Bill Details
Legislation
Colorado Senate Bill 25-003
Effective Date
August 1, 2026
Regulatory Body
Colorado Firearm Dealer Division
What is Senate Bill 003 & How to Buy a Gun in Colorado after Aug 1, 2026
Senate Bill 003 establishes a new regulatory framework for firearms in Colorado. Under this legislation, “Semi-automatic Sporting Firearms” (SSFs) are defined as gas-operated rifles, shotguns, and pistols equipped with detachable magazines. These firearms are strictly regulated by the newly formed Colorado Firearm Dealer Division.
What is a “Specified Semiautomatic Firearm”(SSF)
SSFs are the most commonly owned firearms in America. They are gas operated rifles, shotguns, and pistols with detachable magazines the Colorado Firearm Dealer Division has chosen to regulate under the authority granted by Senate Bill 003 once passed in 2025.
Each of the following will now be banned unless purchased with a permit:
Henry Homesteader Rifle
Colt AR15-A4
Desert Eagle Handgun
The 5-step Purchasing Process
Step 1 (Starting July 20, 2026)
Citizen Gun Buyer Record and Permit Application
Citizens will be required to create a user account for tracking by the Colorado government. Your application will be sent to your county Sheriff’s office queue once submitted. It will not be processed until the next step.
Step 2
Application Part II
You are required to provide the following to your county Sheriff’s office for your application to be processed:
- Firearms Training and Safety Course Record Fee ($52)
- Sheriff's Office Fee (amount varies)
- Government–issued photo ID
- A 3rd party name-based background check you have purchased
Step 3
Sheriff Issued Training Permission Slip (Eligibility Card)
The sheriff reviews the documentation and issues a training eligibility card if he decides you are eligible.
You can be denied if your sheriff believes you may present a danger to “others”, should you be allowed to possess a firearm. An abusive authority could claim “others” includes violent criminals. If you are denied on these grounds, please reach out to RMGO.
Citation: Colorado 2025 Senate Bill 003 - pg. 10
Step 4
Paid Exam
Pay for a course from any Verified Firearms Instructor in the state of Colorado. The instructor will verify your eligibility to take:
(a) The Extended 12-hour course over the course of at least two days, or
(b) The Basic, single day 4-hour course if you have taken a valid Hunter’s Education Course.
If you passed the course by 90% or above, you have 5 years to purchase specified semi-automatic firearms (SSF).
Step 5
Buying Specified Semi-Automatic Firearm
Your local gun shop is now required to confirm your eligibility in the “Firearms Safety System” in order to begin the purchase process.
Firearms “Safety” Course In order to purchase a Specified Semiautomatic Firearm you must complete a Colorado Parks and Wildlife approved Firearm Safety Course on topics including extreme risk protection [Red Flag Gun Confiscation] orders, and victim awareness and empathy along with other firearms safety related topics.
Questions & Answers
What is Senate Bill 25-003?
Senate Bill 25-003 (SB003), signed on April 10, 2025, prohibits the purchase or transfer of specified semiautomatic firearms (SSF) unless the person completes the appropriate firearms safety course.
Under this law, those who have been verified as having taken a hunter education course will be assigned the Basic Course; those without hunter education will be assigned the Extended Course.
What is a specified semiautomatic firearm (SSF)?
An SSF is a semiautomatic rifle or shotgun with a detachable magazine, or a gas-operated handgun with a detachable magazine.
SSF does not include:
- Most semiautomatic hunting shotguns
- Rimfire .22-caliber or lower firearms, unless the firearm has a separate upper and lower receiver
- A firearm that is manually operated by a bolt, pump, lever or slide action
- A semiautomatic firearm with a permanently affixed magazine that is limited to 15 rounds of ammunition or fewer
- A single- or double-action semiautomatic handgun that uses recoil to cycle the action of the handgun
- A firearm that has been made permanently inoperable
- An antique firearm or curio or relic
- Certain models of firearms, as they exist and are configured on August 1, 2026 as described in CRS 18-12-116(1)(d)(II)(e)
How will SB003 affect CPW?
Per statute, CPW will be implementing the program and is responsible to do the following:
- Develop an application that an individual can submit to the sheriff’s office of the county they live in. Based on the application, the sheriff’s office will either issue that individual a Firearms Safety Course Eligibility Card or deny the request.
- Establish the material that will be covered in both the Basic and Extended firearms safety courses, including — but not limited to — safe handling of semiautomatic firearms and ammunition magazines, child safety and the safe storage of firearms, firearms deaths associated with mental illness, extreme risk protection orders, and victim awareness and empathy.
- Establish a course fee to cover CPW’s administrative costs to run these trainings. This fee is separate from any assessed by the sheriff’s office or a private course instructor.
- Develop and operate a system of records with information on individuals’ eligibility to purchase an SSF. This information will include whether they were issued a Firearms Safety Course Eligibility Card (which allows them to enroll in a safety course) and if they have completed the appropriate course. The system will also allow sheriffs, course instructors and firearms dealers to access this information.
- Write and submit an annual report. On or before Dec. 31, 2025, and on or before December 31 of each year thereafter, CPW will submit a report to the Judiciary
committees of both the Colorado House and Senate on the expenses incurred by CPW to implement the bill, along with any additional resources CPW needs to effectively implement SB003.
Does this law prohibit the use of SSFs?
No. The law requires the successful completion of a firearms safety course in order to purchase or transfer an SSF after August 1, 2026.
Does this law affect users who already own an SSF?
No. This law only affects those who wish to purchase and transfer SSFs.
Do I need to take a course to purchase ammunition for an SSF?
No.
When does the law go into effect?
SB003 goes into effect August 1, 2026.
Can a Firearms Safety Course be completed online?
No. The course must be completed in person with an instructor on site.
Will CPW provide and teach the Basic and Extended required courses?
No. CPW will not teach or provide the courses; these will be done by private individuals or companies, with course costs being set by each instructor or company. CPW will provide course content for the instructor or company so that all verified instructors around the state provide the same training.
Does the course have a test?
Yes. A participant must score at least a 90% on the final test in order to successfully complete the course.
Do I need to complete a course if Iʼve already taken a hunter education course?
If you have already taken CPW-certified hunter education, you only need to take the Basic Course within five years before you purchase your SSF. The Basic Course is four hours in length. Hunter education courses taken outside of Colorado must be certified in the CPW system to be counted. The process of verifying hunters’ hunter education credentials has not changed under SB003.
Which course do I need to take?
If you have taken a CPW-certified hunter education course (in or outside Colorado) at any time, you only need to take the Basic Course within five years before you purchase an SSF.
Is the list of covered firearms final?
The complete list of restricted firearms is subject to change at any time at the decision of the Firearm Dealer Department.
Click to view the latest list: https://sbg.colorado.gov/sites/sbg/files/documents/Specified_Semiautomatic_Firearms_Guidance_07.01.2026.pdf
SB-003 Questions or Reports of Government Abuse
Supporters of Senate Bill 003
Photo | Elected Name | Resides in | Represents | Voted for SB25-003 |
| Senator Tom Sullivan Bill Sponsor | Centennial | Arapahoe & Douglas Counties | Yes |
| Representative Andrew Boesenecker Bill Sponsor | Fort Collins | Larimer County | Yes |
| Representative Meg Froelich Bill Sponsor | Englewood | Arapahoe & Denver Counties | Yes |
| Senator Julie Gonzales Bill Sponsor | Denver | Denver County | Yes |
| Representative Jennifer Bacon | Denver | Denver County | Yes |
| Representative Shannon Bird | Westminster | Adams & Jefferson Counties | Yes |
| Representative Kyle Brown | Louisville | Boulder & Broomfield Counties | Yes |
| Representative Sean Camacho | Denver | Denver County | Yes |
| Representative Michael Carter | Aurora | Adams & Arapahoe Counties | Yes |
| Representative Chad Clifford | Centennial | Arapahoe County | Yes |
| Representative Monica Duran | Wheat Ridge | Jefferson County | Yes |
| Representative Cecelia Espenoza | Denver | Denver County | Yes |
| Representative Lisa Feret | Arvada | Adams & Jefferson Counties | Yes |
| Representative Lorena Garcia | Denver | Adams & Jefferson Counties | Yes |
| Representative Lindsay Gilchrist | Denver | Denver County | Yes |
| Representative Eliza Hamrick | Centennial | Arapahoe & Douglas Counties | Yes |
| Representative Junie Joseph | Boulder | Boulder County | Yes |
| Representative Junie Joseph | Boulder | Boulder County | Yes |
| Representative Mandy Lindsay | Aurora | Arapahoe County | Yes |
| Representative William Lindstedt | Broomfield | Adams, Broomfield & Weld Counties | Yes |
| Representative Meghan Lukens | Steamboat Springs | Eagle, Moffat, Rio Blanco & Routt Counties | Yes |
| Representative Javier Mabrey | Denver | Denver & Jefferson Counties | Yes |
| Representative Karen McCormick | Longmont | Boulder County | Yes |
| Representative Jacque Phillips | Thornton | Adams County | Yes |
| Representative Naquetta Ricks | Aurora | Arapahoe County | Yes |
| Representative Manny Rutinel | Commerce City | Adams County | Yes |
| Representative Gretchen Rydin | Littleton | Arapahoe & Jefferson Counties | Yes |
| Representative Emily Sirota | Denver | Arapahoe & Denver Counties | Yes |
| Representative Lesley Smith | Boulder | Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin & Larimer Counties | Yes |
| Representative Rebekah Stewert | Lakewood | Jefferson County | Yes |
| Representative Tammy Story | Evergreen | Jefferson County | Yes |
| Representative Brianna Titone | Arvada | Jefferson County | Yes |
| Representative Alex Valdez | Denver | Denver County | Yes |
| Representative Elizabeth Valesco | Glenwood Springs | Eagle, Garfield & Pitkin Counties | Yes |
| Representative Jenny Willford | Northglenn | Adams County | Yes |
| Representative Steven Wiidrow | Denver | Denver County | Yes |
| Representative Yara Zokaie | Fort Collins | Larimer County | Yes |
| Representative Julie McCluskie | Dillon | Chaffee, Delta, Grand, Gunnison, Jackson, Lake, Park, Pitkin & Summit Counties | Yes |
| Senator Judy Amabile | Boulder | Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin & Larimer Counties | Yes |
| Senator Matt Ball | Denver | Denver County | Yes |
| Senator Jeff Bridges | Greenwod Village | Arapahoe, Denver & Jefferson Counties | Yes |
| Senator James Coleman | Denver | Denver County | Yes |
| Senator Lisa Cutter | Littleton | Jefferson County | Yes |
| Senator Jessie Danielson | Wheat Ridge | Jefferson County | Yes |
| Senator Lindsey Daugherty | Arvada | Adams & Jefferson Counties | Yes |
| Senator Iman Jodeh | Aurora | Arapahoe County | Yes |
| Senator Cathy Kipp | Fort Collins | Larimer County | Yes |
| Senator Chris Kolker | Centennial | Arapahoe & Jefferson Counties | Yes |
| Senator Janice Marchman | Loveland | Boulder & Larimer Counties | Yes |
| Senator Dafna Michaelson Janet | Commerce City | Adams & Arapahoe Counties | Yes |
| Senator Kyle Mullica | Northglenn | Adams County | Yes |
| Senator Dylan Roberts | Avon | Clear Creek, Eagle, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Jackson, Moffat, Rio Blanco, Routt & Summit Counties | Yes |
| Senator Robert Rodriguez | Denver | Arapahoe, Denver & Jefferson Counties | Yes |
| Senator Katie Wallace | Longmont | Boulder, Broomfield & Weld Counties | Yes |
| Senator Michael Weissman | Aurora | Adams & Arapahoe Counties | Yes |
| Senator Faith Winter | Westminster | Adams, Broomfield & Weld Counties | Yes |