SB26-097 General Assembly Bill

[secojim]

Will Colorado become the second state to Decriminalize Adult Commercial Sexual Activity? What are the chances? 

https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-097

[Mouthy-Meg]

https://www.westword.com/news/colorado-could-legalize-prostituion-sex-work-new-bill-40843835/?fbclid=IwdGRzaAP8g7JjbGNrA_x942V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHmOZ92FPx52EJ8kyWFBO1n2r3nLnxPKWeQPllMSJXxUAnTNeYi8iurOcKz7e_aem_QS4SBIrj-MuFJL6nBmmQqA

[time4fun]

Yes Senate Bill #97 sounds like a good approach to removing the puritanical sanctions against adults engaging in consensual activities.  Hopefully, the hobbyist/ provider community will summon the fortitude to publicly support the effort and communicate their thoughts to their elected senators and representatives.  The bill hasn't been scheduled for a hearing yet.

[Elle Blake]

I guarantee we all start seeing a lot more politicians. Or people that have very powerful influence on our state.. which could get tricky because you know they’re much more likely to hide their secrets regardless if it’s legal or not.

On the other hand, I think that it’s a complete and total waste of taxpayers dollars when they set up stings..

I think that the police are overwhelmed right now and that this hobby is the least of their worries.

[RupertMaclanahan]

If you want to read the text of the bill, here it is.

(I am a lawyer who has practiced criminal law and who has been involved with drafting/passing legislation, but take anything I say with a grain of salt).

Reading the bill, there are are number of interesting things. This would decriminalize adult sex work in all respects. Providers and clients would not be subject to arrest or prosecution for adult, consensual, commercial sexual activity. There would be no prohibition on advertising (that could be added by amendment, but who knows), but of course SEXTA/FOSTA are still federal laws and “legit” websites would get shut down by the feds, or at least be at risk of that.

The Westword article says that the bill contains provisions for regulation of time and location for sex work, but that's not in the bill, like not at all. That would presumably include soliciting in public, which I think most people in favor of decriminalization (like me) would want to see included. For instance, i think cities should be able to ban street prostitution (imagine what would happen to parts of Colfax Ave if sex workers could legally and openly solicit for work), and I would expect that to be added. Under the bill, municipalities could still prohibit "commercial sex work" in licensed massage facilities, but that would only be a license violation by the owner, and probably a license violation by a licensed massage therapist, but defiantly not a crime by the client.

Keeping a place of prostitution would no longer be a crime, so theoretically some type of brothel might be legal, however keeping such a brothel might constitute pimping, which is defined as living, on or being supported or maintained in whole or in part by money or other thing of value earned, received, procured, or realized by any other ANOTHER person through COMMERCIAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY." So a person operating a brothel could not take a portion of proceeds, but could theoretically just rent rooms/space/access to the sex workers like you might find in some European brothels. Still, i would think some prosecutor would take a test case to see if even that constitutes "pimping". Anyway, my bet would be that there will be an amendment that either outright prohibits brothels or allows cities, towns, and counties to do so.

One interesting thing is that this bill was sent to the Judiciary Committee. When the legislative leadership wants a bill killed quickly they send it to State Affairs (called the "kill committee" amongst the legislature and lobbyists). So it has a puncher's chance. But I still don't think that there is any way this passes, or that Polis signs it if it does.

[gr8owl]

4 hours ago, RupertMaclanahan said:

If you want to read the text of the bill, here it is.

(I am a lawyer who has practiced criminal law and who has been involved with drafting/passing legislation, but take anything I say with a grain of salt).

Reading the bill, there are are number of interesting things. This would decriminalize adult sex work in all respects. Providers and clients would not be subject to arrest or prosecution for adult, consensual, commercial sexual activity. There would be no prohibition on advertising (that could be added by amendment, but who knows), but of course SEXTA/FOSTA are still federal laws and “legit” websites would get shut down by the feds, or at least be at risk of that.

The Westword article says that the bill contains provisions for regulation of time and location for sex work, but that's not in the bill, like not at all. That would presumably include soliciting in public, which I think most people in favor of decriminalization (like me) would want to see included. For instance, i think cities should be able to ban street prostitution (imagine what would happen to parts of Colfax Ave if sex workers could legally and openly solicit for work), and I would expect that to be added. Under the bill, municipalities could still prohibit "commercial sex work" in licensed massage facilities, but that would only be a license violation by the owner, and probably a license violation by a licensed massage therapist, but defiantly not a crime by the client.

Keeping a place of prostitution would no longer be a crime, so theoretically some type of brothel might be legal, however keeping such a brothel might constitute pimping, which is defined as living, on or being supported or maintained in whole or in part by money or other thing of value earned, received, procured, or realized by any other ANOTHER person through COMMERCIAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY." So a person operating a brothel could not take a portion of proceeds, but could theoretically just rent rooms/space/access to the sex workers like you might find in some European brothels. Still, i would think some prosecutor would take a test case to see if even that constitutes "pimping". Anyway, my bet would be that there will be an amendment that either outright prohibits brothels or allows cities, towns, and counties to do so.

One interesting thing is that this bill was sent to the Judiciary Committee. When the legislative leadership wants a bill killed quickly they send it to State Affairs (called the "kill committee" amongst the legislature and lobbyists). So it has a puncher's chance. But I still don't think that there is any way this passes, or that Polis signs it if it does.

I would not hold my breath in an election year.  Not coincidentally the Colorado Springs Gazette ran a featured editorial today by former Denver DA Mitch Morrissey of the hilariously named "Common Sense Institute" touting a senate bill that has made it out of the Judiciary Committee.  SB 26-015 appears to veer the other direction encouraging more money for cops and focusing on "human trafficking" of minors while lumping all manner of human trafficking into concocted numbers purporting to show a crisis. A familiar tactic and sure to be used against anyone voting to decriminalize as another case of dems being soft on crime.  Particularly disturbing since Morrissey used to claim to be a dem in order to get elected in Denver.

[Bit Banger]

The claims of human trafficking conflated with sex trafficking (a small portion) especially of minors (an even smaller portion) will drive the media narrative.  This ignores the independents and transactions between CONSENTING adult.

[Fun_Fun]

I was browsing and thought this would be well received here, let's see how this shakes out. 

https://coloradosun.com/2026/02/13/colorado-bill-legalizing-prostitution/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_denver&stream=top

 

Who knows, even if this doesn't get traction, maybe they will rewrite it a bit to get it passed. And kudos to the person who has been talking to Hinrichsen (the state senator who introduced the bill).

Quote

Hinrichsen said he brought the bill after having conversations with a constituent who is a sex worker. He said he was skeptical at first, but the more he talked with her the more he was convinced that a policy change was needed.

 

[Elle Blake]

On 2/15/2026 at 8:08 AM, RupertMaclanahan said:

If you want to read the text of the bill, here it is.

(I am a lawyer who has practiced criminal law and who has been involved with drafting/passing legislation, but take anything I say with a grain of salt).

Reading the bill, there are are number of interesting things. This would decriminalize adult sex work in all respects. Providers and clients would not be subject to arrest or prosecution for adult, consensual, commercial sexual activity. There would be no prohibition on advertising (that could be added by amendment, but who knows), but of course SEXTA/FOSTA are still federal laws and “legit” websites would get shut down by the feds, or at least be at risk of that.

The Westword article says that the bill contains provisions for regulation of time and location for sex work, but that's not in the bill, like not at all. That would presumably include soliciting in public, which I think most people in favor of decriminalization (like me) would want to see included. For instance, i think cities should be able to ban street prostitution (imagine what would happen to parts of Colfax Ave if sex workers could legally and openly solicit for work), and I would expect that to be added. Under the bill, municipalities could still prohibit "commercial sex work" in licensed massage facilities, but that would only be a license violation by the owner, and probably a license violation by a licensed massage therapist, but defiantly not a crime by the client.

Keeping a place of prostitution would no longer be a crime, so theoretically some type of brothel might be legal, however keeping such a brothel might constitute pimping, which is defined as living, on or being supported or maintained in whole or in part by money or other thing of value earned, received, procured, or realized by any other ANOTHER person through COMMERCIAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY." So a person operating a brothel could not take a portion of proceeds, but could theoretically just rent rooms/space/access to the sex workers like you might find in some European brothels. Still, i would think some prosecutor would take a test case to see if even that constitutes "pimping". Anyway, my bet would be that there will be an amendment that either outright prohibits brothels or allows cities, towns, and counties to do so.

One interesting thing is that this bill was sent to the Judiciary Committee. When the legislative leadership wants a bill killed quickly they send it to State Affairs (called the "kill committee" amongst the legislature and lobbyists). So it has a puncher's chance. But I still don't think that there is any way this passes, or that Polis signs it if it does.

Even more interesting than this Bill!!!  
Why hasn’t human trafficking been added to RICO and COCCA!!!!!

[PrimalDelilah]

Last week, bill SB26-097 was introduced to the Colorado legislature. If it passes, adult consensual sex work will be decriminalized state-wide. This could be put in effect as soon as July! 

This would be such a game changer for all of us. Nowhere in the country has this, not even those special areas in Nevada or Maine!

I really want this to pass, obviously. I made a flyer to direct folks to call their representative and encourage them to support this bill. I also made a design for business cards that have a short script to guide them through this call. I've attached them to this post. 

If you, as a provider or hobbyist, want to do something to help this bill pass, I HUGELY ENCOURAGE YOU TO CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE! If you want to do more, or you've got phone anxiety, download the flyer, print a bunch out, and post them up in as many places as you can! 

I personally am offering a special to hobbyists who can show me they've called their representative and/or posted these flyers.

Let's work together to make a change that will benefit us all!

[Leyla Scott]

Hi everyone. Why isn’t anyone talking about this? Is it OK to post this here? Do y’all think it’s going to pass? Go Colorado 💪🏽

https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-097

[Mouthy-Meg]

9 hours ago, Leyla Scott said:

Hi everyone. Why isn’t anyone talking about this? Is it OK to post this here? Do y’all think it’s going to pass? Go Colorado 💪🏽

https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-097

We are talking about it? I mean i think that's why this thread is here.. 

 

Do i think it'll pass?  honestly no. It's still too fresh to tell

[Leyla Scott]

I should’ve scrolled down more. I was surprised why I hadn’t seen anything on the forums. 🤭 I hope it passes, but I don’t have much hope. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Leyla Scott]

On 2/14/2026 at 9:40 AM, Elle Blake said:

I guarantee we all start seeing a lot more politicians. Or people that have very powerful influence on our state.. which could get tricky because you know they’re much more likely to hide their secrets regardless if it’s legal or not.

On the other hand, I think that it’s a complete and total waste of taxpayers dollars when they set up stings..

I think that the police are overwhelmed right now and that this hobby is the least of their worries.

Absolutely a waste of tax payer dollars & LE resources too. The ladies I’ve known who got caught in stings, either had the charges dropped or there was very little penalty like some light community work, nonetheless still an inconvenience.  The attorney that sealed my friend’s record told her that the PDs use their bottom of the barrel or rookie workforce. It’s surprising to see that they still do this, like clockwork every couple of years in Denver, going after independent ladies! 🤦🏻‍♀️ (although, my friend did say a couple of the girls that were caught at the same time as her, admitted to having “managers”).  So maybe that’s what they’re looking for 🤷🏻‍♀️

[sweetmoment]

Yes, this bill or something similar to it would be good.

[MrReindeer-9515]

Unfortunately it died a natural death in committee. However it was a fairly decent start in that we have to start somewhere. Hopefully it will resurface next session.

[secojim]

Darn the luck

[time4fun]

According to various news sources, the Sponsor decided to pull this bill before a hearing was scheduled.  There was fear that there would be recrimination against those who chose to testify in support of the decriminalization.  Our community will have to be more organized the next time a bill is put forth.  There are some pretty fierce religious folks who make their living railing against the sins of the flesh.  Those of us who enjoy the pleasures of flesh will have to strategize about how to withstand the onslaught before hand.