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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 bill clarifies that an environmental educati

Agriculture Education
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

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
2026-03-30
Official status
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify the exact requirements for animal use in environmental education programs beyond needing an accredited professional.

Traveling Animal Protection Act Environmental Education Program

This act allows certain animals to be used in environmental education programs if specific requirements are met, including the involvement of accredited professionals.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the use of certain animals in environmental education programs under specific conditions.
  • Defines an 'environmental education program' as one conducted by a professional who is qualified to impart environmental education information.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Environmental education program organizers who use animals in their programs.
  • Professionals involved in environmental education with accredited organizations.

Terms To Know

Professional
An individual or organization that has obtained at least one specific professional accreditation or certification from an approved body.
Environmental Education Program
A program conducted by a qualified professional to impart environmental education information using animals.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact requirements for animal use in these programs beyond needing an accredited professional.
  • It is unclear what happens if a referendum petition is filed against this act before its effective date.

Amendments

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

L.001

HOU Business Affairs & Labor

Passed [*]

Plain English: The amendment adds a legislative declaration to clarify that the Traveling Animal Protection Act does not prohibit the use or transportation of livestock and equine animals.

  • Adds a new section stating that the act does not restrict the use or transport of livestock and equine within Colorado.
  • Removes references to 'ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION' in certain sections.
  • The amendment text is incomplete, so it's unclear if there are other changes beyond those explicitly mentioned.
L.002

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: The amendment changes the wording to allow animals used in environmental education programs to be moved not just within or into a facility, but also out of it.

  • Changes the phrase 'within or into' to 'within, into, or out of', allowing for more flexibility in moving animals used in educational programs.
  • The amendment does not provide further details on how this change will be implemented or what specific circumstances it applies to.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-30 Senate

    Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  2. 2026-03-27 Senate

    Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments

  3. 2026-03-24 Senate

    Senate Committee on State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole

  4. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs

  5. 2026-03-02 House

    House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  6. 2026-02-27 House

    House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor

  7. 2026-02-25 House

    House Committee on Business Affairs & Labor Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole

  8. 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 bill clarifies that an environmental education program is a program that is conducted by a professional who is qualified to impart environmental education information. The bill defines "professional" as an individual or an organization that has obtained at least one specific professional
environmental education
accreditation or certification.
(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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
ACT".

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:
NOTE: This bill has been prepared for the signatures of the appropriate legislative
officers and the Governor. To determine whether the Governor has signed the bill
or taken other action on it, please consult the legislative status sheet, the legislative
history, or the Session Laws.
________
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.
(2) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(b) "Environmental education program" means an animal exhibition
that:
(II) Is conducted by an individual A PROFESSIONAL qualified to
impart such information; and
(c.5) "PROFESSIONAL" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL OR AN 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.
____________________________ ____________________________
Julie McCluskie James Rashad Coleman, Sr.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE PRESIDENT OF
OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE
____________________________ ____________________________
Vanessa Reilly Esther van Mourik
CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE SECRETARY OF
OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE
APPROVED________________________________________
(Date and Time)
_________________________________________
Jared S. Polis
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
PAGE 3-HOUSE BILL 26-1133