A bill to define school zones, enable automated speed enforcement near schools, and create a statewide framework for School Streets — where kids and bikes always come first.
Sign Up to Testify → Learn about the bill ↓Colorado HB26-1318 addresses a long-standing gap in state law: Colorado has never clearly defined what a "school zone" actually is. This bill fixes that — and adds teeth to protect kids getting to and from school on foot or by bike.
The bill defines school zones as all roadways within at least 500 feet of a school property boundary. Within those zones, traffic penalties are already doubled under existing law — but enforcement has been hampered by vague definitions and burdensome requirements.
This bill is supported by Bicycle Colorado, AAA Colorado, and other advocacy organizations.
Establishes in state law that a school zone covers all roadways within at least 500 feet of a school property boundary — giving cities and counties a consistent, enforceable standard.
Streamlines requirements for automated vehicle identification systems (speed cameras) on Safe Routes to School. Currently, municipalities must document a 5-year crash history before deployment — this bill waives that requirement on designated safe routes to school.
Adds and updates definitions that allow school zone protections to be consistently applied and enforced across the state, removing ambiguity for law enforcement and courts.
Advocates are working on a proposed amendment that would create a legal framework for School Streets — local roads directly adjacent to schools where kids, pedestrians, and cyclists get the right of way.
The amendment is modeled directly on Washington State's SB 5595 and adapted for Colorado. It creates a foundation for a statewide shared streets program in the future.
A trial School Street was already piloted at Brown Elementary — read about that experience here.
The maximum speed limit on a School Street is 10 mph — making it genuinely safe for kids.
Motor vehicle drivers must always yield to both pedestrians and cyclists. Cyclists yield to pedestrians.
Streets can be closed to motor vehicles entirely — giving schools the flexibility to create car-free arrival and dismissal zones.
Laws that prohibit pedestrians from crossing or lingering in roadways don't apply on School Streets — students can move freely and safely.
School Streets must have clear signage indicating the designation, speed limit, and right-of-way rules.
Visit sites.coleg.gov/public-testimony — the Colorado legislature's official sign-up portal.
Type HB26-1318 into the bill number field.
Scroll down to find the Senate Transportation & Energy Committee hearing on Wednesday, April 22 at 1:30 PM (Room SCR 352) and select it.
Fill in your information and choose your testimony format: in-person, remote (Zoom), or written comment.
Wednesday, April 22 at 1:30 PM in Room SCR 352 at the Colorado State Capitol. Unlike the House hearing, this one has a fixed start time — plan to arrive 15–20 minutes early to check in. The bill order on the agenda may shift, so build in flexibility. Written testimony is always a strong option if you can't be there live.
Not sure what to write? Use one of these drafts as a starting point — then personalize it with your own experience. Even a short, personal message carries more weight than a longer generic one. Brackets indicate where to fill in your own details.
After copying, paste directly into the written comment field at sites.coleg.gov/public-testimony →
After copying, paste directly into the written comment field at sites.coleg.gov/public-testimony →
After copying, paste directly into the written comment field at sites.coleg.gov/public-testimony →
After copying, paste directly into the written comment field at sites.coleg.gov/public-testimony →
Things people have asked about HB26-1318, the Senate hearing, and how to show up. Don't see your question? Written testimony is always welcome — even a two-sentence comment helps.
No. The School Street designation is a completely optional program and only applies when a city chooses to implement it. It's typically intended for quiet residential streets directly next to schools — not for arterials or every school zone statewide.
No. Cities can still reduce the size of a school zone — they just have to hold a public hearing before doing so. The bill adds transparency, not a prohibition.
No. There are no fiscal impacts to cities from this bill. It simply gives cities more options — the definitions, School Street framework, and relaxed camera siting rules are all opt-in tools, not mandates.
An optional legal designation a city can apply to a residential street directly adjacent to a school. When applied, the street has a 10 mph speed limit, pedestrians and cyclists always have right-of-way, the street can optionally be closed to motor vehicles during arrival/dismissal, and required signage makes the rules unambiguous to drivers.
Modeled on Washington State's SB 5595 and on the ~200 School Streets Paris has implemented since 2020. More detail in the School Streets section above.
In Colorado, a bill has to pass both chambers before it can go to the governor's desk. HB26-1318 cleared the House earlier in this session. The Senate Transportation & Energy Committee is its first stop on the Senate side. If they vote it out favorably, it moves to the full Senate floor, and then — assuming any differences between the two chambers are reconciled — to the governor for signature.
That makes this committee hearing a genuine decision point. Enough "no" votes here and the bill stops moving.
Written comments: anyone can submit, regardless of where they live. In-person or remote (Zoom) testimony: anyone can sign up, but Colorado residents and directly-affected parties generally get priority if the queue is long. If you live in Colorado, say which city in your testimony — it matters to the committee.
Committee agendas frequently shift. Your bill might be heard on time, thirty minutes late, or two hours late depending on what the committee takes up first. Plan to arrive 15–20 minutes early to check in, then be prepared to wait.
If your schedule genuinely won't accommodate that, remote (Zoom) testimony lets you join from anywhere, and written testimony carries real weight without any time commitment. You can also sign up for multiple formats.
Each person typically gets 3 minutes (sometimes shortened to 2 if the queue is long — the chair will announce at the start of the hearing). Practice reading your remarks out loud first; 3 minutes is about 400–420 words at a natural pace.
Yes, it's public. Hearings are recorded, streamed live, and archived on the Colorado General Assembly site. Written comments become part of the public record. Don't include personal information beyond your name and city.
It moves to the full Senate floor for a vote. After the Senate passes it, any differences between the House and Senate versions are reconciled — sometimes through a conference committee — and the final version goes to the governor's desk.
If the Senate committee votes it down, the bill effectively dies for this session. That's why this hearing matters.
Plenty. In rough order of impact:
1. Submit written testimony — every committee member reads them, and a
short personal message carries more weight than a longer generic one.
2. Email your state senator directly (find them at
leg.colorado.gov).
3. Show up without speaking — visible support in the room is noticed.
4. Share this page with other parents or neighbors who might testify.
5. Help someone else prepare — proofread their draft, practice delivery with them.
It takes just a few minutes to sign up. Your voice — especially as a bike bus leader or volunteer — carries real weight with this committee.