ColoradoProtections for Minors Featured in Digital Content
What it does
The act creates new requirements and civil remedies beginning June 1, 2027, related to individuals under 18 years old (minors) who are featured in compensated content on online hosting platforms (online content). A minor is considered to be engaged in content creation work if, over a 12-month period, the following 3 criteria are met:At least 30% of a content creator's online content produced within a 30-day period includes the minor's likeness, name, or photograph;The number of views of the online content meets the online hosting platform's compensation threshold or the content creator receives $0.10 or more per view, including compensation from sponsorships; andThe content creator receives at least $40,000 in actual compensation from the online content. Content creators whose online content features a minor engaged in content creation work must maintain specific records, including:Proof of the minor's age;The total compensation generated; andThe total number of minutes the minor was featured in posts featuring online content.
More detail
A content creator shall compensate a minor engaged in content creation work by setting aside a portion of the gross earnings into a trust account for the minor until the minor reaches the age of majority or is declared emancipated. A court may distribute money from the trust account to the minor before the minor reaches the age of majority or is declared emancipated upon petition from the trustee and a finding that the money will only be used for specific expenses that solely benefit the minor. An adult or an emancipated minor who was featured as a uniquely identifiable minor in a content creator's post featuring online content on or after June 1, 2027, may request that the content creator delete the post or remove the uniquely identifiable information. The content creator must comply with the request within 72 hours. If the content creator fails to comply after 30 days, the individual may sue for various types of relief, and the online hosting platform must review and take reasonable steps to remove the content unless certain exceptions apply. The act prohibits a person from financially benefiting from knowingly producing or distributing online content of a minor with the intent to sexually gratify or elicit a sexual response in the viewer. Exceptions apply for law enforcement, reporting unlawful activity, legal proceedings, and certain actions engaged in by online hosting platforms. Online hosting platforms are required to develop and implement a risk-based strategy to help mitigate risks related to the monetization of the intentional sexualization of known minors. A civil action may be filed on behalf of a minor for damages, including actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees, if a content creator fails to comply with specified provisions of the act.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 4Governor Jared Polis SignedBecame Law
- Apr 23Sent to the GovernorTo Governor
- Apr 22Signed by the Speaker of the HouseMajor
- Apr 22Signed by the President of the SenateMajor
- Apr 2House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
- Vote recorded REPASS. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded CONCUR. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded REPASS. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded CONCUR. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 1Senate Third Reading Passed - No AmendmentsPassed Senate
- Vote recorded BILL. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 31Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - CommitteeMinor
- Mar 30Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 03/31/2026 - No Amendments
- Mar 25Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the WholeMinor
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.022 (Attachment B). Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Refer House Bill 26-1058, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 6Introduced In Senate - Assigned to JudiciaryMinor
- Mar 2House Third Reading Passed - No AmendmentsPassed House
- Vote recorded BILL. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 27House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
- Feb 26House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
- Vote recorded AMD (H.001). Result: fail.Lower
- Feb 2House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
- Jan 28House Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to House Committee of the WholeMinor
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment E). Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment F). Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Refer House Bill 26-1058, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 14Introduced In House - Assigned to JudiciaryIntroduced