Colorado ballot measure · November 3, 2026

Colorado Proposition 133, explained

Life without parole for child sex trafficking. A ballot measure is a yes-or-no question put directly to voters — no candidate is involved, and the wording on the ballot is the wording that becomes law. This page shows that wording first, then what it actually changes.

The official wording

Shall there be a change to the Colorado Revised Statutes modifying existing law concerning human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude, and, in connection therewith, creating new law expanding human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude to include knowingly trading anything of monetary value to buy or sell sexual activity with a minor and increasing the penalty to be life in prison without parole or release?

This is what appears on the ballot. Everything below explains it.

What it actually means

Makes child sex trafficking a class 1 felony with a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole, up from 8 to 48 years. It also expands the crime to include buying sexual activity with a minor, so buyers as well as sellers would face the life sentence.

If you vote YES

Anyone convicted of human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude would receive life in prison without parole, with no judicial discretion in sentencing.
Knowingly trading anything of value to buy or sell sexual activity with a minor would be included in the crime.
State prison costs would begin in about 14 years, starting at $180,000 in 2041-42 and growing by that amount each year before leveling off, not counting inflation or rising medical costs for aging prisoners.

If you vote NO

Child sex trafficking would remain a class 2 felony punishable by 8 to 48 years in prison plus five years of mandatory parole, with judges setting the sentence within that range.
Buyers could still be charged under other existing sex crime laws.
Existing legal defenses for people charged who are themselves trafficking victims would continue.

The numbers that matter

Current sentence: 8 to 48 years plus 5 years parole
First added prison cost: $180,000 in 2041-42, growing yearly

Why supporters say YES

Child sex trafficking causes lasting harm, and offenders deserve a certain life sentence that keeps them from hurting more children, deters the crime and shows Colorado takes it seriously.
— Colorado Blue Book argument for Proposition 133 (Legislative Council Staff)

Why opponents say NO

Harsher sentences are unlikely to deter trafficking and may punish victims who are coerced into helping traffickers; fear of a life sentence could make victims less likely to report or cooperate, and judges could no longer weigh the facts.
— Colorado Blue Book argument against Proposition 133 (Legislative Council Staff)

What’s genuinely uncertain

Whether more people would be convicted under the expanded definition, which would raise costs, is not known.
The measure is sponsored by Protect Kids Colorado, according to Colorado Newsline; no registered opposition committee was identified in the sources reviewed.

The bottom line

A guaranteed life sentence for child sex trafficking, against removing judges' ability to weigh circumstances, including when defendants are themselves victims.

One neutral sentence describing the tradeoff — not a recommendation.

Sources:leg.colorado.gov coloradosos.gov coloradonewsline.com

Checking it against the official text

The Colorado Secretary of State publishes the certified measures and, in most states, an official voter guide with fiscal notes. That is the authoritative version. Everything here is an explanation of it, not a substitute for it.

Confirm this with the official source

Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at Colorado Secretary of State.

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