DENVER — The Colorado Senate adopted Senate Bill 70 on second reading on Feb. 21, 2025, moving the measure to engrossment and placing it on the calendar for third reading and final passage.

Senator Mark Roberts, sponsor, said the bill "follows up on a bill we passed the legislature passed 3 years ago to crack down on organized retail theft and enforce online marketplaces that sell, sell, and goods." He described the measure as a set of clarifications and tools that "law enforcement, AGs, and local law enforcement, need."

Senator John Liston, who spoke in support, framed the bill as a response to rising retail losses and online fraud. "The 2023 retail security survey identified that 45 percent of respondents had reduced store operating hours, about 30% had reduced or altered their product selections, and over 28% reported closing specific locations because of the impacts of retail thefts," Liston said, adding that survey respondents also reported increases in e-commerce fraud.

Sponsors said the bill seeks to improve coordination among retailers, law enforcement and online marketplaces to make it harder to sell stolen goods online. After brief discussion on the floor, members approved the bill on a voice vote; the chair announced, "The ayes have it. SB 25 70 is adopted." The bill has no committee report listed in the floor remarks and was presented directly by sponsors.

The Senate committee of the whole later reported that SB 70 passed second reading and was ordered engrossed and placed on the calendar for third reading and final passage.

No formal roll-call vote tally was announced on the floor for the second-reading adoption.

Aides and proponents said the measure is grounded in experience from law enforcement and retailers since passage of earlier legislation three years prior, although full statutory language and final amendments will be available when the engrossed bill reaches third reading.