Committee advances paperwork-cutting bill for deployed service members' vehicle registration

The House Finance Committee unanimously advanced a bill on Monday to simplify vehicle registration exemptions for Coloradans serving outside the United States.

Representative Garcia Sander and Representative Martinez, sponsors of HB 1,200, said the bill eliminates a notarized affidavit requirement that has forced deployed service members and their families to navigate notary access and long time-zone delays. Under the proposal, qualifying members serving outside the U.S. would be able to use military orders or other Department of Revenue-acceptable documentation to claim the $1 specific ownership tax and the registration/fee exemption.

Supporters said the change preserves existing eligibility and does not expand it. The fiscal note showed no meaningful impact on state or local revenue, and sponsors argued the bill would reduce administrative burdens for county motor vehicle offices and deployed service members alike.

A family witness, Jason Meixel, described his son's experience serving in Vicenza, Italy, where he struggled to download orders and later paid thousands in back fees because the affidavit process was not accessible from abroad. Sponsors said the bill would prevent similar problems.

The committee moved HB 1,200 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation by a recorded unanimous vote of 110.

What happens next: HB 1,200 will proceed to the Committee of the Whole; if passed there, the bill would continue through the legislative process.