Senate passes amended bill restricting 3D-printed firearms after hours of debate over safety and constitutional risk

The Senate adopted House Bill 1144 on March 27 after hours of debate, voting to approve an amended version that sponsors said will make it unlawful to manufacture functional firearms with 3D printers and to possess certain untraceable components produced by additive manufacturing.

Senator Wallace, a sponsor, told colleagues the amended bill removes a separate section that would have criminalized distribution of instructional digital files but preserves a prohibition on using three-dimensional printers to produce functional firearms. "We appreciate the governor letting us know he would have vetoed the bill without this amendment," Wallace said, describing the adopted L52 change as a compromise to secure enactment.

Floor debate was exhaustive and frequently technical. Opponents argued the bill raised constitutional questions under the Supreme Court's recent guidance on Second Amendment analysis, with multiple senators citing concerns that modern administrative compliance regimes and broad burdens on conduct could trigger a constitutional challenge. A senator argued that the bill "operates within a regulatory paradigm that is historically novel" and warned of discretionary administrative authority.

Proponents highlighted public-safety evidence and testimony they had heard in committee. "Colorado law enforcement recovered nearly 90% more untraceable deadly weapons in 2022 compared to the prior five years," Senator Wallace said, urging that the Legislature act to prevent further circulation of untraceable weapons in crimes, suicides and mass shootings.

Several proposed floor amendments sought to narrow or clarify the bill: affirmative defenses for journalistic, research or educational uses were rejected (L053); exemptions for graduates of gunsmithing programs, active-duty or veteran service members, and peace officers were proposed and lost (L055, L051, L050); an amendment to limit the bill's scope to people already prohibited from possessing firearms (L054) drew heavy debate and was defeated on division. Sponsors repeatedly said the amended bill reflected feedback from the governor's office and stakeholders and would strengthen enforcement against untraceable, 3D-printed firearms without jeopardizing the whole measure.

Final vote and next steps: The Senate adopted the amended bill and ordered it for further processing on the calendar. Multiple senators warned that litigation challenging parts of the law was possible; sponsors said they plan to refine enforcement and educational outreach as the measure advances.