State lawmakers in Colorado took a significant step this week toward changing how courts handle legal name change records for children. Supporters say the proposal would strengthen privacy protections for transgender youth and other minors seeking a legal name change.
The measure, Senate Bill 26-018, cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee after lawmakers removed a controversial provision related to parenting time in family court. The remaining language focuses solely on sealing name change petitions filed on behalf of minors.
Under current Colorado law, most civil court filings involving minors automatically suppress a child’s name, including delinquency cases and adoptions. However, name change petitions remain public because they are filed by a parent or guardian rather than the child directly. Advocates argue that this creates a gap in privacy protections.
Supporters told lawmakers that publicly accessible name change records can expose children to harassment or unwanted disclosure of personal information. In cases involving transgender youth, advocates say open records can inadvertently “out” a child, placing them at risk in school or community settings.
Erika Unger, an attorney with the Bread and Roses Legal Center, testified that aligning name change petitions with other sealed minor court matters would prevent unnecessary harm. She and other supporters described instances where families struggled to keep sensitive information from spreading online.
The bill initially included language requiring family court judges to consider whether parents affirm a child’s gender identity when allocating parenting time. That section drew criticism from both supporters and opponents and prompted concern from Governor Jared Polis, who signaled he may veto the bill if the language remained.
In response, lawmakers removed the parenting time provision before advancing the legislation out of committee. The revised bill now centers exclusively on automatic suppression of minors’ name change records.
Opponents of the earlier version argued that tying gender identity acknowledgment to custody decisions could interfere with parental rights. Some conservative advocacy groups urged lawmakers to scale back the measure, which ultimately led to the amendment.
With the more limited focus, supporters characterize the proposal as a straightforward privacy update rather than a broader family law change.
Senate Bill 26-018 now heads to the full Senate for debate. If passed and signed into law, the measure would bring name change petitions in line with other confidential proceedings involving minors in Colorado courts.
The legislation reflects ongoing efforts in Colorado to balance public access to court records with the privacy and safety concerns of children and their families.
