By Chris Arend
This year, the Colorado General Assembly, in partnership with the Polis Administration and Department of Natural Resources, advanced a wide-ranging portfolio of legislation focused on expanding outdoor access, improving human and bear interactions, and funding key water and conservation projects across the state. All of the legislation highlighted below has now been signed into law by Governor Jared Polis.
“In a difficult budget year, the Department of Natural Resources worked with key legislators and stakeholders to pass legislation to bolster our efforts to expand and better manage outdoor recreation, improve our abilities to manage wildlife and provide new resources for water projects and state parks across Colorado,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources. “Coloradans treasure our outdoors and I am proud to have been part of the years-long commitment from the Polis Administration to prioritize managing our natural resources, protect wildlife, water resources, forests, pursue responsible energy development while increasing access to the outdoors for more Coloradans.”
Protecting and Conserving Colorado’s Water Resources
2026 Water Projects Bill (HB26-1338)
Appropriates funding for water projects across the state that protect natural resources and support the implementation of Colorado’s Water Plan. The bill includes $380,000 to continue satellite snowpack monitoring, $2.5 million to continue critical weather forecasting efforts and $5 million for watershed restoration and flood mitigation projects. The bill also authorizes a $151.5 million loan to support the Halligan Water Supply Project, a City of Fort Collins initiative to expand the existing Halligan Reservoir and help secure water supplies for future demand through 2065, and many other statewide water programs.
Revegetate or Dry Farm Formerly Irrigated Agricultural Land (HB26-1340)
This bill requires water right owners in Water Division 2 (Arkansas River Valley) who change the use of their water right from agricultural irrigation purposes to another beneficial use to engage in revegetation with effective erosion control and weed management. This will ensure more even application of revegetation requirements, which will in turn reduce soil erosion, the spread of invasive weeds, fire risk, and will lead to improvements in native wildlife habitat.
Expanding Outdoor Access and Recreation Opportunities
HB26-1008, Outdoor Opportunities Act
Recognizing that Colorado’s outdoors are essential to the state’s identity, economy, and quality of life, this legislation solidifies Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s roles and responsibilities in leading outdoor recreation management for the state. The bill strengthens CPW’s capacity to provide high-quality visitor experiences while protecting natural resources, wildlife, working lands, and private property rights. The legislation will improve collaboration, planning and management processes, and advance Colorado’s Outdoors Strategy goals focused on conservation, outdoor recreation, and climate resilience.
HB26-1338 2026 Water Projects Bill
Appropriates funding for water projects across the state that protect natural resources and support the implementation of Colorado’s Water Plan. The bill includes $380,000 to continue satellite snowpack monitoring, $2.5 million to continue critical weather forecasting efforts and $5 million for watershed restoration and flood mitigation projects. The bill also authorizes a $151.5 million loan to support the Halligan Water Supply Project, a City of Fort Collins initiative to expand the existing Halligan Reservoir and help secure water supplies for future demand through 2065, and many other statewide water programs.
Improving Animal Welfare and Regulatory Oversight
HB26-1342, Negligently Luring Bears
Over half of reported human-bear conflicts in Colorado occur as a result of improper management of human attractants, like improperly stored garbage; yet, the tools for CPW to enforce against this kind of negligence were limited. The bill gives CPW staff the enforcement tools they need to deter mismanagement of human attractants and meaningfully and effectively penalize those who knowingly create the risk of luring bears. This legislation was identified as a priority by CPW’s Human-Bear Working Group.
SB26-141 Wildlife Collision Prevention
This legislation supports wildlife safe passage projects such as overpasses, underpasses and fencing designed to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity. It is funded through the creation of a new optional $5 fee, beginning January 1, 2027, that motorists may choose to pay when registering a vehicle. 75% of the revenue will fund projects administered by the Colorado Department of Transportation, while 25% will support Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s wildlife connectivity and conservation efforts. The bill also seeks to align the process for the new optional fee with the existing optional Keep Colorado Wild Pass to ensure a clear annual option for registrants.
Practices to Support Pollinators (HB26-1132)
This bill requires the Department of Natural Resources and other state agencies to prioritize the use of native plants and seeds when undertaking revegetation projects on state lands. This bill implements several recommendations included within DNR’s 2022 Native Pollinating Insects Health Study and will be accompanied by new staff and programming capacity within Colorado Parks & Wildlife.
Despite a very difficult budget climate, the Department of Natural Resources was successful in efforts to bolster staffing and support in many of the Department’s critical programs.
The 2026 State Budget continues funding of Keep Colorado Wild revenue, provides support to administer additional Water Plan Grant program funding, and bolsters management of state lands.
Chris Arend is Communications Director, Department of Natural Resources.