New Colorado Laws Effective in 2020

Amendments made to existing laws

From guns to marijuana to gender identity, Colorado residents can expect to see big changes in 2020. As the 2019 legislative session came to a close, several new laws and amendments will begin implementation in 2020, including the Red Flag Law, marijuana delivery, and an insulin price cap.

One of the most contentious bills passed in 2019 was HB19-1177, dubbed the Red Flag law. In essence, the Red Flag Law allows Colorado judges to temporarily remove an individual’s firearms if the individual appears to be a danger to themselves or others. Colorado’s Red Flag Law garnered resistance from several gun rights advocacy groups, including Rally for Our Rights, and several Colorado sheriff departments. According to the law, only law enforcement and family/household members may file a petition to remove an individual’s firearms.

Jude’s Law, also passed in 2019, simplifies the pathway for transgender and non-binary people to legally change their names. The law allows transgender and non-binary people to receive a new birth certificate without completing gender affirmation surgery. Previously, Colorado required legal name changes to be published in local newspapers. Under Jude’s Law, transgender and non-binary people seeking to change their legal names are not required to publish their previous and new names. Jude’s Law was created alongside and named after a twelve-year-old transgender student, with the help of House Representative Daneya Esgar.

In the era of DoorDash and UberEats, home delivery has become an increasingly popular marketing strategy, even for marijuana dispensaries. While Colorado legalized recreational marijuana in 2012, laws surrounding its consumption and production have continued to be the focus of subsequent legislative sessions. Last year, Colorado legalized marijuana delivery service, which has already been implemented in California. Medical marijuana delivery begins this year, and recreational delivery will begin in 2021. According to the bill, marijuana deliveries may not be made to college campuses. Additionally, this bill allows marijuana to be consumed in permitted public spaces.

While healthcare and big pharma remain heavily disputed among the national presidential candidates, Colorado legislators took it upon themselves in 2019 to help residents with diabetes. According to HB19-1216, insulin prices rose by 555% in the last fourteen years, and one in four people with type 1 diabetes in Colorado have reported underusing insulin due to the cost. While the state cannot change federal insurance coverage for insulin, the bill puts a $100 cap on a 30 day insulin supply for private insurance companies in Colorado.

The legislative session for 2020 began on January 8. While 2019 was a busy year for the Colorado legislature, 2020 will bring debates on Colorado’s death penalty and public healthcare.