HB 26-1097
failedRegister & Drive Surplus Military Vehicles
Plain-English Summary
AI-generatedHouse Bill 26-1097 allows owners of surplus military vehicles to register and drive these vehicles on public roads in Colorado under certain conditions. The vehicle must meet specific weight limits, not have mounted firearms, and the owner must agree to limit road use to no more than 1,500 miles per year. If registered, the vehicle can be driven legally on roads as long as it follows traffic laws and other regulations. This bill has been signed into law, meaning surplus military vehicle owners who meet these criteria can now register their vehicles with the Department of Revenue and drive them on public roadways in Colorado.
Official Summary
Current law requires a motor vehicle to be designed for operation on a highway in order to be covered by the "Uniform Motor Vehicle Law", which governs driver's licenses, registrations, and traffic regulation. The bill authorizes the owner of a surplus military vehicle to register the vehicle with the department of revenue and be issued a license plate if:The vehicle complies with the laws governing motor vehicles and traffic;The vehicle uses wheels for movement, weighs less than 16,000 pounds empty weight, has a 20,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating or less, and is not affixed with working mounted firearms; andThe owner signs an affidavit stating that the vehicle will not be driven on roadways for more than 1,500 miles per year.If the vehicle is registered, it may be driven on roadways and the title can be converted from showing off-highway vehicle to highway-use vehicle, but the vehicle must comply with registration provisions, driver's license provisions, and traffic laws. The bill also authorizes surplus military vehicles to operate on the road if they are authorized emergency vehicles. A qualified surplus military vehicle may be registered as a collector's item.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Details
- Chamber
- House
- First action
- 2026-02-17
- Latest action
- 2026-02-03
- Last action desc.
- Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation, Housing & Local Government
- OpenStates
- View source ↗
Related Legislation
This bill affects (27)
amendsSB 18-112(2018A)· signedVeterans Outdoor Terrain Restoration Grant Prog
amendsHB 18-1299(2018A)· signedElectronic Filing Title Registration Motor Vehicle
amendsHB 19-1221(2019A)· signedRegulation Of Electric Scooters
amendsHB 22-1043(2022A)· signedMotorcycle And Autocycle Definitions
amendsSB 24-025(2024A)· signedUpdate Local Government Sales & UseTax Collection
amendsHB 25-1127(2025A)· signedRegister & Drive Surplus Military Vehicles
amendsHB 17-1107(2017A)· signedDivision Of Motor Vehicles Colorado Driver's License Record Identification And Vehicle Enterprise System
amendsHB 17-1205(2017A)· signedMotor Vehicle Total Loss Title Insurance
amendsSB 18-255(2018A)· signedElectronic Documents And Signatures Vehicle Titles
amendsHB 21-1024(2021A)· vetoedTitle Certificates Off-highway Vehicle Transfers
amendsSB 24-192(2024A)· signedMotor Vehicle Lemon Law
amendsHB 25-1281(2025A)· signedTitle Register & Drive Kei Vehicles
amendsSB 19-054(2019A)· signedMilitary Vehicle Motor Vehicle Regulation
amendsSB 18-030(2018A)· signedRelocate Auto Industry Division To Title 44
amendsHB 18-1103(2018A)· signedLocal Government Off-highway Vehicle Regulation
amendsSB 17-240(2017A)· signedSunset Motor Vehicle Dealers Sales
amendsHB 25-1189(2025A)· signedMotor Vehicle Registration Reform & Fees
amendsHB 22-1388(2022A)· signedVehicle Registration And Certificate Of Title
relatesSB 18-257(2018A)· signedPenalty For Driving Under Restraint
relatesHB 22-1229(2022A)· signedSenate Bill 21-271 Clean-up
relatesSB 22-123(2022A)· signedLate Vehicle Titling And Registration Penalties
relatesHB 17-1162(2017A)· signedOutstanding Judgments And Driver's Licenses
relatesHB 22-1254(2022A)· signedVehicle Taxes And Fees Late Registration
relatesHB 18-1204(2018A)· signedFinancial Responsibility Drivers Motor Vehicles
relatesHB 17-1151(2017A)· signedElectrical Assisted Bicycles Regulation Operation
Affected by (3)
amendsHB 26-1281(2026A)· passedHomicide Criminal Offenses
amendsHB 26-1237(2026A)· signedTransportation Safety Modifications
amendsHB 26-1297(2026A)· signedUniform Language for Misdemeanor Traffic Offense
Votes
Refer House Bill 26-1097 to the Committee on Appropriations.
2026-02-17 · House · fail — Yes: — · No: — · Other: —
Postpone House Bill 26-1097 indefinitely using a reversal of the previous roll call. There was no objection to the use of the reverse roll call, therefore, the bill was postponed indefinitely.
2026-02-17 · House · pass — Yes: — · No: — · Other: —