Colorado 2026 Regular Session Status: Passed Senate 19 D cosponsors

SB 48 — Remove Exception to Marry with Judicial Approval

Last action — Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Not Repassed

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced January 27, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the House.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Moderate

How often bills like it became law.

  • Passed Senate

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 23 sponsors

    4 primary, 19 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (19 D).

  • Mixed recorded votes

    8 passed, 1 failed in recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

In plain language

The bill requires individuals to be at least 18 years old to obtain a marriage license.

This bill removes the exception that allows minors aged 16 or 17 to marry with judicial approval, mandating that all applicants for marriage licenses be at least 18 years old. The bill is designed to set a uniform age requirement for marriage.

Summary

Current law requires an individual to be at least 18 years old in order to obtain a marriage license; except that a minor who is 16 or 17 years old may obtain a marriage license with judicial approval. The bill repeals this exception, therefore requiring that an individual be at least 18 years old to obtain a marriage license.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

33 added · 26 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment to Bill SB 48 changes the provisions for when a minor can marry. Previously, the bill aimed to remove the exception that allowed minors aged 16 and older to marry with judicial approval, but the new version maintains that minors can still marry with court consent. This change is significant because it continues to provide a pathway for older minors to enter marriage legally, under specific circumstances, rather than completely barring them from doing so.

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Previous
Latest
Second Regular Session Seventy-fifth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO REVISED This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted on Second Reading in the Second House LLS NO.
Second Regular Session Seventy-fifth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO REREVISED This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted in the Second House LLS NO.
26-0181.01 Shelby Ross x4510 SENATE BILL 26-048 SENATE SPONSORSHIP Hinrichsen and Marchman, Amabile, Ball, Bridges, Coleman, Cutter, Danielson, Daugherty, Exum, Gonzales J., Jodeh, Kipp, Kolker, Lindstedt, Mullica, Roberts, Sullivan, Wallace HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Joseph and Garcia, Senate Committees House Committees State, Veterans, & Military Affairs State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Appropriations Appropriations i A BILL FOR AN ACT a 2 S e 2 C ONCERNINGLIMITINGTHEAGEDIFFERENCEBETWEEN PARTIES TO A U d ,5 H 2 a MARRIAGE THAT REQUIRES JUDICIAL APPROVAL WHEN ONE d M d PARTY IS A MINOR .
26-0181.01 Shelby Ross x4510 SENATE BILL 26-048 SENATE SPONSORSHIP Hinrichsen and Marchman, Amabile, Ball, Bridges, Coleman, Cutter, Danielson, Daugherty, Exum, Gonzales J., Jodeh, Kipp, Kolker, Lindstedt, Mullica, Roberts, Sullivan, Wallace HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Joseph and Garcia, Story, Titone d d e a 2 S n 2 U g 6 H d a e M Senate Committees House Committees R State, Veterans, & Military Affairs State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs 3 Appropriations Appropriations n A BILL FOR AN ACT d 2 S e 2 C ONCERNINGLIMITINGTHEAGEDIFFERENCEBETWEEN PARTIES TO A U R ,5 H n y MARRIAGE THAT REQUIRES JUDICIAL APPROVAL WHEN ONE d M d PARTY IS A MINOR .
e m A Bill Summary d (Note:
n m A Bill Summary e (Note:
This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does d e 2 notreflectanyamendmentsthatmaybesubsequentlyadopted.Ifthisbill E a 2 passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that T U 0 N g 3 applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at S d r http://leg.colorado.gov.) e a d M Current law requires an individual to be at least 18 years old in order to obtain a marriage license;
This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does n 6 notreflectanyamendmentsthatmaybesubsequentlyadopted.Ifthisbill m 0 T n , passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that A U 3 applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at E i h S a r http://leg.colorado.gov.) R M r Current law requires an individual to be at least 18 years old in order to obtain a marriage license;
The bill g repealsthisexception,thereforerequiringthatanindividualbeatleast18 d e 2 years old to obtain a marriage license.
The bill n repealsthisexception,thereforerequiringthatanindividualbeatleast18 d 6 e 0 years old to obtain a marriage license.
E R 2 A n 7 N 2 h Shading denotes HOUSE amendment.
T R , A n 7 E d h Shading denotes HOUSE amendment.
S e r Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.n a Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
S e r Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.n M Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
m M A Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
m A Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
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Action History

  1. Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Not Repassed

  2. Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass

  3. House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  4. House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor

  5. House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole

  6. House Committee on State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs Refer Amended to Appropriations

  7. Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  8. Senate Third Reading Reconsidered - No Amendments

  9. Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs

  10. Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee

  11. Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 03/27/2026 - No Amendments

  12. Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 03/26/2026 - No Amendments

  13. Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 03/25/2026 - No Amendments

  14. Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole

  15. Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Refer Unamended to Appropriations

  16. Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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4 sponsors · 19 co-sponsors · 78 not signed on · 20 voted No

Sponsors (4)

Co-sponsors (19)

Not signed on (78)

78 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 78 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

CONCUR

Passed 19 Yea · 17 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 111000
Republican 3700
Unaffiliated 5000
Total 191700
% of votes cast 53%47%0%0%
How each member voted (36)
Member Party Vote
Gonzales J. — Yea
Pelton B. — Yea
Pelton R. — Yea
President — Yea
Adrienne Benavidez — Yea
Cathy Kipp Democrat Yea
Chris Kolker Democrat Nay
Dylan Roberts Democrat Nay
Iman Jodeh Democrat Yea
James Coleman Democrat Yea
Janice Marchman Democrat Yea
Jeff Bridges Democrat Nay
Jessie Danielson Democrat Nay
Judy Amabile Democrat Nay
Katie Wallace Democrat Nay
Kyle Mullica Democrat Nay
Lindsey Daugherty Democrat Nay
Lisa Cutter Democrat Yea
Marc Snyder Democrat Yea
Matt Ball Democrat Nay
Mike Weissman Democrat Yea
Nick Hinrichsen Democrat Yea
Robert Rodriguez Democrat Yea
Tom Sullivan Democrat Nay
Tony Exum Democrat Yea
William Lindstedt Democrat Yea
Barbara Kirkmeyer Republican Yea
Cleave Simpson Republican Yea
Janice Rich Republican Nay
John Carson Republican Nay
Larry Liston Republican Nay
Lisa Frizell Republican Nay
Lynda Zamora Wilson Republican Nay
Marc Catlin Republican Yea
Mark Baisley Republican Nay
Scott Bright Republican Nay

Official roll call →

REPASS

Failed 11 Yea · 25 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 101100
Republican 01000
Unaffiliated 1400
Total 112500
% of votes cast 31%69%0%0%
How each member voted (36)
Member Party Vote
Gonzales J. — Yea
Pelton B. — Nay
Pelton R. — Nay
President — Nay
Adrienne Benavidez — Nay
Cathy Kipp Democrat Yea
Chris Kolker Democrat Nay
Dylan Roberts Democrat Nay
Iman Jodeh Democrat Yea
James Coleman Democrat Nay
Janice Marchman Democrat Nay
Jeff Bridges Democrat Yea
Jessie Danielson Democrat Yea
Judy Amabile Democrat Nay
Katie Wallace Democrat Nay
Kyle Mullica Democrat Nay
Lindsey Daugherty Democrat Nay
Lisa Cutter Democrat Yea
Marc Snyder Democrat Yea
Matt Ball Democrat Nay
Mike Weissman Democrat Yea
Nick Hinrichsen Democrat Yea
Robert Rodriguez Democrat Yea
Tom Sullivan Democrat Nay
Tony Exum Democrat Nay
William Lindstedt Democrat Yea
Barbara Kirkmeyer Republican Nay
Cleave Simpson Republican Nay
Janice Rich Republican Nay
John Carson Republican Nay
Larry Liston Republican Nay
Lisa Frizell Republican Nay
Lynda Zamora Wilson Republican Nay
Marc Catlin Republican Nay
Mark Baisley Republican Nay
Scott Bright Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Refer Senate Bill 26-048 to the Committee of the Whole.

Passed 9 Yea · 2 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 8000
Republican 1100
Unaffiliated 0100
Total 9200
% of votes cast 82%18%0%0%
How each member voted (11)
Member Party Vote
Garcia Sander — Nay
Andrew Boesenecker Democrat Yea
Brianna Titone Democrat Yea
Elizabeth Velasco Democrat Yea
Emily Sirota Democrat Yea
Junie Joseph Democrat Yea
Karen McCormick Democrat Yea
Kyle Brown Democrat Yea
Yara Zokaie Democrat Yea
Matt Soper Republican Yea
Rick Taggart Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Refer Senate Bill 26-048, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.

Passed 6 Yea · 5 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 0300
Democrat 6200
Total 6500
% of votes cast 55%45%0%0%
How each member voted (11)
Member Party Vote
Cecelia Espenoza Democrat Nay
Chad Clifford Democrat Yea
Jenny Willford Democrat Yea
Kenny Nguyen Democrat Yea
Lisa Feret Democrat Yea
Meg Froelich Democrat Nay
Michael Carter Democrat Yea
Naquetta Ricks Democrat Yea
Brandi Bradley Republican Nay
Scott Bottoms Republican Nay
Stephanie Luck Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment B).

Passed 8 Yea · 3 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 1200
Democrat 7100
Total 8300
% of votes cast 73%27%0%0%
How each member voted (11)
Member Party Vote
Cecelia Espenoza Democrat Nay
Chad Clifford Democrat Yea
Jenny Willford Democrat Yea
Kenny Nguyen Democrat Yea
Lisa Feret Democrat Yea
Meg Froelich Democrat Yea
Michael Carter Democrat Yea
Naquetta Ricks Democrat Yea
Brandi Bradley Republican Yea
Scott Bottoms Republican Nay
Stephanie Luck Republican Nay

Official roll call →

BILL

Passed 23 Yea · 13 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 21000
Republican 01000
Unaffiliated 2300
Total 231300
% of votes cast 64%36%0%0%
How each member voted (36)
Member Party Vote
Benavidez — Nay
Gonzales J. — Yea
Pelton B. — Nay
Pelton R. — Nay
President — Yea
Cathy Kipp Democrat Yea
Chris Kolker Democrat Yea
Dylan Roberts Democrat Yea
Iman Jodeh Democrat Yea
James Coleman Democrat Yea
Janice Marchman Democrat Yea
Jeff Bridges Democrat Yea
Jessie Danielson Democrat Yea
Judy Amabile Democrat Yea
Katie Wallace Democrat Yea
Kyle Mullica Democrat Yea
Lindsey Daugherty Democrat Yea
Lisa Cutter Democrat Yea
Marc Snyder Democrat Yea
Matt Ball Democrat Yea
Mike Weissman Democrat Yea
Nick Hinrichsen Democrat Yea
Robert Rodriguez Democrat Yea
Tom Sullivan Democrat Yea
Tony Exum Democrat Yea
William Lindstedt Democrat Yea
Barbara Kirkmeyer Republican Nay
Cleave Simpson Republican Nay
Janice Rich Republican Nay
John Carson Republican Nay
Larry Liston Republican Nay
Lisa Frizell Republican Nay
Lynda Zamora Wilson Republican Nay
Marc Catlin Republican Nay
Mark Baisley Republican Nay
Scott Bright Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

civil-rights education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 48 do?
Current law requires an individual to be at least 18 years old in order to obtain a marriage license; except that a minor who is 16 or 17 years old may obtain a marriage license with judicial approval. The bill repeals this exception, therefore requiring that an individual be at least 18 years old to obtain a marriage license.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)
Who sponsors SB 48?
SB 48 is sponsored by B. Titone, T. Story, J. Joseph, L. García, Janice Marchman (Democrat), Judy Amabile (Democrat), Matt Ball (Democrat), Jeff Bridges (Democrat), James Coleman (Democrat), Lisa Cutter (Democrat), Jessie Danielson (Democrat), Lindsey Daugherty (Democrat), Tony Exum (Democrat), Iman Jodeh (Democrat), Cathy Kipp (Democrat), Chris Kolker (Democrat), William Lindstedt (Democrat), Kyle Mullica (Democrat), Tom Sullivan (Democrat), Katie Wallace (Democrat), Nick Hinrichsen (Democrat), Julie Gonzales (Democrat), and Dylan Roberts (Democrat).
What is the current status of SB 48?
This bill has passed the Senate. Introduced January 27, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track SB 48?
Track SB 48 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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