Statewide
Proposition 133Penalties for Human Trafficking of a Minor
Sourced facts
Official ballot title
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?
Verbatim from: Amendments and Propositions on the 2026 Ballot (Colorado Secretary of State)
Summary
Sets life in prison without parole as the penalty for human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude and expands the offense to include buying sexual activity with a minor.
Plain-language summary written for this guide from the sources below.
What a YES vote does
A “yes” vote on Proposition 133 increases the penalties for child sex trafficking to life in prison without parole, and expands child sex trafficking to include buying sexual activity with a minor.
What a NO vote does
A “no” vote on Proposition 133 keeps the existing felony criminal penalties for child sex trafficking with a sentencing range of 8 to 48 years in prison plus a mandatory parole period.
Official text from the Blue Book (“What Your Vote Means”).
How it got on the ballot
- Citizen initiative petition #108. The Secretary of State found the petition sufficient on Mar 5, 2026. [Colorado Secretary of State: 2025–2026 initiative filings and petition status]
- Signatures: 169,775 submitted; verified by random sample. [Colorado Secretary of State: 2025–2026 initiative filings and petition status]
- Requirement: 124,238 valid signatures. Initiatives that amend the Colorado Constitution must also include signatures from at least 2% of registered voters in each state Senate district. [Colorado Secretary of State: 2025–2026 initiative filings and petition status]
- Certified to the ballot by the Secretary of State Sept 4, 2026. [SOS ballot certification news release, Sept 4, 2026]
Official fiscal information
- Department of Corrections costs estimated to begin in about 14 years: $180,000 in budget year 2041-42, growing by that amount annually for several years ($360,000 in 2042-43, $540,000 in 2043-44, and so on), not adjusted for inflation. (Estimated)
- Minimal workload increase for trial courts, indigent defense, and county-funded district attorneys.
From the official source’s fiscal section. Figures marked “(Estimated)” are estimates or projections in the source.