SB 13 Colorado Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Exclude Cohabitation from Elements of Bigamy

SB 13 removes cohabitation (living together as a couple) from the legal definition of bigamy in Colorado. It changes the law so that merely living with someone else without a formal marriage or civil union no longer constitutes bigamy. The bill specifically amends Colorado's bigamy statute to delete "cohabits" as a potential element and repeals the definition of "cohabitation" in the law. This change directly affects individuals living together without marriage, ensuring they cannot be charged with bigamy solely based on their living arrangement.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Signed Mar 26, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons

What changed between versions

Rerevised → Final Act · 4 edits · Mar 17, 2026

MODERATE

This bill redefines the crime of bigamy in Colorado to explicitly include cohabitation as a means of committing the offense, alongside marrying or entering a civil union while already married. It adds a specific definition of 'cohabitation' as living together under the representation of being married. The bill also repeals the previous definitions section and sets a future effective date contingent on the legislative session ending.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of bigamy charges to cover couples living together as if married, rather than just those who legally marry or form civil unions while already married.

SCOPE

Cohabitation is now added as a specific act that constitutes bigamy, allowing prosecution of couples who live together as spouses without legally marrying.

DEFINITION

A new definition was added stating that 'cohabitation' means living together under the representation of being married.

The previous standalone definitions section (18-6-203) was repealed and its content was integrated into the main bigamy statute.

ELIGIBILITY

The statute now applies to partners in civil unions who cohabit with someone other than their current partner, treating this as bigamy.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 26, 2026

Signed into law

Governor Signed

executive

Mar 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by the Speaker of the House

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by the President of the Senate

upper

Mar 13, 2026

Introduced

Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Introduced

Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Laid Over to 03/13/2026

upper

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor

lower

Mar 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Introduced

Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Introduced

Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary

upper

3 primary · 14 co-sponsors