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Monday, Feb. 23, 2026

Would a new bill block Colorado cities from treating prostitution as a crime?

Cassis Tingley, The Colorado Sun
yes

A bill brought by four Democratic lawmakers would remove all criminal penalties for sex work in Colorado and void local laws against it. 

Senate Bill 97, introduced Feb. 11, would repeal criminal offenses including prostitution, keeping a place of prostitution, and soliciting and patronizing a prostitute. That includes preempting all local “ordinances, resolutions, regulations, or codes criminalizing commercial sexual activity,” the bill states.

Pimping, pandering through intimidation and human trafficking would remain illegal.

The sponsors of the bill are state Sens. Nick Hinrichsen of Pueblo and Lisa Cutter of Jefferson County, and state Reps. Lorena Garcia of Adams County and Rebekah Stewart of Lakewood.

Prostitution remains a criminal offense in most states, but licensed brothels are legal in some Nevada counties, and Maine decriminalized the selling of sexual services in 2023. Colorado’s bill would make it the first state to remove all criminal penalties for sex work.

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