Colorado has a new firearms law – signed Senate Bill 25-003 on April 10, 2025. The law takes effect August 1, 2026. The biggest change is a new name-based background check. Before you can buy certain semiautomatic firearms in Colorado, you must pass a state background check and get a new card called the Firearms Safety Course Eligibility Card.
Sure Check runs the name-based background checks SB 25-003 calls for. Register today here to get started today.
The New Bill
SB 25-003 covers what the law calls Specified Semiautomatic Firearms (SSFs). According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, an SSF is:
- A semiautomatic rifle with a detachable magazine
- A semiautomatic shotgun with a detachable magazine
- A gas-operated semiautomatic handgun with a detachable magazine
Most modern AR-style rifles and many common pistols are covered. Bolt-action rifles, revolvers, and most fixed-magazine firearms are not. Firearms already owned before August 1, 2026 are not affected.
Before buying or receiving a covered firearm, applicants must:
- Apply online through a state portal opening in July 2026
- Pass a name-based background check run by an approved vendor
- Pay the sheriff’s processing fee and the $52 state course record fee
- Take an in-person firearms safety course and pass an exam with a score of at least 90 percent
- Buy the firearm at a licensed dealer (a federal NICS check still happens at the point of sale)
You can read the full bill on the Colorado General Assembly website.
Sure Check Runs the Name-Based Background Check
This is the part of SB 25-003 that matters most for Sure Check. The law explicitly calls for a name-based background check. What’s included in a Sure Check name-based background check:
- County criminal records in every county where the applicant has lived
- State criminal records for added coverage
- Civil Records + Nationwide Wants and Warrants
- National criminal database search of millions of records
- Federal criminal records for federally prosecuted crimes
- Sex offender registry search across all 50 states
- Social Security Number trace to confirm identity and surface every address tied to the applicant
- Global watchlist screening (sanctions, terrorist watchlists)
Open your Sure Check account here and you can run your first name-based background check today.
For Colorado Sheriff’s Offices
If your sheriff’s office is evaluating vendors to run the name-based background checks required under SB 25-003, Sure Check is an FCRA-compliant Consumer Reporting Agency based in Colorado and PBSA member, and we already process high volumes of name-based background checks every day with the speed and accuracy government workflows require.
To discuss a vendor relationship for your office, contact Maggie Benson directly at maggie@surecheckbackground.com or call 773-417-6725.
For Colorado Firearms Businesses
SB 25-003 raises the bar for gun shops, training academies, and security companies. Your team is now part of the verification chain for the new state system, and state scrutiny on how you operate is going up. A bad hire carries real risk: your federal firearms license, your reputation, and your exposure to negligent hiring claims all depend on knowing who is on your team. Sure Check runs the employment background checks that protect your business.
FAQ
Can Sure Check run the name-based background check required by SB 25-003?
Yes. Sure Check runs FCRA-compliant name-based background checks every day, with most basic reports returning in 15 minutes. We work with both private businesses screening employees and Colorado sheriff’s offices evaluating vendor options for SB 25-003 implementation. Open an account here or contact Maggie at maggie@surecheckbackground.com for sheriff’s office vendor discussions.
How fast does Sure Check return a background check?
About 85 percent of basic checks return in 15 minutes. The rest return in hours, not days.
What’s included in a standard Sure Check report?
County, state, national, and federal criminal records, sex offender registry search across all 50 states, SSN trace and address history, and global watchlist screening. Add-ons include employment verification, education verification, motor vehicle records, license verification, and drug testing.
How long is the Firearms Safety Course Eligibility Card valid?
Five years. Applicants reapply to renew, including a fresh background check.
Do current firearm owners need to do this?
Only if they buy or receive a covered firearm after August 1, 2026. Firearms owned before that date are not affected.
Does Sure Check require a contract?
No. No contracts, no signup fees, no monthly minimums. You run as many or as few checks as you need.
Ready to Get Started?
Sure Check runs the name-based background checks that SB 25-003 calls for. Whether you are a Colorado firearms business screening new hires, a sheriff’s office evaluating vendors for the new program, or any other Colorado employer who needs fast, accurate, FCRA-compliant background screening, Sure Check is built for you.
Open your Sure Check account today. No contracts. No setup fees. Run your first check in minutes.
For sheriff’s office vendor discussions, contact Maggie directly at maggie@surecheckbackground.com or 773-417-6725.
This blog post is for general information only. It is not legal advice. For specific questions about how Colorado SB 25-003 affects you, contact a Colorado attorney or your county sheriff’s office.