Colorado could become the first state in America to fully decriminalize sex work between consenting adults. Senate Bill 24-097, now moving through the legislature, would remove criminal penalties for prostitution and solicitation while keeping tough laws against trafficking and exploitation intact.
The measure has sparked fierce debate, strong support from harm-reduction advocates, and deep concern from some anti-trafficking groups who fear it could normalize exploitation.
What the Bill Actually Does
SB24-097 repeals Colorado statutes that make prostitution, soliciting, and patronizing a prostitute criminal offenses when the acts involve only consenting adults.
Trafficking, coercion, and any involvement of minors remain serious felonies with harsh penalties. Sponsors stress this is decriminalization, not legalization. There will be no state-regulated brothels, no licenses, and no “pimp” middlemen protected by law.
“If someone is being forced, trafficked, or is underage, the penalties stay exactly the same and in some cases get stronger,” said prime sponsor Senator Sonia Jaquez Lewis during committee testimony last week.
The bill also includes a rare repeal-by-petition clause. If passed, opponents can collect signatures to force a statewide vote to overturn the law before it takes effect.
Why Sponsors Say Change Is Overdue
Sex workers in Colorado face violence at alarming rates. A 2023 study by the University of Colorado found that 68 percent of street-based sex workers in Denver reported being assaulted in the past year. Many said fear of arrest stopped them from calling police.
“Right now the law itself is the biggest barrier to safety,” said Representative Lorena Garcia, the House prime sponsor. “When everything is illegal, workers can’t screen clients, can’t work together for safety, and can’t report rape or robbery without risking jail.”
Full decriminalization models in New Zealand and New South Wales, Australia, have shown dramatic drops in violence and HIV transmission while making it easier for police to focus on real trafficking cases.
The Safety vs Exploitation Debate
Critics, including some prominent anti-trafficking organizations, argue removing all penalties will make it harder to spot victims.
Jessica Peck, policy director at the Colorado-based Exodus Road, told the Senate Judiciary Committee: “We worry this sends a message that buying sex is harmless. In reality, most people in prostitution are there because of poverty, addiction, or past trauma.”
Sponsors counter that the current system already drives the trade underground and point to data from decriminalized jurisdictions showing trafficking reports actually increase because victims feel safe coming forward.
Where the Bill Stands Right Now
The Senate Judiciary Committee passed SB24-097 on a 3-2 party-line vote last week. It now heads to the full Senate, where Democrats hold a strong majority.
If it clears the Senate, the House companion bill carried by Rep. Garcia is already waiting. Governor Jared Polis has not taken a firm position but has signaled openness to criminal justice reforms that reduce harm.
Public hearings have drawn hundreds of sex workers, survivors, faith leaders, and law enforcement officers offering sharply different views.
A Pivotal Moment for Worker Rights or Public Safety?
Fifteen years after Colorado voters rejected a similar ballot measure, the conversation has shifted. Younger lawmakers and a growing harm-reduction movement have brought decriminalization from the margins to the Capitol dome.
For the thousands of Coloradans who sell sex to pay rent, feed kids, or survive, the outcome of this bill could literally be life-changing.
The Senate is expected to vote in the coming weeks. Whatever happens, Colorado is once again at the center of a national debate that refuses to stay quiet.
What do you think: should consenting adults be free from criminal penalties for sex work, or does any removal of laws risk greater harm? Drop your thoughts below and join the conversation with #ColoradoDecrim24.
