Colorado has rejected a bill that would have required life in prison without parole for people convicted of trafficking a child for sex, effectively ending the measure's chances in the current legislative session.
House Bill 26‑1082, known as the "Children Are Not for Sale Act," would have reclassified human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude from a class 2 felony to a class 1 felony, the same level as first‑degree murder in Colorado.
It would also have mandated that anyone convicted of that crime receive a life sentence without the possibility of parole. The bill's language added the act of "trading anything of monetary value" to buy or sell sexual activity with a minor being trafficked as part of the offense.
How Lawmakers Voted
The bill was considered in the House Judiciary Committee on Feb. 10, 2026, and was defeated by a 7–4 vote, largely along party lines, according to Daily Citizen. Seven Democratic lawmakers voted against advancing the measure, arguing that existing laws already allow for very long sentences and that mandatory‑life terms remove judicial discretion.
The four Republican members present supported the bill, saying harsher penalties are needed to deter child sex trafficking and send a clear message that exploiting children is unacceptable.
During nearly four hours of testimony, dozens of survivors, parents, and advocacy groups urged the committee to pass the bill. Representative Scott Bottoms, a Republican who introduced the bill, said child trafficking is one of the most heinous crimes society faces and that children deserve the strongest possible legal protection.
Advocacy organizations such as Protect Kids Colorado highlighted that Colorado ranks among the top states for human trafficking reports and argued that mandatory life sentences would help deter predators.
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Opposition and Criticism
Opponents of the bill included defense attorneys and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Colorado, who warned that the proposal was too broad and could affect people who themselves had been trafficked, Denver7 reported.
They also said that judges should retain the ability to consider individual circumstances and that life‑without‑parole sentences undermine rehabilitation and increase costs in the prison system. Some lawmakers who opposed the bill acknowledged that child sex trafficking is a serious crime but said that tougher sentencing tools and prevention efforts, rather than mandatory life terms, should be the focus.
Because the Judiciary Committee voted down HB 26‑1082, the bill cannot move forward in this session and will not become law this year.
Supporters of the measure have indicated they may try to bring the policy back in future sessions or pursue a citizen‑initiated ballot measure that would require life in prison for those convicted of sexual trafficking of a minor, modeled on the same concept, as per Fast Democracy.
