COLORADO — Coloradoans have a variety of new laws including hands-free driving, an increase in minimum wage, and the therapeutic use of psychedelic psilocybin that become effective on Jan. 1. 

Here are some key changes to Colorado state law that will go into effect in the New Year. 

• Hands-Free Driving Law

Drivers in Colorado will no longer be allowed to hold their phones while driving. This hands-free driving law, aimed at enhancing road safety and reducing distracted driving crashes, allows the use of hands-free devices like car speakers, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, or a dashboard phone mount. This measure is designed to make our roads safer for everyone. 

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, "In a move to enhance road safety and reduce distracted driving crashes, a new Colorado law will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, that prohibits drivers from using a mobile electronic device while driving, though hands-free accessories are permitted. The new law expands the ban on using cell phones beyond just texting. It now includes holding or manually using a phone or other mobile device for voice calls or any other reason, requiring all drivers to use a hands-free device.”  

Penalties for Violating the Hands-Free Driving Law: A $75 Fine and License Suspension Points. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration attributed 3,308 auto fatalities in 2022 due to distracted driving. 

• Therapeutic psychedelic use

Proposition 122 allows professionals, like therapists and psychiatrists, to administer psychedelic psilocybin in a clinical setting. In 2022, Colorado voters approved the proposition, which decriminalized the use of psilocybin plant substances, including mushrooms and other fungal botanicals. The Division of Natural Medicines was established to administer these psychedelics in therapeutic mental health environments. The use of the peyote cactus is not included in this legislation and remains illegal.  The exemption from legalization is to protect this increasingly threatened plant. Members of the Native American Church may continue to use this cactus as protected under federal law. 

• Cage-free eggs

All eggs sold in Colorado must come from cage-free producers. Businesses with more than 3,000 egg-laying hens must certify their facilities as cage-free. Passed in 2020, this law also sets standards for space requirements per bird and prohibits the sale of eggs from hens confined in non-cage-free environments. Violators may face civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation. 

• Child Safety Seat Changes

Under a new law, children must use a booster seat until 9 (up from 8). The new law also mandates that children be at least 4 years old and weigh at least 40 pounds before sitting in a booster seat. Children who are at least 2 years old or weigh 40 pounds must use a rear- or forward-facing restraint system. Additionally, children under 18 (up from 16) must be secured in a safety belt or child restraint system. 

• Concealed Carry Gun Permits and Storage

Effective January 1, anyone applying for a concealed carry permit in Colorado must complete training. Additionally, a new law requires firearms (handguns and long guns) stored in unoccupied vehicles to be locked in a hard-sided container out of plain view. There are exceptions for those with disabilities, antique firearms, farm or ranch vehicles, and certain hunting activities. Violations will result in a civil infraction, punishable by a fine of up to $100. 

• Corporate Transparency Act

New businesses in Colorado, including those established after January 1, 2025, are required to file an initial report to the U.S. Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network within 30 days of formation. 

• Minimum Wage Increases

The Colorado minimum wage will increase by 39 cents to $14.81 per hour in 2025. The minimum wage for tipped workers will rise to $11.79 per hour, up from $11.40. 

Colorado's minimum wage is adjusted annually based on inflation. The state has one of the highest minimum wages in the country. In 2007, voters approved an amendment to raise the minimum wage and tie future increases to the Consumer Price Index. 

Nationally, in 2025, minimum wages are expected to range from $7.25 to $16.66 per hour. The federal minimum wage hasn't increased since 2010. It's still $7.25 per hour. 

• Other New Legislation

Several other bills will also take effect in Colorado on Jan. 1: 

– HB24-1122: Establishes protection orders for crime victims. 

– HB24-1244: Sets guidelines for the release of minor autopsy reports. 

– SB24-026: Renew the public engagement requirement for the members of the Parks and Wildlife Commission in the Department of Natural Resources. 

– HB24-1095: Expands protections for minor workers.