DENVER (KDVR) — The start of a new year can mean different things for different people. For Coloradans in particular, it means a few new laws that need to be followed. These range from new child safety seat laws to a law banning people from holding cell phones while driving.
These laws were mainly passed in the 2024 legislative session, though one major law was passed four years ago in 2020 and will enter its final phase in January.
Ban on holding cell phones while driving
Starting Jan. 1, drivers in the state could be fined for holding and using a phone while driving.
Texting while driving has already been illegal in the state for several years while holding cell phones while driving was only against the law for children under 18.
The new law, Senate Bill 24-065, updates this to include all drivers regardless of age.
The first time a driver is caught, they face a $75 fine and two license suspension points. The punishments increase based on the number of times a driver is caught breaking the law in a two-year period.
Updates to child safety seat rules
House Bill 24-1055 was passed this year and updated the child safety seat rules in the state.
One of the major things that was changed is that kids will now be required to use a booster seat until turning 9 years old, raising the age that kids stay in booster seats by one year.
The Colorado Department of Transportation has a full list of all the new requirements on its website.
Eggs must be cage-free
Starting Jan. 1, 2025, all eggs sold in the state of Colorado will be from cage-free environments.
The law was passed in 2020, but it went into effect in two stages. Starting in 2023, egg producers were required to give hens more space if they were confined in cages.
The second stage of the rollout starting in January 2025 requires fully cage-free environments.
Any farm operation with more than 3,000 egg-laying hens will not be allowed to sell eggs in the state unless they are certified as cage-free.
Gun storage requirements in vehicles
House Bill 24-1348 bans anyone from leaving a handgun in an unattended vehicle unless they first secure it in a locked container placed out of view.
The container also has to be in a locked vehicle or locked trunk of a vehicle.
Violators could be hit with a fine of up to $500.
PFAs in cosmetics and furniture
In 2022, lawmakers passed House Bill 22-1345 to regulate the sale and distribution of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals – better known as PFAs or “forever chemicals” – within the state.
Similar to the cage-free egg law, it was designed to go into effect in stages. The first stage went into effect in January 2024 and banned PFAs in things like rugs, food packaging and products meant for kids. It also required that cookware disclose if it has PFAs included in it.
The second stage goes into effect in January and bans the sale of cosmetics, indoor textile furniture and indoor upholstered furniture with PFAs within the state. The category of “indoor textile furniture” covers a wide variety of things including bedding, towels, as well as drapes or curtains.
Other laws going into effect
Several other laws from the 2024 legislative session are going into effect on Jan. 1:
HB24-1095 – Increasing Protections for Minor Workers
HB24-1122 – Protection Orders for Victims of Crimes
HB24-1244 – Minor Autopsy Report Release Requirements
HB24-1248 – Non-Testamentary Electronic Estate Planning Docs
HB24-1258 – Credit Covered Person Expenses Insurer Insolvency
HB24-1321 – Insurance Holding Company Model Regulation
HB24-1472 – Raise Damage Limit Tort Actions
HB24-1342 – Test Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities
SB24-024 – Local Lodging Tax Reporting on Sales Return
SB24-026 – Agriculture & Natural Resources Public Engagement Requirement
SB24-093 – Continuity of Health-Care Coverage Change
SB24-167 – Training for Entry-Level Health-Care Workers
The next legislative session starts in the state on Jan. 8, 2025.
