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Last updated: July 1, 2026. This article is general information for our customers, not legal advice. Firearms laws and the state's official guidance are still being finalized and remain subject to court challenges, so details may change. Always confirm current requirements with the official Colorado resources cited at the bottom of this page or a qualified attorney before purchasing.
What's changing
On August 1, 2026, Colorado's SB25-003 takes effect. Signed into law by Governor Jared Polis on April 10, 2025, it regulates the manufacture, distribution, transfer, sale, and purchase of what the law calls a “specified semiautomatic firearm” (SSF).[1][2]
This is not an outright ban, and it is not a possession law. The bill started as a ban but was amended into an eligibility-and-training requirement: after August 1, you can still buy a covered firearm — but first you must complete a state-approved firearms safety course and meet the eligibility steps below. People who already lawfully own these firearms are not affected, and the law does not restrict simply using or possessing them.[3] A legal challenge to SB25-003 (Del Toro v. Polis, in federal court in Colorado) is pending, but as of July 1, 2026 no court has blocked the law — it remains on track to take effect August 1, 2026.
What's covered (“specified semiautomatic firearms”)
Under SB25-003, an SSF is:[1][3]
- A semiautomatic rifle that accepts a detachable magazine;
- A semiautomatic shotgun that accepts a detachable magazine; or
- A gas-operated semiautomatic handgun that accepts a detachable magazine.
For the handgun category, “gas-operated” covers long-stroke and short-stroke piston systems, direct-impingement systems, hybrids, and blowback-operated designs — which in practice catches AR- and AK-pattern pistols, but generally not recoil-operated handguns like a typical Glock, SIG P320, M&P, CZ, or 1911.[5]
What's excluded
The law specifically excludes:[2][5]
- Firearms designed for and capable of operating only with .22 or smaller rimfire ammunition — unless the firearm has a separate upper and lower receiver;
- Firearms that are manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action;
- Semiautomatic firearms with a permanently fixed magazine that cannot accept more than 15 rounds; and
- Recoil-operated semiautomatic handguns.
Important: The Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR) was scheduled to publish official final guidance on covered models on July 1, 2026. As of this update (July 1, 2026), the final guidance had not yet been confirmed posted to the DOR's public website — check sbg.colorado.gov/firearms-dealer-division and its linked bulletins for the latest. The May 15, 2026 draft (152 pages) identifies specific makes and models across three categories: semiautomatic rifles with detachable magazines, semiautomatic shotguns with detachable magazines, and gas-operated semiautomatic pistols with detachable magazines. That list is not exhaustive and will be updated over time; the draft drew criticism for sweeping in some very common models. Coverage of any specific firearm should be confirmed against the current DOR guidance.[4][7]
How to buy a covered firearm after August 1, 2026
To purchase or receive an SSF on or after August 1, a Colorado buyer must complete an eligibility process administered by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW):[3]
- Complete a state-approved firearms safety course (a basic course, or an extended course depending on your background), taught in person by a sheriff-verified instructor, passing the final exam with a score of at least 90%. Eligibility lasts five years.
- Apply through the CPW Firearm Safety System and your local sheriff's office. The application portal is scheduled to go live July 20, 2026; some counties may not begin processing until August 1.
- Complete the purchase through a licensed dealer (FFL), who verifies your eligibility in the CPW system, runs a CBI InstaCheck background check, and completes the transfer under all other applicable state and federal rules (including waiting periods).
A course fee (reported at around $52) and FFL/background-check fees apply.[6] Sales or transfers to a licensed dealer or to a resident of another state are still permitted, and the law includes exemptions for transfers to heirs, transfers by operation of law or on death, and certain law-enforcement, gunsmith, museum, and film-prop transactions.[1][2]
Other parts of the law
- Rapid-fire devices: Bump stocks, binary triggers, and similar rapid-fire devices are classified as dangerous weapons and are prohibited.[1]
- Large-capacity magazines: Selling, transferring, or possessing magazines over 15 rounds has been unlawful in Colorado since 2013; SB25-003 increases the penalty to a class 1 misdemeanor.[2]
- Penalties: Unlawful manufacture, distribution, transfer, sale, or purchase of an SSF is a class 2 misdemeanor (a class 6 felony for a second or subsequent offense), and a dealer's state firearms permit can be revoked.[1]
What this means for your order
- If you live in Colorado and want a covered semiautomatic firearm without the new training-and-eligibility process, complete your purchase before August 1, 2026.
- On or after August 1, covered firearms can only be transferred to a Colorado buyer who has completed the CPW eligibility process, and must go through a licensed dealer (FFL) for verification and background check.
- Frames, receivers, and parts kits: the DOR's July 1 guidance was expected to address coverage of these items, but as of this update (July 1, 2026), publication of the final guidance had not yet been confirmed — check sbg.colorado.gov/firearms-dealer-division for the latest. Until coverage is officially clarified, confirm the status of any specific frame, receiver, or parts kit with your FFL or a qualified Colorado attorney before ordering.
- Manually operated firearms, most recoil-operated handguns, most .22 rimfire firearms, and accessories are generally unaffected — but coverage depends on the specific item. Magazines over 15 rounds are not shipped to Colorado.
- If you're unsure whether a specific product is affected, contact our team before ordering and we'll help you confirm.
All sales remain subject to your state and local laws, applicable background checks, and transfer through a licensed dealer (FFL) where required. Centerfire Systems is committed to full compliance with state and federal firearms law.
Sources & official resources
- Colorado General Assembly — SB25-003 official summary: leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-003
- Colorado General Assembly — SB25-003 signed act text: signed act (PDF)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife — Specified Semiautomatic Firearms (process & training): cpw.state.co.us
- Colorado Department of Revenue — Bulletin 26-01 (SSF guidance timeframe): sbg.colorado.gov
- National Shooting Sports Foundation — SB25-003 compliance alert: nssf.org
- Colorado Politics — DOR draft guidance and course fee: coloradopolitics.com
- Colorado Department of Revenue, Firearms Dealer Division — official updates page (checked July 1, 2026; final guidance not yet confirmed posted as of that date): sbg.colorado.gov/firearms-dealer-division
Questions about your order or whether an item ships to your state? Reach out to our customer service team — we're happy to help.
