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HB 25-1183

Colorimetric Field Drug Test Working Group

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Judy Amabile and 13 co-sponsors

Creates a temporary Colorimetric Field Drug Test Working Group to study use, harms, and propose limits on presumptive tests to reduce wrongful arrests; report due Dec 1, 2025.

Governor Signed
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Bill Summary · HB 25-1183

HB 25-1183 — Colorimetric Field Drug Test Working Group

Status: Governor signed (effective June 2, 2025)

Purpose

Creates a temporary, multi-stakeholder working group to study the use, reliability, and consequences of colorimetric field drug tests (presumptive, color‑change reagent tests) in criminal proceedings and carceral settings and to develop findings and policy recommendations to reduce harms (including wrongful arrests/convictions, coercive pleas, and disciplinary outcomes).

Key provisions

  • Establishes the Colorimetric Field Drug Test Working Group in statute to:
    • Assess the prevalence and harms of colorimetric field tests in Colorado;
    • Recommend legislative or policy alternatives, guidelines limiting the use of such tests to presumptive purposes, and steps to prevent related harms;
    • Submit a written report of findings and recommendations to the judiciary committees of the House and Senate by December 1, 2025.
  • Staffing/facilitation: the Director of Legislative Council Staff must run an RFP and contract with a nonprofit to staff and facilitate the working group; the group is not required to meet if no contract is awarded.
  • Funding intent: the General Assembly states its intent that no General Fund money be used to pay that nonprofit; the nonprofit may accept gifts, grants, or donations to defray costs.
  • Meetings: the group is to meet three times using audiovisual technology between July 2025 and December 1, 2025 (appointments to be made by July 1, 2025).
  • Membership: includes legislative appointees (chair and vice-chair from the House and Senate), the Attorney General (or designee), CBI director (or designee), state public defender (or designee), executive director of the Colorado District Attorneys’ Council (or designee), executive director of the Department of Corrections (or designee), presidents/designees of county sheriffs, Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, Colorado Fraternal Order of Police, representatives from the criminal defense bar and alternate defense counsel, an exoneration organization rep, a higher‑education forensic science instructor, a person impacted by a false positive, a national expert on wrongful convictions, and (in some versions) the Colorado Civil Rights Commission rep.

Fiscal impact

  • Final enacted fiscal note: a minimal one-time General Fund increase of $1,008 in FY 2025‑26 (per diems for three legislative members for three virtual meetings). Legislative Council will conduct the RFP within existing resources.
  • Earlier fiscal estimates and committee packet materials showed larger potential staffing costs (up to ~$39,430 and 0.4 FTE) and included an appropriation discussion and sponsor amendment creating a donor-funded cash fund; the enacted bill reflects the reduced General Fund impact.

Who is affected

  • State legislative and executive branch stakeholders (participating agencies and appointees);
  • Law enforcement and prosecutorial organizations;
  • Defense bar, public defenders, exoneration and civil‑rights advocates;
  • Individuals impacted by false positives and the broader criminal justice system (accused persons, incarcerated individuals).
  • Nonprofit organizations that may bid to staff/facilitate the group.

Timeline & next steps

  • Appointments due by July 1, 2025; RFP to be issued on or before June 13, 2025 (per enacted text) and nonprofit contracting is a precondition for required meetings.
  • Working group meets three times (virtually) between July and December 1, 2025.
  • Report due to legislative judiciary committees by December 1, 2025. Repeal/provisions: governed by the statute language (temporary study with specified deliverable).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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