Colorado State University bison herd
In 2015, CSU teamed up with other partners to start a bison herd with genetics from Yellowstone bison that today roams Soapstone Prairie Natural area 25 miles north of Fort Collins, Colo.
Some 476 bills passed by the Colorado legislature in 2025 went on to be signed by Gov. Jared Polis.
Most of them have already gone into effect. But some — along with laws approved in previous years with gradual implementation — kick in on Jan. 1, 2026.
The new laws apply to topics ranging from bison to gun shows to abortion access. They apply to food truck operators, veterinary medicine professionals and rural pharmacists. They support consumers with more rights for renters and the ability to take back fees from daycare providers who hold spots for children they cannot enroll.
Here is a look at a dozen of the new laws:
‘Junk’ fees are banned
House Bill 1090 largely bars certain hidden fees and requires others to be disclosed, marking an attempt to ban what are often called “junk fees that hide the real cost to a consumer.” These include mandatory costs like minimum utility payments for renters, mandatory charges at restaurants and charges for electronic payments when no other forms of payment are accepted.
Auto insurance must pay to replace car seats in accidents
House Bill 1179 requires auto insurers to cover the cost of replacing child restraint systems, such as boosters and car seats, that are in a vehicle that is in an accident. Experts say such systems can have damage that cannot be detected visually that makes them significantly less safe in a future accident.
Rural pharmacies get more leeway in operations, higher reimbursements
House Bill 1222 sets minimum reimbursement amounts for prescriptions filled at independent rural pharmacies, which have struggled under payments approved by pharmacy benefit managers nationally. The act also allows rural pharmacies to operate without the direct charge of a pharmacist as long as a state-licensed pharmacist performs the “initial interpretation and final evaluation” of prescriptions, allows those pharmacies to use private couriers or delivery services, and sets new guidelines for how the pharmacy benefit managers can pursue recoupment or fines of more than $1,000 from such pharmacies after an audit.
Gun shows have new safety regulations
House Bill 1238 tries to make gun shows safer, requiring organizers to create security plans that must be filed with law enforcement agencies. The plans must cover monitoring of entrances and exits and video surveillance of certain areas. The law also spells out new display and storage requirements, and nobody under the age of 18 can attend unless they are in the military or are accompanied by a parent, grandparent or guardian.
Landlords have less grounds for keeping security deposits
House Bill 1249 expands the definition of normal wear and tear to an apartment, limiting what a landlord can cite when withholding all or part of a security deposit. The law also requires landlords to offer a walkthrough of an apartment with tenants after furniture is removed to identify any damage that could be grounds for keeping all or part of the deposit.
Veterinary professional associates get new restrictions
House Bill 1285 establishes areas to be regulated for the practice of veterinary medicine by a veterinary professional associate, a role created by Colorado voters with the passage of Proposition 129 in 2024. It spells out regulations in areas such as training, supervision by a licensed veterinarian and scope of practice.
Food truck permits will apply statewide
House Bill 1295 requires reciprocity for the permits food trucks need to operate in different jurisdictions. Previously, operators could be required to get different permits in different communities, adding cost and complexity to using a truck in different cities.
Childcare providers must refund fees if they don’t have room
Senate Bill 4 requires childcare providers to refund costs associated with holding a spot at the center, such as application fees, deposits and waitlist fees, if they do not enroll a child within six months of those payments. Families that decline a spot are not eligible for the refunds and the centers can retain part of the payments as administrative fees, at an amount approved by the state.
Wild bison get protection
Senate Bill 53 is an attempt to protect wild bison from hunting, classifying them as wildlife. That means they cannot be owned or hunted without permission from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Bison that are already privately owned or owned by a tribe are exempt from the changes; the law is intended to protect wild bison that roam into Colorado.
Medicaid will cover abortions
Senate Bill 183 formalizes changes in abortion and family planning coverage authorized under Amendment 79, which was approved in 2024. The new law includes expanding the definition of family planning services that qualify for Medicaid reimbursement to include abortions.
Right to repair electronics goes into effect
House Bill 1121 from 2024 established consumers’ right to repair their own cell phones, computers and televisions, starting on Jan. 1, 2026. Manufacturers must make physical tools, instructions, parts and software available for consumers trying to get their devices repaired independently.
Efficiency standards raised for household appliances and fixtures
House Bill 1161 from 2023 goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2026, creating tighter standards for energy and water efficiency. It also expands the items subject to efficiency standards to include gas fireplaces, electric water heaters, certain residential windows, and other household appliances and fixtures.
Nate Trela covers trending news in Colorado and Utah for the USA TODAY Network.
Based in New York, Stephen Freeman is a Senior Editor at Trending Insurance News. Previously he has worked for Forbes and The Huffington Post. Steven is a graduate of Risk Management at the University of New York.