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SB 25-143

Extend Prohibition on School Facial Recognition

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

Extends the ban on facial recognition in K-12 schools; prohibits purchase, contracts, or use by districts, safeguarding student privacy and limiting biometric surveillance.

Governor Signed
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Bill Summary · SB 25-143

SB 25‑143 — Extend Prohibition on School Facial Recognition

Status: Governor signed (April 18, 2025)
Introduced: February 5, 2025
Primary sponsors: Lindsey Daugherty; Michael Carter; Paul Lundeen; Ryan Armagost
Cosponsors include: C. Kipp, D. Roberts, N. Hinrichsen, J. McCluskie, B. Kirkmeyer, J. Amabile, R. Rodriguez, S. Lieder, M. Duran, K. Mullica

Purpose / Intent

SB 25‑143 is intended to continue and reinforce limits on the use of facial recognition (biometric identification) technologies in K–12 public schools. The bill’s title and legislative history indicate it extends an existing prohibition on deployment or procurement of facial recognition systems by schools or school districts to protect student privacy and mitigate risks associated with automated biometric identification.

Key provisions (summary based on available bill information)

The bill’s full text is not included here; however, the following are the core elements implied by the bill title and status:

  • Extends a statutory prohibition on the use, purchase, lease, or licensing of facial recognition or comparable biometric identification technologies by public K–12 schools, school districts, and other public educational entities.
  • Prohibits school entities from entering into contracts with third‑party vendors to implement facial recognition on school property or at school events.
  • Applies to systems that identify or verify an individual by analyzing facial features from live camera feeds or still images.
  • Preserves privacy protections for students and limits routine surveillance and automated identity matching in school settings.

Note: Because the bill document text is not provided here, readers should consult the enacted bill language for precise definitions, any listed exceptions (for example, limited law enforcement uses or emergency exceptions), and the duration or mechanism by which the prohibition is “extended” (e.g., removal of a sunset clause vs. a multi‑year extension).

Who is affected

  • Public K–12 schools and school districts (administrators, procurement officers)
  • Vendors and contractors offering facial recognition or biometric identification products
  • Students, families, and school staff (privacy protections)
  • Potentially local law enforcement when school facilities are used — any exceptions would be in the bill text

Procedural timeline (selected)

  • Introduced in Senate: 2025‑02‑05 (Assigned to Education)
  • Passed Senate (third reading): 2025‑03‑14
  • Passed House (third reading): 2025‑04‑03
  • Sent to Governor: 2025‑04‑09
  • Governor signed: 2025‑04‑18 (Bill enacted)

Potential impacts

  • Strengthens student privacy protections by limiting automated biometric surveillance in schools.
  • Requires school districts to avoid purchasing or deploying facial recognition systems; may affect pending procurements and vendor markets.
  • May prompt districts to adopt alternative, non‑biometric security and identification practices.
  • Implementation details, enforcement mechanisms, and any exceptions will determine the bill’s practical scope.

Where to find the full text

For the precise statutory language, effective date, and any exceptions or enforcement details, consult the official bill text and enrolled act on the Colorado General Assembly website or the state’s legislative documents portal.

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

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