A controversial bipartisan bill that would have mandated age verification for access to websites containing material deemed “harmful to children” has been shelved for the year following mounting opposition from civil liberties groups, industry advocates, and concerns over pending federal litigation.

Senate Bill 201, introduced earlier this year by a bipartisan group of Colorado legislators, was officially laid over until May 8, effectively killing the bill for the 2025 legislative session. Under the designation sine die, the bill will not receive further consideration this year.

The legislation, had it passed, would have required websites hosting sexually explicit material to implement age-verification systems and pay for third-party audits to ensure compliance. Colorado would have become the first Democratic-controlled state to enact such requirements, joining nearly two dozen others that have passed similar laws in recent years.

Despite passing out of committee with an 8–1 vote, SB 201 faced growing resistance as it progressed. Democratic Governor Jared Polis, a vocal civil libertarian, reportedly indicated he would likely veto the bill. Meanwhile, organizations including the Free Speech Coalition (FSC), ACLU of Colorado, Fight for the Future, and the Woodhull Freedom Foundation actively lobbied against the measure.

“This bill was introduced with bipartisan support and almost no formal opposition,” said Alison Boden, Executive Director of the Free Speech Coalition. “We worked hard to educate allies and legislators on the technical and legal issues with this bill, as well as how it could be weaponized against non-adult content.”

Boden testified before the Senate Health and Human Services Committee in March, urging lawmakers to consider alternative methods like device-level verification that don’t compromise user privacy. She also highlighted how platform-level requirements could pose broader risks to online speech and content creators.

The bill’s sponsors — Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen (R-Colorado Springs), Sen. Lindsey Daugherty (D-Arvada), Rep. Meghan Lukens (D-Steamboat Springs), and Rep. Mandy Lindsay (D-Aurora) — have signaled their intent to reintroduce the legislation next year. They cited the need to await a forthcoming U.S. Supreme Court ruling on a similar Texas law, Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, which could influence the legal landscape surrounding age-verification mandates.

Opponents argue the bill’s requirements would not only jeopardize First Amendment rights but also impose burdensome compliance costs on content providers, while offering limited real protection for minors.

“FSC’s work is often instrumental in stopping bad bills,” Boden said. “It’s only through the support of our members that we’re able to achieve these victories.”

Colorado now joins Nevada, New Mexico, and West Virginia in failing to pass age-verification legislation this session. With the Supreme Court expected to rule on the Texas case this summer, the debate over how to protect children online while preserving digital rights is far from over.