Concerning increasing pollinator habitats through the conservation of native plant material on lands in the state.
HB26-1132 is a Colorado environmental and land-management bill aimed at increasing pollinator habitat by expanding the use of native plant material on state lands. It encourages the state forest service, the departments of natural resources, personnel, and transportation to prioritize ecoregionally specific native plants when they are available, financially feasible, and ecologically appropriate. The bill also directs these agencies to coordinate purchasing, set five- and ten-year native plant goals, establish staff training on native plants and pollinator conservation, and incorporate land-management practices such as mowing and grazing recommendations from a prior state-commissioned study.
The bill further requires the office of the state architect to promote pollinator-friendly, sustainable site design at the state capitol complex, other state buildings, and leased property where applicable. It also creates a Colorado native plant availability study to be conducted by Colorado State University Extension, in consultation with state agencies, growers, nurseries, local governments, tribal governments, conservation groups, and researchers. That study must assess supply-chain barriers, education and workforce needs, and best practices for expanding native plant markets, with a report due by August 1, 2031, if sufficient gifts, grants, or donations are secured to fund the work.
The bill adds two new statutory sections and amends the responsibilities of the office of the state architect, creating a statewide framework for how certain state agencies plan vegetation projects and procure native plant materials. It does not mandate a blanket requirement to use native plants in every project, but it does require covered agencies to consider native plant use, coordinate purchasing, develop training, and integrate pollinator habitat and land-management practices where practicable. It also authorizes Colorado State University Extension to conduct a funded study and report on the state’s native plant supply chain, with the study section repealed in 2031.
The bill appears to have been received positively overall, as reflected by its advancement and final enactment, including gubernatorial approval. The legislative findings frame native plants and pollinator habitat as important to biodiversity, water conservation, wildfire resilience, and climate adaptation, suggesting broad support for the bill’s conservation goals. The absence of recorded votes or committee transcript objections in the provided materials also suggests limited visible opposition in the available record.
The main points of potential contention are practical rather than ideological: whether native plant materials will be available in sufficient quantities, whether they will be cost-effective, and how agencies should balance native-plant goals against other priorities such as wildfire risk reduction, public safety, noxious weed control, agricultural production, endangered species protection, and environmental justice. The bill also leaves some duties contingent on available funding or sufficient gifts, grants, and donations, which may reflect concern about implementation costs and administrative capacity. Another likely issue is the feasibility of coordinating supply chains and setting long-term procurement goals across multiple agencies and private growers.