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You may have sworn off New Year’s resolutions, but like it or not, a few things about your life will change now that 2025 is upon us. You can thank Colorado’s state lawmakers for that.
In 2024, Governor Jared Polis signed a whopping 519 bills into law. They range in topic from property taxes to gun storage to wolverine reintroduction, and many took effect on January 1, 2025. So, we looked at what’s new, what’s changing, and what you need to know to live by the law this year. On the bright side, no one’s asking you to buy a Planet Fitness membership.
Jump Ahead:
- Phone Use While Driving
- Cage-Free Hens
- Firearms Stored in Vehicles
- Forever Chemicals
- Colorado Minimum Wage
- Child Seat Requirements
- Undocumented Immigrants Obtaining Driver’s Licenses
- Concealed Carry Requirements
Put the Phone Down While Driving (SB24-065)
Effective Date: January 1, 2025
The issue: Distracted driving has long been a problem in Colorado. In fact, 718 Coloradans died in crashes due to distracted driving from 2012 to 2022, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. Texting and driving was already illegal (and drivers under 18 weren’t allowed to use a smartphone for any purpose), but adult drivers could still legally hold a phone to their ear.
The law: If you’ve driven any major interstate in Colorado lately, you’ve probably been warned of the new law on digital signage. As of January 1, it is illegal for any driver, regardless of their age, to handle a mobile electronic device while driving. There are exemptions for those who hold a commercial driver’s license and for any vehicle pulled over on a shoulder. Hands-free accessories (read: Bluetooth technology) is still legal for phone calls, and for police officers to enforce the new law they must see the driver operating a vehicle “in a careless and imprudent manner.”
The punishment: First-time offenders pay a $75 fine and receive two license suspension points. If you’re busted two or three times during the same calendar year, that fee rises to $150 and $250, respectively. You can have your violation waived if you present proof that you’ve purchased a hands-free accessory—but that’ll only work once.
Hens Are Going Cage Free (HB20-1343)
Effective Date: January 1, 2025
The Issue: Until now, egg-laying hens at industrial sites could be confined in spaces that did not provide sufficient space for the birds to behave naturally. Caged hens are at higher risk of injury and disease, and Colorado lawmakers have been working with egg producers to improve conditions.
The Law: This bill was passed in the 2020 regular session and has been implemented gradually over the past five years. The final phase of the law now requires all eggs sold in Colorado to come from a cage-free facility. What does it mean for you? Well, unless you’re operating a farm with more than 3,000 hens, you don’t have to change anything—but you can be confident that any eggs you buy in the new year were humanely raised.
Punishment: Egg producers who violate the law will be fined up to $500 and could have their license to sell eggs suspended or revoked.
Firearms in Vehicles Must Be Stored Securely (HB24-1348)
Effective Date: January 1, 2025
The issue: Denver Police Department reported that 1,221 guns were stolen in 2023—846 from vehicles. Democratic lawmakers hope that requiring gun owners to securely store their weapons in vehicles will help reduce the amount of firearm theft in the state.
The Law: The new law requires that any handgun left in an unoccupied vehicle must be locked in a hard-sided case and out of sight. The vehicle must also be locked. Rifles and other firearms must be locked in a case out-of-sight as well, though the case can be softsided. If a firearm is stored in the trunk of a vehicle, the trunk must be locked. The law offers exceptions for antique firearms, law enforcement officers, and people who live in recreational vehicles.
Punishment: According to the bill’s text, the unlawful storage of a firearm in a vehicle is considered a civil infraction and may result in a fine up to $100.
Say Goodbye to Forever Chemicals (HB22-1345)
Effective Date: January 1, 2025
The Issue: The state has been working for years to phase out items that contain intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAS)—also called “forever chemicals”—that take more than a millennium to break down. Not only are these chemicals bad for nature, but they’re bad for humans, too. Studies have shown that exposure to PFAS can lead to decreased fertility, a weaker immune system, and increased risk of certain cancers.
The law: The first phase of this law, which was passed in 2022, went into effect last year and banned the sale of carpets, rugs, fabrics, food packaging, and other items that include PFAS. Starting January 1, the law expands to ban the sale of items including cosmetics, indoor textile furnishings, and upholstered furniture that contain these chemicals. But don’t worry, Colorado companies have already perfected the art of PFAS-free beauty products.
Punishment: Violation of this law is considered a civil penalty and carries a fine up to $5,000 for a first offense and up to $10,000 for each subsequent infraction.
The Minimum Wage Is Going Up (State Constitution)
Effective Date: January 1, 2025
The issue: The Colorado Constitution mandates that the state minimum wage adjust annually based on the consumer price index, a database of price changes in common goods and services. This yearly recalibration is designed to keep workers’ wages in line with inflation.
The Law: In 2025, the Colorado minimum wage for non-tipped workers increased from $14.42 to $14.81 per hour, unless a local jurisdiction sets a higher wage. In Denver, for instance, the 2025 minimum wage increased from $18.29 to $18.81 per hour.
Child Seat Requirements Are Changing (HB24-1055)
Effective date: January 1, 2025
The issue: For infants and toddlers, rear-facing car seats have proven to be the best way to avoid serious injuries while riding in a vehicle. For older children, remaining in a forward-facing car seat or booster seat until they can properly use a seat belt—typically between ages seven and 12—is the safest restraint, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Colorado’s previous car seat laws were not completely aligned with this guidance.
The law: Now, all children under two years old or 40 pounds must ride in a rear-facing car seat (the previous law was one-year-old and 20 pounds). The law also increases the age children must use a booster seat from eight to nine years old.
Punishment: Colorado’s child restraint law is considered a primary enforcement action for police officers, which means drivers can be pulled over if it appears a child is not sitting in a legal car seat. The offense results in a Class B traffic violation and a $65 fine, which can be waived if the driver can prove they’ve purchased the correct car seat by the time they appear in court.
Undocumented Immigrants Can More Easily Obtain Driver’s Licenses (SB24-182)
Effective date: March 31, 2025
The issue: While undocumented immigrants in Colorado can already apply for driver’s licenses, there are barriers to doing so. Currently, immigrants must present either a Colorado income tax return or a federal social security number, plus proof of Colorado residency for the last two years. Moreover, with an increasing number of migrants in the state, the need to expedite the process is urgent.
The law: The new legislation waives the two-year waiting period and allows immigrants to produce alternative documentation—including a passport or consular identification card—rather than a tax return or social security number. Applicants will still be required to pass the standard written exam, driving test, and vision screening in order to be eligible. Furthermore, their driver’s license can not be used to vote or obtain public benefits.
Concealed Carry Requirements Are Getting Stricter (HB24-1174)
Effective date: July 1, 2025
The issue: To obtain a concealed carry firearm permit in Colorado currently, applicants need to have completed a training class that demonstrates their competency with a handgun within the last 10 years. However, in the state’s eyes, not all of those classes equipped gun owners adequately.
The law: Starting in July, applicants must complete a training course taught by a certified instructor that satisfies the state’s minimum standard. The new standards mandate the course cover a variety of specific topics, including federal and state laws about the purchase, state law regarding the use of deadly force in self-defense, and conflict resolution. Students must pass both a written exam and a live-fire exercise.
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