Colorado lawmakers pause prostitution decriminalization bill due to lack of votes

DENVER, Colo. (KRDO) -- A bill that focused on decriminalizing prostitution in Colorado will not move forward this year after the lack of votes to pass its first committee, according to sponsors.

According to our news partners in Denver, Democratic Senator Nick Hinrichsen of Pueblo said he plans to postpone the bill until after the legislative session ends rather than advance to a contentious hearing where supporters feared harassment.

The 16-page bill hoped to decriminalize commercial sexual activity among consenting adults. If passed, local municipalities would not have been able to override the law through home rule.

Under the bill, offenses like prostitution, soliciting, or patronizing a prostitute would be decriminalized. However, "pimping" and pandering that involves menacing or criminal intimidation would still result in criminal penalties.

Many in southern Colorado were against the bill, with District Attorney Michael Allen saying, "What we're really doing is encouraging people who already operate in that space in illegal activity to just come out into the light and do it in, you know, in a way that is very front and center and in our communities. and what that's going to do is create more victims of human trafficking,"

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