COLORADO COMPLIANCE ALERT
Semiautomatic Firearm Sales Requirements Effective Aug 1st
Comments Period On Product Identification Guidance Now Open

NSSF^® is providing this Compliance Alert to members as a reminder that SB25-003, enacting restrictions on the sale of certain semiautomatic firearms will take effect on August 1, 2026. Once effective, SB25-003 will prohibit the manufacture, distribution, transfer, sale, or purchase of “specified semiautomatic firearms,” with certain exceptions.

SB25-003 defines “specified semiautomatic firearms” as follows:

• Semiautomatic rifles or shotguns with detachable magazines; and
• “Gas-operated” semiautomatic handguns with detachable magazines.
  • Handguns are considered to be “gas-operated” if they function by harnessing the gas from a fired cartridge to cycle the firearm’s action, which includes long-stroke and short-stroke piston and direct impingement systems or hybrids thereof, and blowback operated firearms.

Specified semiautomatic firearms do NOT include

• Recoil-operated handguns; and
• Most .22 or smaller rimfire firearms.

Notably, the sale and transfer of specified semiautomatic firearms is permitted to individuals who have completed certain required training requirements, specifically:

• A hunter education course certified by the Division of Parks and Wildlife, and within five years of the purchase have completed a basic firearms safety course;
• An extended firearms safety course within five years of the purchase; or
• A basics firearms safety course within five years of the purchase, provided an extended firearms safety course has been completed prior.

The Colorado Department of Revenue’s Firearms Dealer Division has now issued draft guidance, identifying a list of specific firearm models that qualify as “specified semiautomatic firearms,” and will be accepting stakeholder comments on this guidance through June 4th. Final guidance will be issued on July 1st, in anticipation of the August 1st implementation date. NSSF will review the draft guidance, and provide timely comments as appropriate.

NSSF members are encouraged to seek independent legal advice on any questions regarding the application of SB25-003 to specific products, and are also encouraged to review the draft guidance and provide any comments or questions to the Firearms Dealer Division directly through the regulatory comment portal.