A Linux Hardware Maker Is Convincing Colorado to Leave Open Source Alone

System76 founder Carl Richell has successfully lobbied Colorado lawmakers to amend the Age Attestation Bill (SB26-051) to exclude open source software, including Linux distros, code repositories like GitHub and GitLab, and containers like Docker and Podman. Richell worked directly with Colorado Senator Matt Ball to push for these exclusions. He is scheduled to testify before lawmakers and is seeking community stories about kids benefiting from open source access. The effort is also seen as a template for fighting similar age verification bills in California, New York, and other states, though a proposed federal bill with no open source exemptions remains a broader threat.