HB 25-1262

House Bill 25-1262 regulates private security officers and agencies in Colorado. Starting August 1, 2026, individuals providing private security services must get a license from the state board of private security services, while businesses that employ these officers need to register with the same board. The bill also sets requirements for training, background checks, and age limits for those seeking licenses or registrations. It specifies that only licensed commercial security officers can carry firearms after obtaining an additional endorsement from the board. This regulation will be in place until September 1, 2030, when it will undergo a review before potentially being repealed. The bill has been signed into law but is still in its early stages of implementation as it awaits further action and rule-making by the state board.

Official Summary

The bill creates the state board of private security services (board) in the department of regulatory agencies (department) to regulate individuals and businesses that provide private security services. Starting August 1, 2026, to provide private security services in the state: An individual must obtain an event security officer or a commercial security officer license from the board; and A private security employer must obtain a registration from the board. Additionally, only a licensed commercial security officer may be authorized to carry a firearm or nonlethal weapon and must first obtain a board-issued weapon endorsement to do so. Law enforcement officers who are certified by the peace officers standards and training board are exempt from the licensure and weapon endorsement requirements. The bill establishes requirements and qualifications for obtaining a license, weapon endorsement, or registration, as applicable, including: Obtaining a fingerprint-based criminal history record check to verify that the applicant has not committed a disqualifying criminal offense; Completing specified training and successfully passing an assessment; Satisfying minimum age requirements; and For an employer registration, having the requisite level of experience and professional liability insurance and a policy for training newly licensed employees. Pending the results of the required criminal history record check, the board may issue an applicant a provisional license under specified circumstances that allows an otherwise qualified applicant to perform private security services under direct supervision and in limited spaces. The bill allows a private security officer who is licensed in a municipality in the state to obtain a state-issued license, without additional training, if the board determines that the municipal licensing requirements are substantially equivalent to the requirements in the bill. The board is authorized to: Adopt rules; Approve training; Issue and renew licenses, weapon endorsements, and registrations and impose fees; and Conduct investigations and hearings and impose discipline for violations of the bill. The regulation of private security officers and private security employers is scheduled to repeal on September 1, 2030, and is subject to sunset review by the department before its repeal. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

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