CO HB1147

Municipal court sentences cannot exceed the maximum penalty allowed for comparable state offenses; where no comparable state offense exists, incarceration is capped at the maximum for a state petty offense (10 days for poverty-related crimes vs. the previous 364 days some municipalities imposed)

In-custody municipal defendants are presumed indigent and automatically entitled to court-appointed counsel at all court appearances, with hearings required within 48 hours of notice that a defendant is being held on a municipal hold

All criminal court proceedings, including municipal courts, must be available for free remote public viewing and listening in real time, with links posted on court websites; blanket rules prohibiting remote observation for categories of cases are prohibited

Municipalities cannot impose mandatory minimum jail sentences or enhanced penalties based on prior convictions unless a comparable state offense has the same requirements

Domestic violence offenses are exempted from the new sentencing limitations until April 1, 2026, allowing municipalities time to revise their ordinances