John TytusColorado 2026 ballot

Proposition 133: Life without parole for child sex trafficking

Statute, citizen initiative. Needs a majority to pass.

What it does

Raises child sex trafficking from a class 2 felony (8 to 48 years plus 5 years mandatory parole) to a class 1 felony with a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole, removing the judge's sentencing discretion. It also expands the crime to include exchanging anything of value to buy or sell sexual activity with a minor, so buyers as well as sellers would face the life sentence.

Blue Book arguments

For: Child sex trafficking causes lasting harm, offenders deserve life rather than a shorter term or probation, and a clear mandatory sentence protects children, deters offenders, and assures victims of full punishment.

Against: Harsher sentences are unlikely to deter trafficking, may punish victims who were coerced into helping traffickers, discourage reporting, strip judges of the ability to weigh the facts, and divert resources from prevention.

What it costs

Prison costs begin in about 14 years, when people sentenced under the new law would otherwise have been paroled: $180,000 in 2041-42, growing by about that amount each year for several years before leveling off. Court, public defender and district attorney workload increases minimally, because cases with tougher penalties take longer.

Who is paying

Money as of the Sept 25, 2026 filing. No committee on either side is dedicated to 133 alone.

For

Committee Raised Spent
Protect Kids Colorado – Issue Committee (backs 133, 134, 135) $173,839 $91,814
Protect Our Children (also registered for 134 and 135) $0 $0

Donors include Protect Kids Colorado's 501(c)(4) ($43,644), Pikes Peak Citizens for Life of Colorado Springs ($19,000), Truth and Liberty Foundation of Woodland Park ($10,000) and Andrew Wommack Ministries ($5,000), plus individuals; 98% in-state. See the Proposition 134 sheet for the donor list. Sponsors are Erin Lee and Michelle Austin.

Against

Committee Raised Spent
Vote Common Sense (nine measures) $495,000 $81,367

No other opposition committee names 133. The Secretary of State lists Families Not Politics, the $1.4 million committee fighting 134 and 135, as registered against those two measures, not 133.

Groups that have said they support it: the Catholic bishops of Colorado (Sept 18, 2026). Groups that have said they oppose it: the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Cobalt (Sept 17, 2026 briefing).

Where the parties stand

Democrats: no position from the Colorado Democratic Party found as of Sept 30, 2026. The party's Sept 8, 2026 press release, which it describes as concluding its consideration of 2026 ballot measures, does not list Proposition 133 among the measures it supports or opposes.

Republicans: no position from the Colorado Republican Party found as of Sept 30, 2026. The Weld County Republican Party, a county party, recommends a yes vote (its Resolution WCRCC-2026-09, adopted Sept 15, 2026).

No minor-party position found as of Sept 30, 2026.

What isn't known

How much of Protect Kids Colorado's or Vote Common Sense's money goes to Proposition 133 rather than their other measures. Who funds Protect Kids Colorado's 501(c)(4).

Sources