A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning a reallocation of funding from the division of
Page 1, Line 102parks and wildlife for the reintroduction of gray
Page 1, Line 103wolves to the Colorado health insurance
Page 1, Line 104affordability enterprise, and, in connection therewith,
Page 1, Line 105reducing an appropriation.
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.)
The bill reduces by $264,268 an appropriation for the 2025-26 state fiscal year from the general fund to the department of natural resources division of parks and wildlife (division) for the reintroduction of gray wolves. The bill requires the state treasurer to transfer a corresponding amount from the general fund to the Colorado health insurance affordability enterprise cash fund on September 1, 2025.
The bill also prohibits the division from using the money appropriated from the general fund in state fiscal year 2025-26 (appropriated money) for the acquisition and reintroduction of gray wolves or from taking any action to acquire or reintroduce gray wolves during state fiscal year 2025-26. The division may use the appropriated money to assist owners of livestock in preventing and resolving conflicts between gray wolves and livestock and to pay fair compensation to owners of livestock for any losses of livestock caused by gray wolves.
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) Through the narrow passage of Proposition 114 by Colorado
Page 2, Line 4voters in 2020, the division of parks and wildlife and the parks and
Page 2, Line 5wildlife commission were directed to develop and implement a plan to
Page 2, Line 6reintroduce gray wolves to Western Colorado while ensuring fair compensation for livestock losses;
Page 2, Line 7(b) According to the 2020 State Ballot Information Booklet,
Page 2, Line 8published by the legislative council of the Colorado general assembly,
Page 2, Line 9"Proposition 114 increases state spending by approximately $300,000 in
Page 2, Line 10state budget year 2021-22 and $500,000 in state budget year 2022-23 for
Page 2, Line 11public outreach and development of a gray wolf reintroduction plan.
Page 2, Line 12Beginning in the state budget year 2023-24, spending will increase to
Page 2, Line 13about $800,000 per year for the implementation of the wolf reintroduction plan";
Page 2, Line 14(c) Since state budget year 2023-24, the cost of the wolf
Page 2, Line 15reintroduction program has far exceeded the $800,000 per year that was
Page 2, Line 16estimated in the 2020 State Ballot Information Booklet. For just state
Page 3, Line 1budget year 2024-25, the program cost the state $3,457,613, with funding
Page 3, Line 2requirements for livestock conflict reduction and depredation compensation expected to rise in the coming years.
Page 3, Line 3(d) These cost overruns have occurred during a time when the
Page 3, Line 4state government has had to make drastic cuts to state spending for
Page 3, Line 5transportation infrastructure, Medicaid services, education, and more.
Page 3, Line 6Now, with ongoing inflationary pressure, a substantial reduction in
Page 3, Line 7available federal money for state operations due to the passage of H.R. 1
Page 3, Line 8by the United States Congress, the expiration of health insurance
Page 3, Line 9affordability tax credits that will cause insurance costs for Coloradans to
Page 3, Line 10spike, and Colorado's balanced budget requirement, the state of Colorado
Page 3, Line 11is faced with a challenging fiscal situation and Colorado families are at risk of losing access to health insurance.
Page 3, Line 12(e) Programmatically, Colorado's legal requirement to reintroduce
Page 3, Line 13and establish a self-sustaining population of gray wolves has been
Page 3, Line 14objectively successful: According to the division of parks and wildlife,
Page 3, Line 15the wolves reintroduced into Colorado in late 2023 and early 2025 have
Page 3, Line 16formed multiple packs and produced multiple litters of offspring and, as
Page 3, Line 17of August 2025, there are over 30 wolves in Colorado with that number
Page 3, Line 18anticipated to grow as more offspring from the current breeding season
Page 3, Line 19are confirmed. Unfortunately, wolf-livestock conflict has only increased
Page 3, Line 20as more wolves have been introduced and reproduced, which has further escalated the cost of the wolf reintroduction program to taxpayers.
Page 3, Line 21(f) Therefore, in the context of this extraordinary session called to
Page 3, Line 22address an emerging budget and health insurance affordability crisis,
Page 3, Line 23continued funding for the procurement of new wolves from other states
Page 3, Line 24or other countries is not a responsible use of taxpayer dollars and
Page 4, Line 1undermines the state's ability to lower costs for Coloradans' everyday
Page 4, Line 2expenses. Colorado should spend money originally allocated for the
Page 4, Line 3procurement, capture, transport, and release of new wolves on matters
Page 4, Line 4more immediately impactful and beneficial to Colorado families while
Page 4, Line 5retaining funding to support livestock producers and communities being impacted by Colorado's existing and expanding wolf population.
Page 4, Line 6(2) The general assembly further finds and declares that:
Page 4, Line 7(a) In his Executive Order D 2025 009, "Call for the First
Page 4, Line 8Extraordinary Session of the Seventy-Fifth General Assembly and
Page 4, Line 9Directing a Statewide Hiring Freeze", Governor Polis directed the general
Page 4, Line 10assembly to consider and pass legislation concerning, among other topics,
Page 4, Line 11"adjustments to the Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise (HIAE) to
Page 4, Line 12facilitate a reduction in premium increases and avoid health insurance
Page 4, Line 13coverage loss for those in the individual market and those unable to purchase health insurance through Connect for Health Colorado";
Page 4, Line 14(b) As noted in the executive order and extraordinary session call
Page 4, Line 15by the governor, "Congress's failure to extend enhanced Health Insurance
Page 4, Line 16Premium Tax Credits, established by the American Rescue Plan Act of
Page 4, Line 172021 (ARPA) and extended by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
Page 4, Line 18(IRA), in concert with the 2025 Marketplace Integrity and Affordability
Page 4, Line 19Final Rule and individual market changes set forth in H.R.1, will have a
Page 4, Line 20significant impact on health insurance rates in Colorado's individual
Page 4, Line 21health insurance market, as well as broader market impacts. July 2025
Page 4, Line 22rate filings by insurance carriers with the Colorado Division of Insurance
Page 4, Line 23are, on average, 28% higher than 2025 rates with some requested rate
Page 4, Line 24increases on Colorado's Western Slope of almost 40%. While the State
Page 4, Line 25cannot extend federal premium tax credits, we can add funds to
Page 5, Line 1Colorado's Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise (HIAE) in order to
Page 5, Line 2mitigate the impact of these extraordinary individual health insurance
Page 5, Line 3requested rate increases on individuals and families across the State.
Page 5, Line 4Without this additional support, projected coverage losses will be devastating for families and the health care system."
Page 5, Line 5(c) While these health insurance increases would significantly and
Page 5, Line 6negatively burden every part of Colorado, the price increases are
Page 5, Line 7particularly acute for Western Slope counties-the same counties,
Page 5, Line 8communities, businesses, and individuals being directly impacted by the wolf reintroduction program.
Page 5, Line 9(3) It is therefore the intent of the general assembly, in order to
Page 5, Line 10address the governor's directive in the call for this extraordinary session
Page 5, Line 11to fund the health insurance affordability enterprise, to not fund the
Page 5, Line 12procurement of new wolves in the 2025-26 state fiscal year and reallocate
Page 5, Line 13that money to the health insurance affordability enterprise, which will
Page 5, Line 14help Coloradans and their families save money on their health insurance
Page 5, Line 15premiums while protecting funding for the ongoing administration of wolf-livestock conflict minimization and depredation compensation.
Page 5, Line 16SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 10-16-1206, amend (1)(g) and (1)(h); and add (1)(i) and (5) as follows:
Page 5, Line 1710-16-1206. Health insurance affordability cash fund -
Page 5, Line 18creation - repeal. (1) There is created in the state treasury the health insurance affordability cash fund. The fund consists of:
Page 5, Line 19(g) The federal share of the medical assistance payments received pursuant to section 25.5-4-503 (2); and
Page 5, Line 20(h) Gifts, grants, or donations received from private or public
Page 5, Line 21sources; and
Page 6, Line 1(i) Any other money that may be appropriated or transferred to the fund.
Page 6, Line 2(5) (a) On September 1, 2025, the state treasurer shall
Page 6, Line 3transfer two hundred sixty-four thousand two hundred sixty-eight dollars from the general fund to the fund.
Page 6, Line 4(b) This subsection (5) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
Page 6, Line 5SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 33-2-105.8, add (4.7) as follows:
Page 6, Line 633-2-105.8. Reintroduction of gray wolves on designated lands
Page 6, Line 7west of the continental divide - public input in commission
Page 6, Line 8development of restoration plan - compensation to owners of
Page 6, Line 9livestock - definitions - repeal. (4.7) (a) The division shall not use
Page 6, Line 10money appropriated from the general fund for state fiscal year
Page 6, Line 112025-26 for the purpose of acquiring or reintroducing gray
Page 6, Line 12wolves and shall not take any action to acquire or reintroduce
Page 6, Line 13gray wolves during state fiscal year 2025-26. The division may
Page 6, Line 14use money appropriated for state fiscal year 2025-26 for the
Page 6, Line 15purposes listed in subsections (2)(e)(I) and (2)(e)(II) of this section.
Page 6, Line 16(b) This subsection (4.7) is repealed, effective July 1, 2026.
Page 7, Line 1SECTION 4. Appropriation to the department of natural resources for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. In Session Laws of Colorado 2025, section 2 of chapter 476, (SB 25-206), amend Part XV (5)(A), the affected totals, and footnote 79 as follows:
Page 7, Line 2Section 2. Appropriation.
Page 7, Line 3Part XV
Page 7, Line 4DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Page 7, Line 5
Page 7, Line 6(5) DIVISION OF PARKS AND WILDLIFE
Page 7, Line 7(A) Colorado Parks and Wildlife Operations
| Agency Name or Title | Item & Subtotal | Total | General Fund | General Fund Exempt | Cash Funds | Reappropriated Funds | Federal Funds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Page 7, Line 8State Park Operations |
64,834,343 |
63,934,343a |
900,000b |
||||
Page 7, Line 9 |
(332.1 FTE) |
||||||
|
|
97,525,795c |
34,700,000(I) |
||||
Page 7, Line 11 |
134,109,239 |
1,883,444 |
|||||
Page 7, Line 12 |
(731.8 FTE) |
||||||
|
Page 7, Line 13Vendor Commissions, Page 7, Line 14Fulfillment Fees, and Credit Page 8, Line 1Card Fees |
11,684,700 |
11,684,700d |
|||||
Page 8, Line 2 |
|
||||||
Page 8, Line 3 |
210,628,282 |
||||||
Page 8, Line 4 |
Page 8, Line 5a Of these amounts, $49,667,313 shall be from the Parks and Outdoor Recreation Cash Fund created in Section 33-10-111 (1), C.R.S., $8,800,000(I) shall be from the Great Outdoors
Page 8, Line 6Colorado Program established in Section 1 of Article XXVII of the State Constitution, $2,459,306(I) shall be from Lottery proceeds pursuant to Section 3 of Article XXVII of the State
Page 8, Line 7Constitution, $2,243,971 shall be from the Severance Tax Operational Fund created in Section 39-29-109 (2)(b), C.R.S., $641,063 shall be from the Off-highway Vehicle Recreation
Page 8, Line 8Fund created in Section 33-14.5-106 (1), C.R.S., and $122,690 shall be from the Snowmobile Recreation Fund created in Section 33-14-106 (1)(a), C.R.S. The appropriation from the
Page 8, Line 9Severance Tax Operational Fund is made in accordance with allocations specified in Section 39-29-109.3 (1)(f), C.R.S. Pursuant to Section 3 of Article XXVII of the State Constitution,
Page 8, Line 10amounts appropriated from the Great Outdoors Colorado Program and lottery proceeds are continuously appropriated and are shown for informational purposes only.
Page 8, Line 11b This amount shall be from various sources of federal funds, including funds anticipated to be received from the United States Bureau of Reclamation through a cost-sharing agreement
Page 8, Line 12to address the net operating deficit of Paonia, Vega, Rifle Gap, Crawford, Navajo, Mancos, and Ridgway State Parks, and is shown for informational purposes only.
Page 9, Line 1c Of these amounts, $84,110,795 shall be from the Wildlife Cash Fund created in Section 33-1-112 (1)(a), C.R.S., $8,800,000(I) shall be from the Great Outdoors Colorado Program
Page 9, Line 2established in Section 1 of Article XXVII of the State Constitution, $3,000,000 shall be from the Wildlife Management Public Education Fund created in Section 33-1-112 (3.5)(a), C.R.S.,
Page 9, Line 3$700,000 shall be from the Wolf Depredation Compensation Fund created in Section 33-1-128 (2)(a), C.R.S., $500,000 shall be from subscription revenues credited to the Colorado
Page 9, Line 4Outdoors Magazine Revolving Fund created in Section 33-1-114 (1), C.R.S., $400,000 shall be from the Colorado Nongame Conservation and Wildlife Restoration Cash Fund created
Page 9, Line 5in Section 33-1-125 (1)(a), C.R.S., and $15,000 shall be from the Federal Aid Projects Income Fund created in Section 33-1-119, C.R.S. Pursuant to Section 3 of Article XXVII of the
Page 9, Line 6State Constitution, amounts appropriated from the Great Outdoors Colorado Program and lottery proceeds are continuously appropriated and are shown for informational purposes only.
Page 9, Line 7d Of this amount, an estimated $10,000,000 shall be from the Wildlife Cash Fund created in Section 33-1-112 (1)(a), C.R.S., an estimated $1,350,000 shall be from the Parks and Outdoor
Page 9, Line 8Recreation Cash Fund created in Section 33-10-111 (1), C.R.S., an estimated $250,000 shall be from the Off-highway Vehicle Recreation Fund created in Section 33-14.5-106 (1), C.R.S.,
Page 9, Line 9an estimated $31,700 shall be from the sale of migratory waterfowl stamps pursuant to Section 33-4-102.5 (2), C.R.S., and an estimated $53,000 shall be from the Snowmobile Recreation
Page 9, Line 10Fund created in Section 33-14-106 (1)(a), C.R.S.
Page 9, Line 11
| Agency Name or Title | Item & Subtotal | Total | General Fund | General Fund Exempt | Cash Funds | Reappropriated Funds | Federal Funds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Page 9, Line 12TOTALS PART XV |
|||||||
|
Page 9, Line 13(NATURAL Page 9, Line 14RESOURCES) |
|
|
$367,162,434a |
$9,587,533b |
$42,630,060c |
||
Page 9, Line 15 |
$476,460,929 |
$57,080,902 |
|||||
Page 10, Line 1 |
Page 10, Line 2a Of this amount, $35,474,230 contains an (I) notation and an estimated $31,417,277 is from the Severance Tax Operational Fund pursuant to Section 39-29-109.3 (1), C.R.S.
Page 10, Line 3b Of this amount, $1,115,249 contains an (I) notation.
Page 10, Line 4c This amount contains an (I) notation.
Page 10, Line 5Footnotes: The following statements are referenced to the numbered footnotes throughout section 2.
Page 10, Line 6
Page 10, Line 779Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Wildlife, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Operations, Wildlife Operations -- It is the General Assembly's
Page 10, Line 8intent that $2,100,000
Page 10, Line 9management of gray wolves.
Page 11, Line 1SECTION 5. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,
Page 11, Line 2determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
Page 11, Line 3preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for
Page 11, Line 4the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state institutions.