Bill
HB 25-1133
Colorado HB 25-1133 restricts ammo access: 21+ sales with ID, display behind counter, age-verified delivery; narrow 18–20 exceptions; penalties for violations.
Status and effective date
- Governor signed: April 18, 2025.
- Effective date (standard Colorado post-session date unless a referendum is filed): August 6, 2025 (per final fiscal note).
- Statute added: Colorado Rev. Stat. § 18-12-117 (enacted bill text uses that section number).
Purpose and intent
- To regulate the retail sale, display, and delivery of firearm ammunition in order to restrict easy access by purchasers, require age verification, and set uniform delivery and packaging practices for retail ammunition transactions.
Key provisions
- Definition: “Ammunition” = cartridge case, primer, bullet, or propellant powder designed for use in a firearm (excludes certain shotgun shot/pellets and unloaded nonmetallic shotgun hulls without primers).
- Display and point-of-sale controls:
- Retail ammunition vendors may not sell, offer, display, or transfer ammunition in a way that allows a purchaser to access it without assistance from a vendor or employee. Ammunition in enclosed display cases or behind a counter is not considered “accessible.”
- Minimum purchase age and ID verification:
- Retail sale of (most) ammunition to persons under 21 is prohibited. Sellers must verify age using a valid government‑issued photo ID for in-person sales.
- Exceptions permitting sale to persons 18–20 (with documentation and limits) include:
- A temporary grandfather for persons born on or before Jan 28, 2007 (repealed Jan 28, 2028).
- Shooting-range operators selling for on-range use only.
- Members/veterans of the U.S. military or Colorado National Guard (military ID required).
- Persons with hunter education certification or a hunting license showing certification.
- Protected persons named in an active protection order (must present the order and attest it’s in effect).
- On-duty peace officers in conformance with employing agency policy.
- Rimfire ammunition is exempt from the general 21+ prohibition.
- Delivery and packaging:
- Retail vendors delivering packages containing ammunition must use delivery services that ensure the recipient is age-verified as 21+.
- Retail ammunition deliverers must comply with federal hazardous materials packaging/labeling requirements (49 C.F.R. 173.63(b)(1)(i)), verify the recipient’s government photo ID at delivery, and obtain written acknowledgment of receipt.
- Vendors must use delivery services that ensure age verification; some versions of the bill prohibit outward markings that indicate a package contains ammunition while recognizing compliance with applicable federal shipping rules.
- Scope limits:
- Requirements and criminal penalties do not apply to wholesale sales or wholesale deliveries.
Enforcement and penalties
- Unlawful sale of ammunition (violation of display/age rules): civil infraction for a first offense; second or subsequent offense is a class 1 misdemeanor.
- Unlawful notification involving an ammunition package (improper labeling/notice): class 1 misdemeanor.
- Unlawful delivery of ammunition by a retail deliverer (failure to verify/obtain receipt): class 1 misdemeanor.
Fiscal and administrative impacts
- Legislative Council fiscal analysis: minimal ongoing impact on state revenue and workload.
- Judicial Department and Department of Revenue (Firearms Dealer Division) may see minimal additional workload; no new appropriation required.
- Local governments (district attorneys, county jails) expected minimal impact.
Who is affected
- Retail ammunition vendors (including out-of-state sellers shipping into Colorado), retail ammunition delivery services (including delivery arms of vendors and couriers), purchasers (particularly persons aged 18–20), shooting ranges, military/veteran purchasers meeting exceptions, peace officers, Department of Revenue (firearms dealer permit holders), and state/local courts.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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