Colorado · 2025 Regular Session · Bill
SB 25-044: Synthetic Opiates Criminal Penalties
Introduced Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 25-044 is a bill introduced in the Colorado Senate on January 8, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: Synthetic Opiates Criminal Penalties. Primary sponsor: Ryan Armagost, Byron Pelton (Republican). Most recent recorded action (February 10, 2025): Senate Committee on Judiciary Postpone Indefinitely.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
The bill makes it a level 1 drug felony if a person manufactures, dispenses, sells, or distributes, or possesses with intent to do the same, (manufactures or distributes) any material, compound, mixture, or preparation that contains fentanyl, carfentanil, benzimidazole opiate, or an analog thereof (qualifying controlled substance). Because manufacture or distribution of any amount of a qualifying controlled substance is a level 1 drug felony under the bill, the bill repeals penalty level provisions involving manufacture or distribution of a qualifying controlled substance that are weight- or circumstance-dependent, and related immunity and sentencing requirements. Effective July 1, 2025, the bill makes the possession of a qualifying controlled substance a level 4 drug felony. The bill repeals the following provisions of law related to the penalties for possessing a qualifying controlled substance: A provision that reduces the penalty if the fact finder in the case finds that the possessor made a reasonable mistake of fact and did not know that the material, compound, mixture, or preparation contained fentanyl, carfentanil, benzimidazole opiate, or an analog thereof; and A provision that requires a court to vacate the drug felony conviction and enter a conviction for a level 1 drug misdemeanor upon the defendant's successful completion of a community-based sentence to probation or to a community corrections program.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Republican 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Armagost | Primary sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Byron Pelton | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 1 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Senate Committee on Judiciary Postpone Indefinitely
- Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary