Bill to ban 3d printing files passed house committee

Last night, HB26-1144, a bill proposing criminalizing the possession of computer files with instructions on the manufacture of firearms and components, with “intent to distribute” or “intent to manufacture” passed out of committee on a party line vote. This means the bill will proceed, and continue on through the process, I believe the next step is for it to move to the full house for a vote.

A couple things I found interesting from the discussion:

1. The committee chair emphasized that the bill as written could actually apply multiple counts to a single violation depending on the circumstance, giving the possibility of an instant felony for possessing a computer file.
2. There are multiple instances of case law suggesting there may be a 1st amendment issue at play, but the committee did not consider them similar enough, or relevant enough to dissuade voting for it, preferring to let the court sort it out.

The bill: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1144

Video of the committee meeting: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00327/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20260219/29/18049

Bill sponsor list: Lindsay Gilchrist, Andrew Boesenecker, Tom Sullivan, and Katie Walker

Committee votes:

(D) Bacon - Y

(D) Clifford - Y

(D) Espenoza - Y

(R) Flanell - N

(D) Garcia - Y

(R) Keltie - N

(R) Slaugh - N

(R) Winter - N

(D)Zokaie - Y

(D) Carter - Y

(D) Mabrey - Y