CO HB1222

Amends Colorado law to allow municipal courts to prosecute domestic violence offenses, removing the existing prohibition that made domestic violence cases exclusively state district court jurisdiction.

Requires municipalities with domestic violence ordinances to adopt ordinances establishing victim protections equivalent to the state Victim Rights Act, with specific duties assigned to law enforcement, city attorneys, municipal courts, and probation offices.

Mandates municipal courts to issue protection orders meeting state standards, report domestic violence cases to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and search state databases to determine if respondents have prior domestic violence histories.

Classifies municipal domestic violence ordinance violations as misdemeanors for federal firearm purposes under 18 U.S.C. § 921.

Takes effect January 1, 2024, subject to voter approval if a referendum petition is filed within 90 days; requires Department of Public Safety to report annually through January 2029 on domestic violence reports submitted to state databases, aggregated by municipality.