Legislative Efforts

The 17th Judicial District Attorney's Office has been very active at the Colorado State Capitol during the legislative sessions. District Attorney Brian Mason and members of our staff have been instrumental in passing pieces of legislation that are key to transforming and improving the criminal justice system. 

Legislative Efforts

HB24-1225 First-Degree Murder Bail and Jury Selection Statute
During the 2024 legislative session, District Attorney Brian Mason advocated on behalf of this piece of legislation that concerns procedures in murder in the first-degree cases, and, in connection therewith, an exception to the right to bail for cases of murder in the first-degree when proof is evident or presumption is great. It will be on the Colorado ballot in November 2024. 

HB24-1072 Protection of Victims of Sexual Offenses
During the 2024 legislative session, our staff advocated strongly for the piece of legislation that expands the criminal rape shield law to prohibit the admission of evidence of the victim's manner of dress or hairstyle as evidence of the victim's consent. The act amends what a moving party must show to the court and to opposing parties and what the court must find in order to introduce evidence that is presumed to be irrelevant under the criminal rape shield law. This law passed in 2024. 

SB24-035 Strengthening Enforcement of Human Trafficking
During the 2024 legislative session, District Attorney Brian Mason and members of our staff advocated strongly for this act that makes the statute of limitations for human trafficking of an adult or a minor for the purpose of involuntary servitude and human trafficking of an adult for sexual servitude 20 years. The act does not change the unlimited statute of limitations for human trafficking for sexual servitude of a minor. This law passed in 2024. 

SB23-097 Motor Vehicle Theft and Unauthorized Use
During the 2023 legislative session, District Attorney Brian Mason helped craft and pass a critical piece of legislation that altered how motor vehicle theft is charged in Colorado. Previously, the charge type was based on the value of the vehicle, so in some cases, stolen vehicles of lower value were considered a misdemeanor, but thanks to the change in Colorado law, as a result of the passage of SB23-097, all motor vehicle theft is now a felony in Colorado. The state has seen a drastic reduction in motor vehicle thefts since the enactment of this law. 

HB22-1326 Fentanyl Accountability and Prevention 
During the 2022 legislative session, District Attorney Brian Mason played a key role in the passage of HB22-1326 Fentanyl Accountability and Prevention. The bill provides additional tools for law enforcement and District Attorney's Offices in the ongoing fight against the fentanyl crisis in Colorado. It also provides funds for treatment and naloxone. 

"Watch how we use these new tools, I welcome the scrutiny. Our goal in using these tools is to get fentanyl off the streets, to prevent more death, and to hold accountable those who are distributing this poison."  -- District Attorney Brian Mason 

SB22-145 Resources to Increase Community Safety 
Also during the 2022 legislative session, District Attorney Brian Mason supported a series of bills aimed at improving public safety and making Colorado a safer place to live. That included SB22-145 Resources to Increase Community Safety. 

"To protect our communities and keep them safe, we must invest in law enforcement and crime prevention. This bill does both. By funding crisis intervention programs as well as recruitment and retention of police officers, this bill is a major step forward towards the Governor's goal of making Colorado one of the safest states in the union." -- District Attorney Brian Mason 

SB22-188 Behavioral Health Support For Criminal Justice Advocates
During the 2022 legislative session, District Attorney Brian Mason also testified in support of a bill that passed that will provide funds and resources for the mental health treatment of prosecutors and public defenders. 

HB21-1106 Safe Storage of Firearms
District Attorney Brian Mason was the only District Attorney in Colorado to testify in favor of this bill. HB21-1106 requires that firearms be responsibly and securely stored when they are not in use or not within the immediate control of an adult to prevent access by unsupervised juveniles and other unauthorized users. It was signed into law on April 19, 2021. 

HB21-1016 Transfer Jurisdiction To Veteran's Specialty Court
District Attorney Brian Mason testified in favor of this bill that provides veterans who are convicted of crimes but are diagnosed with mental health issues, direct access to post conviction support otherwise only afforded to those whose cases reside in a jurisdiction with a designated Veterans’ Court. It was signed into law on June 7, 2021. 

HB21-1068 Insurance Coverage Mental Health Wellness Exam and HB-1258 Rapid Mental Health Response for Colorado Youth
District Attorney Brian Mason and the 17th Judicial District Attorney's Office assisted in the passage of HB21-1068 during the 2021 legislative session. The law establishes a system where annual mental health exams are a routine benefit, like a physical exam, for all Coloradans. The historic passage of this bill made it a first-of-its-kind piece of legislation in the United States of America. It was signed into law on July 6, 2021. HB-1258 allocates funding and provides three free mental health sessions to young people during pandemic recovery. DA Mason continues to prioritize mental health within his administration, and his public support of this law was a continuation of this effort. 

"The mental health crisis has a disproportionate impact on the criminal justice system. A significant number of those who commit crimes suffer from mental health problems. Preventing crime is always better – and might I add cheaper – than prosecuting crime. We can help prevent crime with this bill. By providing annual mental health exams, we can identify problems before people enter the criminal justice system and, hopefully, keep them out altogether. This not only helps those who struggle with mental health, it makes our community safer.” -- District Attorney Brian Mason