Two state firearm laws take effect on July 1, 2026. Colorado changes how ammunition can be sold at retail. Rhode Island begins enforcing a new prohibited-firearms law. Here is what changed, what did not change, and where to read the official statute text before relying on any summary.
The plain-English version
July 1, 2026 matters because that is the effective date for both laws. The Colorado law focuses on ammunition retail sales. The Rhode Island law focuses on firearms that meet the state's definition of prohibited firearm.
The important point for BoostedSafe readers: neither July 1 change rewrites vehicle firearm storage rules. If you leave a firearm in an unattended vehicle, you still need to check the vehicle storage law in the state where the vehicle is located.
| State | Law | Effective date | Main change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | HB25-1133 | July 1, 2026 | Changes retail ammunition sale rules, including customer access, age restrictions, exceptions, and delivery requirements. |
| Rhode Island | S0359A | July 1, 2026 | Restricts manufacture, sale, offer to sell, transfer, and purchase of firearms that meet the statute's definition of prohibited firearm. |
Colorado: ammunition retail rules change
Colorado HB25-1133 requires ammunition sold at retail to be accessible only with the assistance of the vendor or an employee. In plain English, ammunition cannot be displayed in a way that lets a customer simply pick it up without staff involvement.
The law also prohibits most retail ammunition sales to people under 21, but there are exceptions. The official Colorado bill summary lists exceptions for certain in-person sales at shooting ranges, military members and veterans, people with hunter education certification, people protected by a protection order, people born on or before January 28, 2007, on-duty peace officers, and rimfire ammunition.
Colorado also adds delivery requirements for ammunition sold at retail. A retail ammunition vendor shipping ammunition must use a delivery service that verifies the recipient is 21 or older and obtains written acknowledgment of receipt, with additional details and exceptions written into the statute.
Rhode Island: prohibited firearm restrictions begin
Rhode Island S0359A adds Chapter 47.2 to Title 11 and defines a category called prohibited firearm. The statute restricts the manufacture, sale, offer to sell, transfer, and purchase of those firearms, except where the statute allows otherwise.
The key point is scope. Rhode Island's law has its own definitions, feature tests, transfer rules, and exceptions. A summary from another state will not tell you whether a specific firearm is covered under Rhode Island law.
Rhode Island residents, retailers, and firearm owners should read S0359A directly before making decisions about sale, transfer, purchase, or compliance steps.
What neither law changes
Neither of these July 1 changes is a vehicle-storage law. Colorado's unattended vehicle firearm storage law remains separate from the ammunition retail rule. Rhode Island's July 1 prohibited-firearms law does not turn this article into a vehicle-storage checklist.
If a firearm is left in an unattended vehicle, the storage question still depends on the state where the vehicle is located. That is why firearm owners who drive across state lines should check each state's storage, transport, and carry rules separately.
For a recent example of a vehicle-specific storage rule, read the BoostedSafe California PC 25140 explainer.
What to do before July 1, 2026
- Colorado retailers should review ammunition display access and staff-assisted sales procedures.
- Colorado retailers should confirm age-verification workflow and exception documentation.
- Colorado sellers shipping ammunition should review delivery-service requirements and written acknowledgment rules.
- Colorado buyers age 18 to 20 should review the exception language before assuming whether a purchase is allowed.
- Rhode Island firearm owners should read S0359A and identify whether any firearm they own meets the prohibited firearm definition.
- Rhode Island retailers should review sale, transfer, and purchase restrictions before the effective date.
- Anyone crossing state lines should check firearm transport and vehicle storage laws separately.
- Use the official Colorado and Rhode Island statute text before relying on any short summary.
Official sources to read
Use the official state sources below to verify the statute text, effective dates, definitions, and exceptions.
Official Colorado General Assembly page for the ammunition retail sale law.
Read Colorado HB25-1133Official Rhode Island General Assembly bill text for the prohibited-firearms law.
Read Rhode Island S0359AFrequently asked questions
Does Colorado's ammunition rule apply to online purchases shipped to Colorado?
Colorado HB25-1133 includes delivery requirements for ammunition sold at retail, including age verification by the delivery service and written acknowledgment of receipt. Online and shipped-order questions can depend on how the sale and shipment are structured, so read the official statute and consult a licensed Colorado attorney for specific situations.
Does Colorado completely ban ammunition sales to anyone under 21?
No. The law prohibits most retail sales to people under 21, but it includes exceptions. The official Colorado summary lists exceptions for certain in-person range sales, military members and veterans, hunter education certification, protection-order status, people born on or before January 28, 2007, on-duty peace officers, and rimfire ammunition.
Does Rhode Island's law ban possession of all covered firearms?
The law focuses on restrictions around manufacture, sale, offer to sell, transfer, and purchase of prohibited firearms. Existing owners should read the statute's exact language and any compliance provisions that apply to their situation.
Are antique or curio-and-relic firearms covered by Rhode Island's law?
Exemptions and definitions are statute-specific. Read the Rhode Island bill text directly and confirm any edge case with a licensed Rhode Island attorney.
Does Colorado HB25-1133 change Colorado's vehicle storage law?
No. The ammunition retail rule and vehicle firearm storage rules are separate topics. HB25-1133 changes ammunition retail sale and delivery requirements. Vehicle storage should be checked separately under the law that applies where the vehicle is located.
Where can I find the official statute text?
Use the Colorado General Assembly website for Colorado HB25-1133 and the Rhode Island General Assembly website for Rhode Island S0359A. Those official sources should be checked before relying on any summary.
Vehicle storage is still a separate question
New firearm laws can change purchase, sale, transfer, or retail rules without changing vehicle storage requirements. If you leave valuables or a lawful firearm in a vehicle, use locked, hidden, anchor-based storage where appropriate and always check the law in your state.
See BoostedSafe EliteSources reviewed: Colorado General Assembly HB25-1133, Rhode Island General Assembly S0359A, the live BoostedSafe California PC 25140 explainer, and the live BoostedSafe Elite product page. This article is for general information only and is not legal advice.