Colorado's Automatic Renewal Law: What Subscribers Should Know

Colorado regulates automatic-renewal and continuous-service subscriptions under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act, primarily at Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.) section 6-1-732. The core provision was created by House Bill 21-1239 and took effect January 1, 2022. It was then strengthened by Senate Bill 25-145, formally titled the Online Cancellation of Automatic Renewal Contracts act.

The statute defines an "automatic renewal contract" broadly as a paid subscription or purchasing agreement that is automatically renewed at the end of a defined term, or that continues on a recurring basis, until the consumer cancels. In practice this reaches streaming services, memberships, software subscriptions, boxes, and many other recurring-billing arrangements offered to Colorado residents.

Some regulated sectors are exempt. Under the statute's exemptions, the requirements generally do not apply to certain utility and telecommunications services overseen by the FCC, FERC, or the Colorado Public Utilities Commission; to insurers; to banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions; or to air carriers. This is general information about the statute, not legal advice; consult the statute or a licensed attorney for how it applies to a specific situation.

Before you agree to a subscription, a business must present the automatic-renewal offer terms in a "clear and conspicuous" manner. The statute defines that phrase concretely, requiring the disclosure to appear in larger type than surrounding text, in contrasting type, font, or color, or set off by symbols or marks that clearly call attention to it.

The disclosed terms must explain that the contract will renew automatically for a term that cannot exceed one year unless the consumer gives express consent to a longer term, describe the cancellation policy, and state the recurring charges that will be billed. For offers made by voice, the terms must be presented close in time to the request for the consumer's consent.

For subscriptions that begin with a trial period, the business must clearly explain the price that will be charged and any further purchase obligations once the trial ends, and must let the consumer cancel before being required to pay for the goods or services.

Colorado requires businesses to provide a cancellation method that is simple, cost-effective, timely, easy-to-use, and readily accessible. The intent is that ending a subscription should be roughly as easy as starting one, without a maze of steps designed to discourage cancellation.

Senate Bill 25-145 tightened this considerably. If you signed up for a subscription online, the business must let you cancel online through a one-step cancellation link. If you enrolled through another channel, the business must offer either an online one-step cancellation link or an in-person cancellation option where you regularly use the service.

The amended law also addresses "save" or retention offers. A business may display a discount or make its pitch to keep you, but only if it simultaneously shows a prominently located, continuously visible direct link to proceed to cancellation. Once you choose to cancel, the business must promptly process the request and may not obstruct or delay it.

Beyond up-front disclosure, the law requires businesses to remind you that a renewal is coming. The statute calls for a renewal notice to be sent at least 25 and no more than 40 days before an automatic renewal, and before each subsequent renewal.

Under the amended statute, the reminder obligation for month-to-month and shorter-term subscriptions is tied to the renewal that would extend the subscription past its one-year point, rather than requiring a notice ahead of every short billing cycle. The notice is meant to give you a real window to review the terms and cancel before you are charged again if you no longer want the service.

Senate Bill 25-145 was enacted in 2025 and, according to the Colorado General Assembly, fully goes into effect on February 16, 2026. It was carried by Senator Cathy Kipp and Representatives Mandy Lindsay and Yara Zokaie and builds directly on the 2021 law. Some commentators note that certain business-to-consumer provisions phased in during 2025, with the full set of amended requirements in force as of February 16, 2026.

A significant change is scope. The amendment broadens the definition of "consumer," removing the earlier "personal, family, or household purposes" limitation so that the protections extend to businesses purchasing subscriptions as well. As a result, the amended law reaches business-to-business subscription agreements, not just individual consumer subscriptions.

The new provisions generally apply to automatic renewal contracts offered or renewed after the effective date. Because the rules are being layered onto the existing statute, subscribers should treat the amended C.R.S. section 6-1-732 as the current framework in 2026.

A violation of the automatic-renewal requirements is treated as a deceptive trade practice under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act. The statute assigns enforcement authority to the Colorado Attorney General and the state's district attorneys.

Consumers who believe a business has failed to disclose renewal terms, made cancellation unreasonably difficult, or ignored the renewal-notice rules can file a complaint with the Colorado Attorney General's office through its Stop Fraud Colorado consumer-protection program. Keeping records, such as screenshots of the sign-up and cancellation screens, dated emails, and billing statements, can help document what happened.

This page is general information about Colorado law as of 2026 and is not legal advice. Statutes and effective dates can change, and how the law applies depends on the facts, so review the primary sources below or consult a licensed Colorado attorney for guidance on a specific dispute.