Colorado school visitor management law

What does the Colorado law require?

By July 1, 2030, every local education provider must install at least one exterior key box meeting UL Standard 1037 at each of its schools. The box must be placed so law enforcement officers can get emergency access to every building and room on the school grounds. It must hold the keys and other access-control devices needed to open every building and room. It must also hold accurate, labeled maps of the entire school grounds. The provider must give each local law enforcement agency where the school sits a key or access code for the box. A school that already has a key box meeting these requirements does not need a new one.

Who is covered, and who is excused?

The key-box law's definition of a school includes district charter schools, institute charter schools and nonpublic schools where students attend the school facilities. A school does not have to install the box if it already has a key box that falls short of the standard and has an alternative plan and procedures for law-enforcement emergency access. A provider that applied for a School Security Disbursement Program disbursement and did not receive one does not have to install it.

When did it take effect?

SB 26-104 was signed by the Governor on May 4, 2026 and took effect August 12, 2026. The installation deadline is July 1, 2030.

What about visitor screening and door locks?

The state's public school construction guidelines say they are not mandatory standards for districts, charter schools, institute charter schools or BOCES (regional education service agencies). Those non-mandatory guidelines say new construction should limit normal entrance to one or two locations. They call for double-door security vestibules where appropriate, so visitors can be checked before entry. They call for video and access-control technology at entry points to check incoming visitors more than one way, such as by sight and by ID. They say all exterior doors should be locking, with panic bars for exit. They say staff should be able to quickly secure interior doors to occupied spaces from the inside.

How can schools pay for it?

The School Security Disbursement Program lets an eligible entity use disbursed money for capital construction that improves the security of a public school facility or vehicle. In the program law, a "local education provider" means a school district, a charter school, an institute charter school or a BOCES. One listed use is preventing unauthorized people from entering a public school facility, a protected space inside it, or a public school vehicle. Installing a required key box is a permitted use of the money. Disbursements depend on available appropriations, and the Department of Public Safety gives priority to applicants that commit matching funds. The program section is repealed effective July 1, 2032.