HB 1234 CO

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Became Law

The act prohibits a person who possesses a record or report (record) of child abuse or neglect from releasing identifying data or information contained in the record to a person who is not authorized to receive the information or data.     The act clarifies what constitutes identifying data in a record. The act adds an assigned designee of a person named in a record who is acting on the person's behalf as a person who may have access to child abuse or neglect records if the assigned designee presents a valid release of information signed by an authorized person.     The act allows a person named in a record as an alleged abused or neglected child who is in possession of a record in which they are named or, with the person's consent, the person's attorney or guardian ad litem, to disclose and make use of the record, including for the purpose of litigation or to obtain treatment or services. Except as expressly authorized in law, a criminal defendant may only access a record after an in camera review by the court in which the court finds that access to the record is necessary for the resolution of an issue.     The act requires each county department of human or social services to establish and submit to the state department of human services a process current and former clients may use to obtain access to their case records.     The act repeals the penalties associated with a person who improperly releases or willfully permits or encourages the release of data or information contained in the records to a person not permitted to access the information and makes it a petty offense for the department of education or a school district, charter school, or nonpublic school to release data or information contained in a record to a person not permitted to access the information.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

• G. Rydin Democratic · sponsor
• M. Soper Republican · sponsor
• L. Frizell Republican · sponsor
• K. Wallace Democratic · sponsor

1. May 4, 2026 Governor Signed · executive
2. Apr 23, 2026 Sent to the Governor · executive
3. Apr 22, 2026 Signed by the President of the Senate · upper
4. Apr 22, 2026 Signed by the Speaker of the House · lower
5. Apr 6, 2026 Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments · upper
6. Apr 2, 2026 Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments · upper
7. Mar 30, 2026 Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole · upper
8. Mar 26, 2026 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary · upper
9. Mar 23, 2026 House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments · lower
10. Mar 20, 2026 House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor · lower
11. Mar 18, 2026 House Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole · lower
12. Feb 18, 2026 Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary · lower