SB 104: Require Key Boxes at Schools - Colorado

Rerevised → Final Act · 7 edits · Apr 17, 2026

MODERATE

This bill establishes a new requirement for schools in Colorado to install exterior key boxes by July 1, 2030, allowing law enforcement emergency access to school buildings. The final act clarifies that existing compliant key boxes do not need replacement and explicitly exempts schools that lack compliant boxes but have an alternative emergency access plan. It also adds key boxes and their contents to the list of non-public records and provides immunity for school employees regarding these installations.

Scope change

The bill's scope is clarified to explicitly include charter schools and nonpublic schools under the definition of 'school' and to specify that the requirement applies to the body responsible for administering the school.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement for local education providers to provide law enforcement with a key or access code to the exterior key box.

Added a requirement that key boxes must contain accurate maps of school grounds identifying access points, critical utilities, and surrounding areas.

Modified the exemption clause to allow schools without compliant key boxes to avoid installation if they have an alternative plan and procedures for providing emergency access.

DEFINITION

Added specific definitions for 'local education provider' to clarify which entity is responsible for different types of schools (district, charter, nonpublic).

ENFORCEMENT

Added immunity from civil liability for school employees installing or using key boxes, except in cases of gross negligence or bad faith.

SCOPE

Added key boxes and their contents to the list of records excluded from the Colorado Open Records Act.

FISCAL

Added a provision confirming that installing key boxes is a permissible use of funds from the School Security Disbursement Program.

Revised → Rerevised · 3 edits · Apr 16, 2026

MINOR

The bill was re-revised to include all amendments adopted in the Second House, updating the legislative status and adding new sponsors to the House list. A significant substantive change was made to the requirements for schools regarding emergency key access, removing the mandate for an exterior key box if the school already has a non-compliant box and an alternative emergency access plan.

Scope change

The bill's applicability to schools was narrowed by creating an exemption for those with existing non-compliant key boxes that have alternative emergency access procedures.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement for schools to install an exterior key box if they already have a box that does not meet standard requirements and have an alternative plan for emergency law enforcement access.

TECHNICAL

Added '3rd Reading Unamended' status and updated the House sponsorship list with additional names.

Updated the header text from 'REVISED' to 'REREVISED' to reflect the inclusion of all amendments adopted in the Second House.

Reengrossed → Revised · 3 edits · Apr 15, 2026

MINOR

The bill was renumbered from SB 104 to SB 26-104 and updated with new session headers for the 75th General Assembly. The most significant substantive change is the removal of a section that previously allowed school districts to use specific security funding (School Security Disbursement Program) to install exterior key boxes, effectively restricting how that specific fund can be utilized for this purpose. The bill also includes new metadata indicating it was read unamended in the House on April 15, 2026.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding funding eligibility was narrowed by removing the provision that permitted the use of the School Security Disbursement Program for installing exterior key boxes.

FISCAL

Deleted the clause allowing the School Security Disbursement Program to be used for installing exterior key boxes at schools.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill number from SB 104 to SB 26-104 and changed the version header from 'Reengrossed' to 'Revised'.

Added new header text indicating the bill includes amendments adopted on second reading in the second house.

Engrossed → Reengrossed · 3 edits · Mar 13, 2026

MINOR

The bill was reengrossed to include additional sponsors and updated the legislative status header. The most significant substantive change is the removal of a specific exemption that previously allowed schools to skip installing exterior key boxes if they did not receive funding from the School Security Disbursement Program.

Scope change

The bill's applicability now extends to all schools requiring exterior key boxes, removing a previous exception for those without specific security funding.

TECHNICAL

Added four new sponsors (Ball, Carson, Coleman, Cutter, Frizell, Kirkmeyer, Wallace) to the Senate sponsorship list.

Updated the header text from 'ENGROSSED' to 'REENGROSSED' and added a specific date stamp for the 3rd Reading Unamended version.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed an exemption clause that allowed local education providers to avoid installing exterior key boxes if they applied for but did not receive funds from the School Security Disbursement Program.

Introduced → Engrossed · 5 edits · Mar 12, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was amended to extend the deadline for installing exterior key boxes from 2028 to 2030. It also clarifies that schools with existing key boxes meeting specific standards are exempt from installing new ones, provided they have an alternative emergency access plan. Additionally, the bill explicitly allows schools to use security disbursement funds for these key boxes and clarifies that key box contents are not public records.

Scope change

The bill now applies to schools that already have compliant key boxes, exempting them from new installation if they have an alternative emergency access plan.

TIMELINE

The deadline for local education providers to install exterior key boxes was extended from July 1, 2028, to July 1, 2030.

ELIGIBILITY

Schools are exempt from installing new key boxes if they already have one that meets the required standards and have an alternative plan for providing emergency access to law enforcement.

FISCAL

The bill explicitly authorizes the use of the School Security Disbursement Program funds to pay for the installation of exterior key boxes.

REQUIREMENT

New language was added to clarify that the requirement to install a key box does not apply if the school already has a compliant box and an alternative access plan.

DEFINITION

The bill specifies that installing an exterior key box is a permissible use of security disbursement funds.

Require Key Boxes at Schools

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