HB26-1133 • 2026

Traveling Animal Protection Act Environmental Education Program

The 'Traveling Animal Protection Act' permits the use of certain animals as part of an environmental education program if certain requirements are met. The act clarifies that an environmental educatio

Agriculture Education

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Rep. M. Duran, Rep. A. Valdez, Sen. W. Lindstedt, Rep. S. Camacho, Rep. M. Froelich, Rep. L. Goldstein, Rep. M. Lindsay, Rep. K. Nguyen, Rep. M. Rutinel, Sen. J. Amabile, Sen. J. Coleman, Sen. L. Cutter, Sen. K. Wallace
Last action: 2026-04-23
Official status: Governor Signed
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date depends on whether a referendum petition is filed within ninety days after adjournment; if no petition, it starts August 12, 2026.

Traveling Animal Protection Act Environmental Education Program

This law allows certain animals to be used in environmental education programs if the program is conducted by a professional with specific accreditation.

What This Bill Does

Clarifies that an environmental education program must be conducted by a qualified professional.
Defines 'professional' as an individual or organization accredited by one of three listed groups: the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, or the American Sanctuary Association.
States that this law does not change rules about moving livestock or horses into, out of, or within Colorado.

Who It Names or Affects

Individuals who run environmental education programs with animals
Organizations seeking to use animals for educational purposes

Terms To Know

Environmental education program: An animal exhibition conducted by a professional qualified to teach environmental information.
Professional: A person or group with at least one specific accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, or American Sanctuary Association.

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not take effect immediately; it starts on August 12, 2026, unless a referendum petition is filed.
If voters reject the bill in November 2026 after a petition is filed, it will never become active.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

L.001

HOU Business Affairs & Labor

Passed [*]

Plain English: This amendment adds a statement clarifying that the Traveling Animal Protection Act does not ban livestock or horses and allows them to be transported into Colorado.

Adds a new section stating that current laws do not prohibit using livestock or equines (horses).
Clarifies that nothing in this bill stops people from moving livestock or equines within or into the state.

L.002

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: This amendment expands the law to cover animals being taken out of Colorado in addition to those brought within or into the state.

The text changes the phrase 'within or into' to include 'out of'.
This update ensures rules apply when traveling animals leave the state, not just when they enter.

Bill History

2026-04-23 Governor
Governor Signed
2026-04-16 Governor
Sent to the Governor
2026-04-16 Senate
Signed by the President of the Senate
2026-04-16 House
Signed by the Speaker of the House
2026-03-30 Senate
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
2026-03-27 Senate
Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments
2026-03-24 Senate
Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
2026-03-05 Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs
2026-03-02 House
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
2026-02-27 House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
2026-02-25 House
House Committee on Business Affairs & Labor Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
2026-02-04 House
Introduced In House - Assigned to Business Affairs & Labor

Official Summary Text

The 'Traveling Animal Protection Act' permits the use of certain animals as part of an environmental education program if certain requirements are met. The act clarifies that an environmental education program is a program that is conducted by a professional who is qualified to impart environmental education information. The act defines 'professional' as an individual or an organization that has obtained at least one specific professional accreditation or certification.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

0
HOUSE BILL 26-1133
BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Duran and Valdez, Camacho, Froelich,
Goldstein, Lindsay, Nguyen, Rutinel;
also SENATOR(S) Lindstedt, Amabile, Cutter, Wallace, Coleman.
CONCERNING AN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT IS
CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO THE "TRAVELING ANIMAL PROTECTION
Acr".
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) The "Traveling Animal Protection Act", section 33-1-126,
Colorado Revised Statutes, prohibits certain uses of specific animals but
does not prohibit the use of livestock or equine in any way; and
(b) Nothing in this act prohibits the transportation of livestock or
equine within, into, or out of the state.
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 33-1-126, amend
(2)(b )(II); and add (2)( c.5) as follows:
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material added to existing law; dashes
through words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law and such material is not part of
the act.
33-1-126. Prohibiting certain animals in a traveling animal act
-short title -definitions.
that:
(2) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(b) "Environmental education program" means an animal exhibition
(II) Is conducted by an individual A PROFESSIONAL qualified to
impart such information; and
( c.5) "PROFESSIONAL" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL ORAN ORGANIZATION
THAT HAS OBTAINED A PROFESSIONAL ACCREDITATION OR CERTIFICATION
FROM AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
(I) THE ASSOCIATION OF Zoos AND AQUARIUMS;
(II) THE GLOBAL FEDERATION OF ANIMAL SANCTUARIES; OR
(III) THE AMERICAN SANCTUARY ASSOCIATION.
SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August
12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13, 2026); except that, if a
referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state
constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within
such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless
PAGE 2-HOUSE BILL 26-1133
approved by the people at the general election to be held in November 2026
and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of
the vote thereon by the governor.
Jul~~
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES
v~~
Vanessa Reilly
CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES
James Rashad Coleman, Sr.
PRESIDENT OF
THE SENATE
Esther van Mourik
SECRETARY OF
THE SENATE
APPROVED Ol" 1vn.YScl"''1 Byn · I 2_3v-J 20"2h, u.--l-12:oorn.
(Date and Time)
PAGE 3-HOUSE BILL 26-1133