SB 25-168 Colorado Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Prevention of Wildlife Trafficking

Summary
The act adds species that appear in Appendix I to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES Appendix I) to the wildlife covered under Colorado's wildlife trafficking and wildlife possession laws. The act clarifies that species listed on Colorado's endangered and threatened species list or the endangered and threatened species list pursuant to the federal "Endangered Species Act of 1973", 16 U.S.C. sec. 1531 et seq. (federal act) are also covered under Colorado's wildlife possession and wildlife trafficking laws. The act establishes penalties for violating wildlife trafficking laws. A person who violates wildlife trafficking laws commits a class 1 misdemeanor; except that: If a person violates wildlife trafficking laws and the aggregate value of the wildlife involved is more than $1,000 but less than $10,000, the person commits a class 5 felony; If a person is convicted of trafficking wildlife and the wildlife involved is an endangered species or threatened species under Colorado law or the federal act or is a species that appears in CITES Appendix I, the person commits a class 4 felony; or If a person violates wildlife trafficking laws and the aggregate value of the wildlife involved is more than $10,000, the person commits a class 4 felony. The act grants the parks and wildlife commission (commission) in the department of natural resources (department) authority to suspend wildlife licenses held by a person convicted of a violation of wildlife trafficking laws. The act clarifies that the division of parks and wildlife (division) in the department has the authority to pursue a civil action against an individual to recover the possession or value of wildlife that was unlawfully taken and the minimum value that the division may recover for certain animals that are on the federal endangered and threatened species lists. The act requires the division to conduct investigations and surveys to collect information and data related to wildlife trafficking and determine appropriate conservation, management, and law enforcement measures based on those investigations and surveys. The general assembly is required to appropriate sufficient money to implement the act from the wildlife cash fund; except that money from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses in the wildlife cash fund must not be used for these purposes. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Feb 19, 2025 Signed Jun 2, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 7 comparisons

What changed between versions

Revised (04/24/2025) PA1 (03/07/2025) · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to change its status from a revised version to a preamended version with committee amendments that have not yet been adopted on second reading. The substantive policy content regarding wildlife trafficking penalties and species lists appears to remain largely intact, though some formatting and sponsorship information was updated.
Scope change
The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; the amendments are primarily procedural and formatting adjustments rather than substantive policy changes.
TECHNICAL

Document header changed from 'Revised' to 'Preamended' indicating this is now an unofficial version with committee amendments not yet adopted on second reading.

Senate sponsorship section was reformatted with line breaks added between sponsor names.

Committee listings were reorganized with House and Senate committees now listed on separate lines.

Bill summary and reading dates were repositioned and some date labels were removed or altered.

New page break and section numbering were added at the beginning of the penalties section.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 14, 2025 · House Apr 25, 2025

How they voted

302
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 34
Apr 14, 2025
D Democratic22
22 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican12
8 Yea 2 Nay 2
66% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
14
Key actions
5
Committee
4
Jun 2, 2025
Signed into law
Governor Signed
executive
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
lower
Apr 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
lower
Apr 21, 2025
Committee
House Committee on Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Refer Unamended to Appropriations
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Introduced
Introduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
upper
Apr 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Committee
Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources Refer Amended to Appropriations
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Introduced
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Agriculture & Natural Resources
upper
4 primary · 25 co-sponsors

Sponsors