Colorado's New Gun Training Requirement: Here's What's Coming in 2026
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is taking public input on how to roll out a new firearms safety requirement starting Aug. 1, 2026—one of the country's strictest training mandates for gun buyers.
For gun dealers, buyers, and instructors in Larimer and Weld counties, this means overhauling how training gets delivered and verified before the August deadline.
Under Senate Bill 25-003, signed April 10, 2025, buyers must complete an in-person firearms safety course before purchasing or transferring certain semiautomatic firearms. The law covers semiautomatic rifles or shotguns with detachable magazines, and gas-operated semiautomatic handguns with detachable magazines. Courses must be completed within five years of the transaction.
Purchases or transfers after Aug. 1, 2026 require training; the rule does not restrict current owners.
Hunters with CPW certification take a four-hour Basic Course; others take 12 hours. Both require 90% minimum on the final exam.
CPW will develop course standards, maintain eligibility records, and coordinate with county sheriffs, instructors, and dealers—including those in Larimer and Weld counties—but will not teach courses itself. County-verified instructors will deliver the standardized content.
"These meetings are an important part of ensuring transparency and understanding as we implement this new program," said CPW Assistant Chief of Law Enforcement Jim Hawkins. "We encourage members of the public and stakeholders to attend, ask questions, and share input."
The Department of Revenue maintains the list of specified semiautomatic firearms on CPW's website. Dealers and buyers check it to see which models trigger the training requirement.
CPW will host public meetings across the state through May 2026:
- West Slope: Feb. 24, 2026, at Cameo Shooting and Education Complex in Palisade
- Southeast region: March 11, 2026
- Denver Metro: Mid-April 2026
- Virtual option: To be announced
CPW will also hold separate meetings with county sheriffs, firearms dealers, and instructors to address implementation logistics.
The agency must report annually to lawmakers on program costs, a step that could determine whether northern Colorado gets adequate instructor capacity.
For more information, visit CPW's website or email [email protected].