bill requires every Colorado public school and district to establish written policies governing how library materials are selected, displayed, retained, and reconsidered. These policies must protect First Amendment rights, prohibit discrimination, and set transparent standards for reviewing and potentially removing books, while also protecting library staff from retaliation for following those procedures. Governor Polis signed it into law on May 1.
SB25-147 (PASSED): SB147 increases transparency and accountability in the governance of the Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA) by officially defining the Board of Trustees as a “local public body” under the state’s open meetings law. It sets term limits for board members, mandates public access to meeting and financial records on the PERA website, and reaffirms that the board retains final responsibility over the administration of the association. It now awaits Governor Polis’ signature.
HB25-1320 (PASSED): HB1320 updates Colorado’s school finance system by extending the transition between the current and new funding formulas through 2030–31. It changes how district funding is phased in year by year, adjusts how pupil counts are calculated, delays a new at-risk measure to 2026–27, and sets new base funding levels statewide. It is headed to Governor Polis for signature.
🏠 Housing, Zoning & Local Control
HB25-1169 (FAILED): Would have forced local governments to allow churches and schools to build high-density housing on their land—bypassing zoning, density limits, and community input. It stalled amid bipartisan pushback but signals Polis’ ongoing push to erode local land-use authority.
🏥 Medical Policy, Tech, and Civil Liberties
SB25-183 (BECAME LAW): Codifies state-funded abortion coverage for Medicaid and CHIP recipients following Amendment 79’s passage. Governor Polis signed it into law on April 24.
SB25-288 (PASSED): Makes it a crime to distribute AI-generated explicit content—a bipartisan move as Colorado grapples with tech and privacy ethics. It is headed to Governor Polis for signature.
SB25-304 (PASSED): Creates a Sexual Assault Forensic Review Board to tackle a growing backlog of rape kit testing across the state. It is headed to Governor Polis for signature.
🟩 The Wins for Conservatives (Few and Far Between)
Polis’ Veto of SB25-077 (Open Records restrictions) was cheered by First Amendment groups. Polis also vetoed a controversial open records bill, SB77, which would have limited access to government records for non-media entities and raised costs. His veto letter argued the bill created inequity in access based on who was requesting the information.
HB25-1315 (Vacancy reform) is a step forward for transparency and voter empowerment in Colorado by requiring special elections to fill many legislative vacancies, rather than leaving those decisions solely to party insiders. It opens up the process to the public through livestreamed meetings and new campaign finance rules. While conservatives successfully pushed for more voter input, concerns remain about the cost to taxpayers, the inclusion of unaffiliated voters, and a new restriction that delays voting rights for newly appointed precinct officers. It is headed to Governor Polis for signature.
👀 What to Watch Next
- Lawsuits are already brewing around HB1312, SB276 and SB3.
- The state budget’s structural deficit is expected to deepen in 2026.
- TABOR reform remains a quiet but ongoing battleground, with efforts to challenge it legally still circulating behind the scenes.
Bottom Line:
Colorado’s 2025 session proved that even in a divided nation, Democrats in the Centennial State are united—and emboldened. For conservatives, the message is clear: the Left is legislating faster and more aggressively than ever. But the backlash is growing, and many Coloradans are waking up to the consequences.Want more like this? Subscribe to Rocky Mountain Voice and follow us on social for continued coverage as Governor Polis signs—or vetoes—the final stack of bills.