American Liberty Report

Colorado’s “First Murder Free” Bill Is the Endgame of a 15-Year Plan

Colorado Democrats introduced HB 26-1281, a bill that would require a homicide to involve at least two victims before prosecutors can pursue a first‑degree murder charge. Under the proposal, a single‑victim killing would be downgraded to second‑degree murder, with narrow exceptions for police officers, children under 12, or cases where the attacker also seriously injures multiple people. The measure follows a series of sentencing‑reduction initiatives that have shrunk prison capacity and coincided with a sharp rise in violent crime since 2010. Its fate hinges on Governor Jared Polis, who could veto the legislation despite a Democratic supermajority in the legislature.