Colorado passes new courthouse security rules for armed entrants

Colorado has enacted HB 26-1422, a courthouse security law that requires county sheriffs to verify and log people entering courthouses with firearms. SurePass says its real-time authority verification platform is designed to help counties comply as new standards and funding programs roll out.

Why it matters: - HB 26-1422 pushes Colorado courthouse security beyond gatekeeping and into verified authorization. - County sheriffs now need a defensible record showing who entered with a firearm, why they were allowed in, and when they came and went. - The law creates a compliance path for counties while the state builds out standards and funding.

What happened: - Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed House Bill 26-1422 into law. - The law applies to county sheriffs providing security for a state court. - SurePass, a Colorado-based public safety technology company, said its platform is built to help sheriffs and courthouse security teams meet the new requirements. - The Judicial Security Task Force must submit recommended standards to the legislature by Jan. 1, 2027.

The details: - County sheriffs must maintain one secure, single-point access to the courthouse. - Courthouses must use magnetometers when court is in session. - Sheriffs must verify that each person entering with a firearm is authorized under Colorado law, including C.R.S. § 18-12-105.3. - Sheriffs must keep a log for each entrant showing verification status, employing agency or entity, and time of entry and exit. - SurePass says its Verified Authority Management platform verifies official capacity and authorization in real time. - SurePass says the platform creates a defensible digital record at the point of entry and is deployed across multiple Colorado law enforcement agencies. - The platform is designed to capture verification status, employing agency or entity, and entry and exit timestamps. - SurePass says the system deploys without complex integrations and can be operational from day one. - The company qualifies as eligible courthouse security technology under both the Court Security Cash Fund and the Court Security Authority grant framework.

Between the lines: - The law reflects a shift from visual checks and paper logs to electronic verification tied to legal authority. - The policy target is a gap that can leave courthouse staff relying on badge checks or deputy judgment without confirming current authorization. - In high-risk settings that bring together victims, witnesses, defendants, and judicial staff, the state is treating verification as a security requirement, not a convenience. - Murphy Robinson, SurePass founder and CEO, said the law recognizes that identity and authority are not the same thing.

What's next: - Counties can use the Court Security Cash Fund now for staffing, equipment, training, and security improvements. - Beginning July 1, 2027, a new $10 court-filing surcharge will fund the Court Security Authority and statewide courthouse security grants. - Counties can apply for funding to cover security staffing, equipment, training, and related courthouse security needs. - Agencies that start planning now may be better positioned when Task Force standards are issued and compliance expectations become fully operative. - SurePass is encouraging county sheriffs, court administrators, judicial district leaders, and county commissioners to prepare for compliance.

The bottom line: - Colorado has turned courthouse firearm access into a verified, logged process, and counties now have a deadline-driven path to modernize security around that standard. - SurePass is positioning its platform as a ready-made tool for agencies that need to document authorization at the door and qualify for available funding. - More information is available in the company's announcement.