A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning the classification of bison as wildlife unless
Page 1, Line 102classified as livestock.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov/.)
American Indian Affairs Interim Study Committee. The bill classifies bison as big game wildlife unless the bison are livestock. Classifying bison as wildlife means that hunting or taking one is illegal unless authorized by rule of the parks and wildlife commission.
This Unofficial Version Includes Committee
Amendments Not Yet Adopted on Second Reading
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly finds and declares that:
Page 2, Line 3(a) The history of the American bison is deeply intertwined with
Page 2, Line 4the history of indigenous peoples in North America. Once roaming the
Page 2, Line 5continent in vast herds numbering in the tens of millions, bison are a
Page 2, Line 6cornerstone of life for many American Indians and are revered as sacred
Page 2, Line 7relatives. Many American Indians and Tribal Nations continue to rely upon bison for survival, including for food, shelter, and clothing.
Page 2, Line 8(b) Recognizing the bison's critical role in the livelihood of
Page 2, Line 9indigenous peoples and in the campaign to continue European claim and
Page 2, Line 10control over lands inhabited by indigenous peoples, the United States
Page 2, Line 11government implemented a scorched-earth policy, granting military commanders the authority to decimate bison populations;
Page 2, Line 12(c) Over a span of 40 years, more than 30 million bison were
Page 2, Line 13killed. This mass extermination was not only wasteful and inhumane but
Page 2, Line 14also a calculated effort to undermine the cultural and physical survival of indigenous peoples.
Page 2, Line 15(d) Colonel Richard Irving Dodge infamously declared, "Kill
Page 2, Line 16every buffalo you can! Every buffalo dead is an Indian gone." The policy
Page 2, Line 17of killing bison had devastating impacts on American Indians and Tribal
Page 2, Line 18Nations and played a significant role in the federal government' s efforts
Page 2, Line 19to destroy tribal sovereignty. The resulting food and cultural scarcity
Page 2, Line 20played a significant role in the forced relocation of the plains peoples
Page 2, Line 21from Colorado in the late 1860s. It also contributed to the pressures restricting the Ute people to western Colorado.
Page 2, Line 22(e) By the time Colorado achieved statehood in 1876, hunting and
Page 3, Line 1habitat destruction caused by the development of farms, cities, and
Page 3, Line 2railroads had reduced the bison population to only a few hundred south of the Platte river;
Page 3, Line 3(f) Colorado seeks to protect, serve, and honor the enduring bond
Page 3, Line 4between bison and American Indians and Tribal Nations by classifying certain bison as wildlife; and
Page 3, Line 5(g) This action represents a step toward making amends for the
Page 3, Line 6attempted genocide of American Indians through the eradication of their food source, the bison.
Page 3, Line 7SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 33-1-102, amend(2) and (51); and add (2.6) as follows:
Page 3, Line 833-1-102. Definitions - rules. As used in this title 33, unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 3, Line 9(2) "Big game" means elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose,
Page 3, Line 10rocky mountain bighorn sheep, desert bighorn sheep, rocky mountain
Page 3, Line 11goat, pronghorn antelope, black bear, mountain lion, bison that are
Page 3, Line 12wildlife, and all species of large mammals that may be introduced or
Page 3, Line 13transplanted into this state for hunting or are classified as big game by the commission.
Page 3, Line 14(2.6) "Bison" means the ungulate classified as the species Bos bison or Bison bison, known as the American bison.
Page 3, Line 16(51) (a) "Wildlife" means
wildPage 3, Line 17crustaceans, whether the animal is alive or dead,
includingPage 3, Line 18animal presently or historically exists as a species in a natural wild state in its place of origin.
Page 3, Line 19(b) "Wildlife" includes:
(I) Bison; or
Page 4, Line 1(II) Any part, product, egg, or offspring
thereof, that exist as aPage 4, Line 2
species in a natural wild state in their place of origin, presently or historically, exceptPage 4, Line 3(c) "Wildlife" does not include:
Page 4, Line 4(I) Privately owned cattle, including privately owned
Page 4, Line 5bison, bison legally reduced to captivity, or bison that have escaped lawful captivity;
Page 4, Line 6(II) Bison owned by or lawfully reduced to captivity by an Indian tribe; or
Page 4, Line 7(III) Those species
determined to bePage 4, Line 8animals by rule
or regulation byPage 4, Line 9(d)
Such determination within this statute shallPage 4, Line 10made under subsection(51)(c)(III)of this section does not affect
Page 4, Line 11other statutes, rules, or court decisions determining injury to persons or
Page 4, Line 12damage to property
whichPage 4, Line 13by
suchPage 4, Line 14SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 4, Line 15takes effect January 1, 2026; except that, if a referendum petition is filed
Page 4, Line 16pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this
Page 4, Line 17act or an item, section, or part of this act within the ninety-day period
Page 4, Line 18after final adjournment of the general assembly, then the act, item,
Page 4, Line 19section, or part will not take effect unless approved by the people at the
Page 4, Line 20general election to be held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take
Page 5, Line 1effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.