Colorado Advances HB26‑1144 to Ban Unlicensed 3D-Printed Firearms, Regulate Instructions

House Bill 26‑1144, which would make unlicensed manufacturing of 3D‑printed firearms and components a crime and restrict the distribution of digital instructions, advanced in Colorado’s legislature after a committee and a House floor push. The Original Report states the measure was advanced on 27 February 2026; Courthouse News Service reported the House Judiciary Committee advanced a version of the bill on a 7-4 party-line vote, and Yakimaherald and the Denver Post reported a House floor vote of 40-25.

The bill text as described in reporting would criminalize manufacturing firearms using 3D printers or CNC milling machines without a federal license and would bar unlicensed production of completed firearms, unfinished frames or receivers, large-capacity magazines, and rapid‑fire devices. The proposal would also prohibit selling or distributing instruction manuals or digital files that could be used to produce those devices. Penalties described by Courthouse News Service and 3dprintingindustry treat a first violation as a class 1 misdemeanor and repeat violations as class 5 felonies.

Reporters note the bill was amended in committee and on the House floor to narrow its scope. KUSA reported the original draft would have banned possession of 3D‑printed firearms and the digital instructions for making them, but the amended version “focuses on manufacturing and selling.” Courthouse News Service linked the committee action to the House Judiciary Committee specifically when reporting the 7-4 vote.

The bill is sponsored by Democrats, but sources disagree on the sponsor’s exact spelling. Courthouse News Service names Representative Andrew Boensenecker of Fort Collins and quotes him: “Existing law doesn’t have firearms in particular, which this bill accomplishes.” Denver Post and Yakimaherald list the sponsor as Rep. Andy Boeseneker of Fort Collins and quote him: “The ability to access a 3‑D printed firearm and commit an act that nine times out of 10 is fatal is unique, and (is) something we can speak to. This bill seeks to do that.” Denver Post also names Rep. Lindsay Gilchrist as a co-sponsor.

Opposition and legal threats are already public. Daniel Fenlason, director of operations for the Colorado Shooting Sports Association, warned: “This is going to be a lawsuit that our team at CSSA will explore,” and added, “It will cost the taxpayers millions of dollars and you will lose at the Supreme Court.” KUSA reported Republican lawmakers pushed back on First and Second Amendment grounds.

The bill sits alongside related measures and precedent. Yakimaherald and Denver Post reported the state Senate advanced Senate Bill 43 by a 19-16 vote; SB43 would require firearm barrels be sold or transferred only by federally licensed dealers. Reporters and 3dprintingindustry connect HB26‑1144 to earlier laws: Senate Bill 23‑279 from 2023 and a 2024 serialization law that a 10th Circuit review is currently addressing after a challenge led by the National Association for Gun Rights. Supporters pointed to enforcement data: Denver Post cited Colorado Bureau of Investigations spokesman Rob Low saying CBI seized 89 ghost guns between August 2024 and December 2025. The bills will now move to the opposite chamber for the next round of votes and face likely legal scrutiny.