Concerning measures to support species conservation, and, in connection therewith, authorizing an appropriation from the species conservation trust fund.
Summary
SB26-165 authorizes the use of $5 million from Colorado’s Species Conservation Trust Fund for state fiscal year 2026-27 to support a set of wildlife and habitat conservation programs. The bill identifies five funding categories: the Upper Colorado River endangered fish recovery program and San Juan River Basin recovery implementation program; Rio Grande native fish protection and habitat improvements; selenium management, research, monitoring, evaluation, and control; native terrestrial wildlife conservation; and native aquatic wildlife conservation.
The bill functions as an appropriation measure and an approval of the species conservation eligibility list prepared by the Department of Natural Resources after consultation with the Colorado Water Conservation Board, the Parks and Wildlife Commission, and the director of the Division of Parks and Wildlife. It declares the listed expenditures to be in the public interest and makes the money available until fully spent. The bill does not create a new conservation program, but rather directs existing trust-fund resources to specified species and habitat efforts under current law.
Impact
The bill affects Colorado law by implementing the existing Species Conservation Trust Fund statute, section 24-33-111, C.R.S., through a specific annual authorization to spend $5 million on designated conservation activities. It does not amend the underlying trust-fund framework, but it operationalizes that framework for FY 2026-27 by approving the eligibility list and authorizing the executive director of the Department of Natural Resources to obligate and expend the funds for the listed programs and species. The practical impact is to provide state funding for endangered fish recovery, native fish habitat work, selenium mitigation, and broader terrestrial and aquatic wildlife conservation efforts.
Sentiment
The available record suggests broad support for the bill, as reflected by its enactment and gubernatorial signature. Because the measure is an appropriations bill tied to wildlife conservation and existing trust-fund purposes, it appears to have been treated as a routine funding measure rather than a controversial policy change. No committee transcript or recorded vote information was provided, so there is no evidence in the record of significant opposition or divided sentiment.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential areas of interest inherent in the bill include how the $5 million is divided among fish recovery, habitat improvement, selenium control, and terrestrial versus aquatic wildlife conservation, as well as whether the listed projects are the best use of Species Conservation Trust Fund dollars. However, the record provided does not show any formal objections, amendments, or disputed issues from legislators, agencies, or stakeholders.