Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs expansion of red flag law, allowing more people to seek gun removals

Nick Coltrain, The Denver Post on Apr 6, 2026

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DENVER — Gov. Jared Polis signed an expansion of Colorado’s red flag law on Monday afternoon, allowing more people to file extreme risk protection order requests with the courts to remove a person’s firearms.

This year’s Senate Bill 4 builds off the landmark 2019 measure creating the state’s red flag law. That law allows certain people to petition the courts for a temporary restraining order to prohibit people deemed a danger to themselves or others from possessing firearms.

The newest expansion grows the list to include behavioral health co-responders and allows for health care and educational institutions to file the petitions.

“This law will help protect Coloradans and our communities from senseless gun violence,” Polis, a Democrat, said in a signing statement. “Colorado’s red flag law has been successfully used over 370 times though 2024, keeping Coloradans safe across the state.

“This updated legislation builds on our strong law to promote safe gun ownership and expands the list of those who can keep our communities safe through petitioning a protection order.”

The new law takes effect immediately. It was sponsored by state Sens. Tom Sullivan and Julie Gonzales and state Reps. Meg Froelich and Jenny Willford, all Democrats.

“Our law will help prevent gun crimes and suicides to save countless Colorado lives while safeguarding people’s rights through a proven process,” Froelich said in a news release after the signing. “... We’re strengthening this gun violence prevention law to save more lives and make Colorado a safer place to live for all.”

Polis signed the original red flag bill into law during his first year in office. This expansion was passed during the term-limited governor’s final legislative session.

His tenure has been marked by a steady increase in firearm regulations.

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