A bill that would have decriminalized prostitution in Colorado was killed this week because it did not get the votes needed.
It was opposed by conservatives.
According to state Sen. Lisa Cutter (D), the bill did not get enough votes to make it out of committee, Denver 7 reported Tuesday.
The Colorado General Assembly’s website identified it as SB26-097, titled “Decriminalize Adult Commercial Sexual Activity.”
Per its summary:
The bill requires the statewide decriminalization of commercial sexual activity among consenting adults. It declares that decriminalizing commercial sexual activity among consenting adults is a matter of statewide concern and expressly preempts statutory or home rule city, town, city and county, or county ordinances, resolutions, regulations, or codes criminalizing commercial sexual activity.
The bill repeals the state criminal offenses of prostitution, soliciting for prostitution, keeping a place of prostitution, patronizing a prostitute, and prostitute making display. It also repeals the offense of pandering when it involves knowingly arranging or offering to arrange a situation that permits a person to practice prostitution.
Meanwhile, the Daily Signal reported one of the Colorado lawmakers, a Democrat, was abandoning his own bill to shield those involved in prostitution from having to testify.
“State Sen. Nick Hinrichsen, the main sponsor of SB26-097, told the Colorado Sun that his bill lacks the necessary support to clear the Senate Judiciary Committee, so he will ask to delay the measure until after the 2026 legislative session, effectively killing the bill,” the outlet stated.
Hellbound and Down 