Environment

The act extends the availability of the conservation easement tax credit from income tax year 2031 through income tax year 2036. The act also prohibits the division of conservation from issuing any additional credit certificates or amending previously issued credit certificates as a result of the additional authority granted by the act for a donation made prior to the effective date of the act.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The bill requires a gas distribution utility (utility) to exempt carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the combustion of gas by residential customers from the utility's clean heat plan filed with the public utilities commission (commission). A utility must exclude residential carbon dioxide emissions from the baseline and projected emissions calculations used in the utility's clean heat plan.     If a utility has already submitted a clean heat plan to the commission prior to the effective date of the bill, the utility may submit a revised clean heat plan to the commission that excludes residential carbon dioxide emissions from the utility's baseline and projected emissions calculations. The bill requires the commission to adopt rules that allow a utility to submit a revised clean heat plan.     The bill permits a utility to recover costs related to a system safety and integrity project, which is defined as a certain type of project that improves the safety or integrity of the gas distribution system.     The bill repeals a prohibition on a gas utility providing incentives to customers for establishing gas service to a property.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

The 2025 general appropriations act is amended to balance and make adjustments to the total amount appropriated to the department of a natural resources. The general fund, cash funds, reappropriated funds, and federal funds portions of the appropriation are decreased.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act changes state law to reflect changes to federal law that expand the authority of states, counties, and tribal governments to enter into good neighbor agreements with the federal government to carry out recreation and improvement services on land by:Specifying that the Colorado state forest service may enter into good neighbor authority agreements with the United States department of the interior, the United States department of agriculture, or any agency of the United States department of the interior or United States department of agriculture; andClarifying that the Colorado state forest service is required to conduct, or contract with one or more entities to conduct, demonstration projects that utilize Colorado's good neighbor authority to implement forest management projects that improve forest health, resilience, wildlife habitat, or outdoor recreation opportunities.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The act implements the recommendation of the department of regulatory agencies' 2025 sunset review and report on the biomass utilization grant program by repealing the biomass utilization grant program.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Senate Bill 25-163, enacted in 2025, requires a battery stewardship organization to complete an assessment of the opportunities and challenges associated with the end-of-life management of certain batteries in the state. A battery stewardship organization is required to complete the assessment on or before December 1, 2028, and submit the completed assessment to the general assembly on or before March 1, 2028.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

HB 1306 creates a special Colorado license plate for vehicles, requiring owners to pay a $50 initial donation to the Wild Horse Fund and a $25 one-time fee to obtain the plate. To renew the plate annually, owners must make an additional $25 donation to the fund. All collected funds support the state’s wild horse population management program, as specified in the bill. This option is available to any Colorado resident who qualifies for standard vehicle registration.

Beginning January 1, 2028, the bill requires a person that owns, leases, operates, controls, or supervises a building, structure, facility, or installation that emits or may emit an air pollutant (owner or operator) to make all emissions records that the owner or operator is required by state or federal law to maintain (records) publicly available and accessible on the owner or operator's public website. Except in certain circumstances, the owner or operator is required to update the records following the same schedule as the records are made available to the state or the United States. These requirements apply only to records that are generated on or after December 1, 2027.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

The act encourages the state forest service, the department of natural resources, the department of personnel, and the department of transportation (covered agency) to prioritize the use of ecoregionally specific plant material that supports pollinator habitats when certain conditions are met. In planning and executing a vegetation project, each covered agency is required to satisfy certain requirements.     To the extent practicable, each covered agency shall coordinate with the other covered agencies with regard to purchasing.     Each covered agency, subject to available funding, shall establish a training program for relevant staff that includes certain minimum components.     On and after January 1, 2028, to the extent practicable, each covered agency shall integrate mowing and grazing based on recommendations included in the 2022 study commissioned by the department of natural resources pursuant to Senate Bill 22-199.     The act requires the office of the state architect to support and encourage the development and renovation of sustainable sites to maximize pollinator health on properties within the state capitol complex, other state buildings, and, where applicable, on leased property.     The act requires the Colorado state university cooperative extension service (extension) to perform a Colorado native plant availability study (study) in consultation with certain parties. On or before August 1, 2031, the extension shall issue a report summarizing the results of the study. The extension shall make the report publicly available on its website and provide copies of the report to the governor and specified legislative committees of reference.     The extension may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, and donations for the purpose of implementing the act. The extension is not required to perform the study or issue a report unless and until the extension acquires sufficient gifts, grants, and donations to pay for the performance of such duties.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

The bill recreates the wildfire matters review committee (interim committee) to succeed the wildfire matters review committee that repealed on September 1, 2025. The purpose of the interim committee is to review the implementation and effectiveness of state policies and resources for wildfire prevention and mitigation and to consider and recommend legislation or other policy changes to address all matters relating to wildfire prevention and mitigation including public safety, forest health, and cooperation with appropriate federal agencies and local governments.The interim committee consists of 10 members of the general assembly appointed as follows:5 members of the senate: 3 appointed by the president of the senate and 2 appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and5 members of the house of representatives: 3 appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and 2 appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives. The appointing authorities must make their original appointments to the interim committee no later than June 1, 2026. The term of appointment is 2 years. Incumbent members may be reappointed to the committee.The bill requires the interim committee to meet at least twice and allows the committee to take 2 field trips during every interim. The committee's duties are to:Review the implementation and effectiveness of state policies and resources for wildfire prevention and mitigation;Seek presentations and comments from individuals with professional expertise relating to wildfire prevention and mitigation and from representatives of relevant state agencies, local governments, private industry, and impacted communities; andRecommend legislation or other policy changes to address matters related to wildfire prevention and mitigation, including public safety, forest health, and cooperation with appropriate federal agencies and local governments.The bill allows the committee to recommend up to 5 bills during each interim.The committee is repealed, effective June 30, 2031.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)