Winter’s Bill to Update Colorado’s Definition of Sexual Assault Advances

Legislation would modernize definition of sexual assault to include consent

DENVER, CO – The Senate Judiciary Committee today unanimously passed Senator Faith Winter’s (D-Westminster) bipartisan legislation that would update the definition of sexual assault in state law to include consent.

Colorado’s definition of sexual assault originated nearly 50 years ago when the scope of sexual assault victims was far narrower. It was originally defined as “sexual intrusion or penetration when the actor causes submission of the victim by means sufficient to cause submission against the victim’s will”. HB22-1169 would amend the current definition of sexual assault to read: “...when the actor causes sexual intrusion or sexual penetration knowing the victim does not consent”.

“In our work to build a safer Colorado, we realized that an update to our definition of sexual assault was long overdue,” Winter said. “Modernizing the dated definition to include consent aligns existing law with today’s understanding of sexual assault crimes, and will better equip prosecutors to get survivors the justice they deserve.”

HB22-1169 now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration. Track the progress of the bill here.