BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Taggart and Joseph, Bacon, Bird, Boesenecker, Clifford, Froelich, Hamrick, Lindsay, Rutinel, Stewart K., Velasco, McCluskie, McCormick;
also SENATOR(S) Bridges and Kirkmeyer, Amabile, Cutter, Exum, Hinrichsen, Marchman, Roberts, Wallace.
Concerning the redistribution of the lottery fund, and, in connection therewith, modifying the distributions of lottery fund money for the public school capital construction assistance fund, the wildlife cash fund, and the parks and outdoor recreation cash fund; making new distributions to the outdoor equity fund, a new outdoor recreation economic development cash fund, and a new strategic outdoor recreation management and infrastructure cash fund; making additional transfers to the outdoor recreation economic development cash fund; and making an appropriation.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly finds and declares that:
(a) Since its creation, the outdoor equity grant program, administered by the outdoor equity board in the division of parks and wildlife, has provided a total of $8.5 million to support meaningful outdoor experiences for Colorado youth of color, LGBTQ+ youth, low-income youth, indigenous youth, rural youth, and youth with disabilities. These transformative experiences have allowed individuals to discover and cherish the beauty of our state through environmental education, experiential learning, stewardship programming, and more. Through December 2024, this investment has supported more than 65,000 Colorado youth and families in experiencing the positive impact of the great outdoors.
(b) The demand for the outdoor equity grant program reflects a deep and growing need for opportunities that connect Colorado's underserved youth to the outdoors. In 2023, hundreds of organizations across the state put forward meaningful projects to empower youth through outdoor experiences, but the program could only support a small fraction of them due to limited funding. In 2024, the outdoor equity grant program board received 263 grant proposals with a total ask of $21 million dollars.
(c) This pattern has repeated year after year, with the overwhelming majority of thoughtful and impactful applications going unfunded. Despite the program's success in transforming lives, only 14% of eligible applications have received support so far. The demand for this program is a testament to its importance, but it also highlights how much more could be done to ensure every young person in Colorado has the chance to experience the outdoors and the life-changing opportunities it provides.
(d) Public school capital construction assistance grant requests to address health and safety needs in school buildings vastly outnumber available grant funds every year. Increased funds for the public school capital construction assistance fund will help meet more of those qualified requests. These funds also generate local matching dollars for public school facility projects and are local economic drivers, with more than 17 direct and indirect jobs created or supported for every $1 million invested in building excellent schools today (BEST) grant program schools.
(e) Increased investment in public school capital construction assistance grants ensures that more public school facilities can be renovated or rebuilt to meet modern safety and accessibility standards, creating healthier learning environments and fostering long-term educational success for Colorado's students; and
(f) The general assembly has the opportunity to reallocate existing resources to support more of these critical programs without any new funding.
(2) Therefore, the general assembly declares that by prioritizing the outdoor equity grant program within our current budget, we can expand access to transformative outdoor experiences for Colorado's underserved youth, ensuring that more young people benefit from the life-changing impact of nature.
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 9-1.5-104.7, add (4) as follows:
9-1.5-104.7. Damage prevention fund - transfer - repeal. (4) (a) On June 30, 2025, the state treasurer shall transfer one hundred seventy-six thousand eight hundred thirty dollars from the fund to the outdoor recreation economic development cash fund created in section 24-48.5-129 (4)(a).
(b) This subsection (4) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 13-22-310, add (3) as follows:
13-22-310. Dispute resolution fund - creation - source of funds - transfer - repeal. (3) (a) On June 30, 2025, the state treasurer shall transfer eighty-three thousand eight hundred thirty-nine dollars from the dispute resolution fund to the outdoor recreation economic development cash fund created in section 24-48.5-129 (4)(a).
(b) This subsection (3) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 18-22-103, add (5) as follows:
18-22-103. Source of revenues - allocation of money - surcharge fund - transfer - repeal. (5) (a) On June 30, 2025, the state treasurer shall transfer six thousand seven hundred eighty-four dollars from the youthful offender system surcharge fund to the outdoor recreation economic development cash fund created in section 24-48.5-129 (4)(a).
(b) This subsection (5) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-48.5-129, add (4) and (5) as follows:
24-48.5-129. Outdoor recreation industry office - creation - duties - outdoor recreation economic development cash fund - legislative declaration. (4) (a) The outdoor recreation economic development cash fund is created in the state treasury. The fund consists of money transferred to the fund pursuant to section 44-40-111 (12)(b) and any other money that the general assembly may appropriate or transfer to the fund.
(b) The state treasurer shall credit all interest and income derived from the deposit and investment of money in the outdoor recreation economic development cash fund to the fund until money is first transferred to the fund pursuant to section 44-40-111 (12)(b). Thereafter, the state treasurer shall credit all interest and income derived from the deposit and investment of money in the fund to the general fund.
(c) Money transferred to the outdoor recreation economic development cash fund pursuant to section 44-40-111 (12)(b) and any income and interest derived from the deposit and investment of such money is exempt from any restriction on spending, revenue, or appropriations, including, without limitation, the restrictions of section 20 of article X of the state constitution.
(d) Subject to annual appropriation by the general assembly, the outdoor recreation industry office may expend money from the outdoor recreation economic development cash fund to execute its duties as set forth in subsection (3) of this section. Any money appropriated from the fund that is not expended or encumbered at the end of the fiscal year remains available for expenditure by the outdoor recreation industry office for the next two fiscal years without further appropriation.
(5) The outdoor recreation industry office may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, and donations, loans of money, or aid in any form from private or public sources for the purposes of this section. The outdoor recreation industry office shall transmit all money received through gifts, grants, or donations to the state treasurer, who shall credit the money to the outdoor recreation economic development cash fund.
SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-50-122, add (3) as follows:
24-50-122. Opportunities for training - professional development center cash fund - creation - rules - transfer - repeal. (3) (a) On June 30, 2025, the state treasurer shall transfer one hundred eighteen thousand seven hundred forty-one dollars from the professional development center cash fund to the outdoor recreation economic development cash fund created in section 24-48.5-129 (4)(a).
(b) This subsection (3) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
SECTION 7. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25-4-1708, add (5) as follows:
25-4-1708. Fund created - transfer - repeal. (5) (a) On June 30, 2025, the state treasurer shall transfer twenty-one thousand two hundred seventy-eight dollars from the immunization fund to the outdoor recreation economic development cash fund created in section 24-48.5-129 (4)(a).
(b) This subsection (5) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
SECTION 8. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 25.5-10-305.5, add (4) as follows:
25.5-10-305.5. Family support services fund - creation - transfer - repeal. (4) (a) On June 30, 2025, the state treasurer shall transfer eighty-three thousand three hundred fifty-four dollars from the family support services fund to the outdoor recreation economic development cash fund created in section 24-48.5-129 (4)(a).
(b) This subsection (4) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
SECTION 9. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 28-3-107 as follows:
28-3-107. Department of military and veterans affairs fund - creation - transfer - repeal. (1) Any gifts, grants, and donations accepted by the adjutant general pursuant to section 28-3-106 (1)(x) shall be transmitted to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the department of military and veterans affairs fund, which fund is hereby created and referred to in this section as the "fund". The moneysMoney in the fund shall be invested by the state treasurer as provided in sections 24-36-109, 24-36-112, and 24-36-113. C.R.S. Any unexpended and unencumbered moneysmoney remaining in the fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain in the fund and shall not revert or be credited or transferred to the general fund or be transferred to any other fund. Any interest or income derived from the deposit and investment of moneys in the fund shall remainremains in the fund. and shall not be credited to the general fund. MoneysMoney in the fund shall beis continuously appropriated to the department for use by the adjutant general to carry out the functions and duties set forth in this titletitle 28.
(2) (a) On June 30, 2025, the state treasurer shall transfer five thousand three hundred forty-eight dollars from the fund to the outdoor recreation economic development cash fund created in section 24-48.5-129 (4)(a).
(b) This subsection (2) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
SECTION 10. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 33-9-116 as follows:
33-9-116. Strategic outdoor recreation management and infrastructure cash fund. (1) (a) The strategic outdoor recreation management and infrastructure cash fund, referred to in this section as the "fund", is created in the state treasury. The fund consists of money transferred to the fund pursuant to section 44-40-111 (12)(b) and any other money that the general assembly may appropriate or transfer to the fund. The state treasurer shall credit all interest and income derived from the deposit and investment of money in the fund to the fund.
(b) Money transferred to the fund pursuant to section 44-40-111 (12)(b) and any income and interest derived from the deposit and investment of such money is exempt from any restriction on spending, revenue, or appropriations, including, without limitation, the restrictions of section 20 of article X of the state constitution.
(2) Money in the fund is continuously appropriated to the division for the following purposes, including the reasonable and necessary direct and indirect administrative costs incurred by the division in the implementation of the purposes:
(a) The achievement of strategic outcomes or opportunities that advance outdoor recreation infrastructure and management that address:
(I) Growing or future demands on infrastructure, experiences or lands; and
(II) Current or expected impacts to wildlife, natural or cultural resources;
(b) Uses outside regular activities within the Colorado state parks system, including through partnerships with federal land managers, nongovernmental or community organizations, state government entities, local or regional partnerships, or projects adjacent to or recent additions to the Colorado state parks system. The division shall prioritize parks and recreation cash fund money for uses on or associated with the Colorado state parks system.
(c) Outdoor recreation infrastructure, prioritizing investments that both enhance recreational experiences and support resource protection, including:
(I) Trail and river feature construction, maintenance and planning;
(II) Signage;
(III) Bathroom facilities, parking, or other physical infrastructure;
(d) Outdoor recreation visitor management, including signage, public education, field and interpretive staffing, visitor and community safety, wildlife, and natural or cultural resource protection;
(e) Increasing equity and accessibility in the outdoors, including but not limited to, field ambassadors, interpretive staffing, adaptive outdoor recreation infrastructure, equipment, and programs; and
(f) Outdoor recreation and conservation analysis and planning, including data procurement and analysis, needs assessments, and data-oriented coordination or information sharing across associated federal, local, private, and state planning efforts.
(3) The division may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, and donations, loans of money, or aid in any form from private or public sources for the purposes of this section. The division shall transmit all money received through gifts, grants, or donations to the state treasurer, who shall credit the money to the fund.
SECTION 11. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 37-60-122.8, add (4) as follows:
37-60-122.8. Publications fund - transfer - repeal. (4) (a) On June 30, 2025, the state treasurer shall transfer nine thousand six hundred forty-eight dollars from the publications fund to the outdoor recreation economic development cash fund created in section 24-48.5-129 (4)(a).
(b) This subsection (4) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
SECTION 12. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 38-25.5-105 as follows:
38-25.5-105. Department of revenue fees - tax lien certification fund - transfer - repeal. (1) Except as provided in section 38-25.5-103.5, fees collected by the department of revenue pursuant to this article shall be deposited in the state treasury in the tax lien certification fund, which is hereby created. MoneysMoney so deposited and all interest earned onand income derived from the deposit and investment of such moneysmoney shall be used by the department of revenue for the purposes of this articlearticle 25.5 in accordance with the annual appropriation by the general assembly and shall not be deposited in or transferred to the general fund; except that moneysmoney in excess of the maximum reserve, as defined in section 24-75-402 (2)(e.5), C.R.S., that remainremains in the fund at the end of any state fiscal year commencing on or after July 1, 2000, shall be transferred to the general fund.
(2) (a) On June 30, 2025, the state treasurer shall transfer eighty-five thousand nine hundred one dollars from the tax lien certification fund to the outdoor recreation economic development cash fund created in section 24-48.5-129 (4)(a).
(b) This subsection (2) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
SECTION 13. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-28-102.5, add (3) as follows:
39-28-102.5. Licensing of wholesale subcontractors - rules - fines - fund - transfer - repeal. (3) (a) On June 30, 2025, the state treasurer shall transfer four thousand four hundred thirteen dollars from the wholesale and distributing subcontractor license fund to the outdoor recreation economic development cash fund created in section 24-48.5-129 (4)(a).
(b) This subsection (3) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
SECTION 14. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 40-10.1-509 as follows:
40-10.1-509. Outreach - fund - transfer - repeal. (1) The moving outreach fund is hereby created in the state treasury. The fund consists of one-half the penalties collected from movers and credited to the fund under section 40-7-112. The commission shall use the fund to educate consumers about their rights and the responsibilities of movers under this part 5. This outreach includes public service announcements about the licensing of movers. The moneysMoney in the fund and any interest earned on moneysmoney in the fund remainremains in the fund and dodoes not revert to the general fund at the end of any fiscal year.
(2) (a) On June 30, 2025, the state treasurer shall transfer five thousand nine hundred sixty-three dollars from the moving outreach fund to the outdoor recreation economic development cash fund created in section 24-48.5-129 (4)(a).
(b) This subsection (2) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
SECTION 15. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 42-1-226 as follows:
42-1-226. Disabled parking education and enforcement fund - created - transfer - repeal. (1) There is hereby created in the state treasury the disabled parking education and enforcement fund, which consists of money collected pursuant to this section and section 42-4-1208 (6) and (7). The general assembly shall appropriate the money in the fund for the purposes specified in sections 42-1-227, 42-3-204, and 42-4-1208. Unexpended and unencumbered money in the fund at the end of a fiscal year remains in the fund and shall not be credited or transferred to the general fund or another fund. The department may accept gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources for the purposes of this section. All private and public money received through gifts, grants, or donations must be transmitted to the state treasurer, who shall credit the money to the fund.
(2) (a) On June 30, 2025, the state treasurer shall transfer one hundred twenty-one thousand three hundred eighty-nine dollars from the disabled parking education and enforcement fund to the outdoor recreation economic development cash fund created in section 24-48.5-129 (4)(a).
(b) This subsection (2) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
SECTION 16. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 44-40-111, amend (12)(b)(III) and (12)(b)(IV); and add (12)(a)(I.5), (12)(a)(III.5), (12)(b)(V), and (12)(b)(VI) as follows:
44-40-111. Lottery fund creation - definitions. (12) (a) As used in this subsection (12), unless the context otherwise requires:
(I.5) "Outdoor recreation economic development cash fund" means the outdoor recreation economic development cash fund created in section 24-48.5-129 (4)(a).
(III.5) "Strategic outdoor recreation management and infrastructure cash fund" means the strategic outdoor recreation management and infrastructure cash fund created in section 33-9-116 (1)(a).
(b) Pursuant to subsection (10)(b) of this section, the state treasurer shall transfer money that would otherwise be allocated to the general fund pursuant to section 3 (1)(b)(III) of article XXVII of the state constitution, and as described in section 33-60-104 (1)(c), as follows:
(III) For the 2022-23 state fiscal year, to the extent available, the first two million two hundred fifty thousand dollars to the outdoor equity fund; the next three million dollars to the public school capital construction assistance fund; and any remaining money as follows: Twenty-five percent to the wildlife cash fund, twenty-five percent to the parks and outdoor recreation cash fund, and fifty percent to the public school capital construction assistance fund; and
(IV) For the 2023-24 state fiscal year, and each state fiscal year thereafter, to the extent available, the first three million dollars to the outdoor equity fund; the next three million dollars to the public school capital construction assistance fund; and any remaining money as follows: Twenty-five percent to the wildlife cash fund, twenty-five percent to the parks and outdoor recreation cash fund, and fifty percent to the public school capital construction assistance fund; and
(V) For the 2024-25 state fiscal year and each state fiscal year thereafter, to the extent available, if the total amount of such money available is twenty million dollars or less:
(A) The first four million dollars to the outdoor equity fund;
(B) The next three million dollars to the public school capital construction assistance fund;
(C) The next seven hundred fifty thousand dollars to the outdoor recreation economic development cash fund; and
(D) Any remaining money as follows: fifty percent to the public school capital construction assistance fund; twenty percent to the parks and outdoor recreation cash fund; twenty percent to the wildlife cash fund; and ten percent to the outdoor equity fund.
(VI) For the 2024-25 state fiscal year and each state fiscal year thereafter, to the extent available, if the total amount of such money available is more than twenty million dollars:
(A) The first four million dollars to the outdoor equity fund;
(B) The next three million dollars to the public school capital construction assistance fund;
(C) The next seven hundred fifty thousand dollars to the outdoor recreation economic development cash fund; and
(D) Any remaining money as follows: fifty percent to the public school capital construction assistance fund; fifteen percent to the parks and outdoor recreation cash fund; fifteen percent to the wildlife cash fund; ten percent to the outdoor equity fund; five percent to the outdoor recreation economic development cash fund; and five percent to the strategic outdoor recreation management and infrastructure cash fund.
SECTION 17. Appropriation. For the 2025-26 state fiscal year, $723,488 is appropriated to the office of economic development for use by the outdoor recreation industry office. This appropriation is from the outdoor recreation economic development cash fund created in section 24-48.5-129 (4), C.R.S. To implement this act, the outdoor recreation industry office may use this appropriation to execute its duties as set forth in section 24-48.5-129 (3), C.R.S. In accordance with section 24-48.5-129 (4)(d), C.R.S., any money appropriated in this section not expended prior to July 1, 2026, is further appropriated to the outdoor recreation industry office for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 state fiscal years for the same purpose.
SECTION 18. Safety clause. The general assembly finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state institutions.
Signed By: Julie McCluskie, Speaker of the House of Representatives
Signed By: James Rashad Coleman, Sr., President of the Senate
Signed By: Vanessa Reilly, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives
Signed By: Esther van Mourik, Secretary of the Senate
Signed By: Jared S. Polis, Governor of the State of Colorado