Read the full stored bill text
Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REREVISED
This Version Includes All Amendments
Adopted in the Second House
LLS NO. 26-0802.01 Rebecca Bayetti x4348 HOUSE BILL 26-1253
House Committees Senate Committees
Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Local Government & Housing
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING THE PROCESS FOR DISCONNECTION OF PROPERTY FROM101
A STATUTORY MUNICIPALITY.102
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.)
Under current law, the owners of certain tracts of agricultural or
farm land within and adjacent to the boundary of a statutory town may
petition the district court for the county to have the land disconnected
from the town (disconnection by court decree). The bill changes which
tracts of land are eligible to be disconnected from a statutory town using
the disconnection by court decree process, so that this process is not
SENATE
3rd Reading Unamended
April 2, 2026
SENATE
2nd Reading Unamended
April 1, 2026
HOUSE
3rd Reading Unamended
March 17, 2026
HOUSE
Amended 2nd Reading
March 16, 2026
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Slaugh, Goldstein
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Kirkmeyer and Snyder, Bright, Coleman, Frizell, Hinrichsen, Kipp
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.
available for any tract of land that is included within the boundaries of an
urban renewal authority (affected urban renewal authority) or a special
district that, by its service plan or pursuant to an intergovernmental
agreement, is or will be expected to provide service to the tract of land
(affected special district). Instead of using the disconnection by court
decree process, owners of these tracts of land must use the process for
applications for disconnection from a statutory municipality.
Under current law, the owner of a tract of land within and adjacent
to the boundary of a statutory municipality may apply to the governing
body of the municipality for the enactment of an ordinance disconnecting
the tract of land from the municipality (disconnection by ordinance). The
bill also modifies this disconnection by ordinance process by requiring
that, in addition to the existing requirement that an owner provide notice
and a copy of the application for disconnection to the board of county
commissioners of the county in which the tract of land is located and to
the board of directors of any affected special district, the owner seeking
disconnection must also provide notice and a copy of the application for
disconnection to the commissioners of any affected urban renewal
authority. Upon receiving the notice and application, these entities may
request a meeting with the owner of the land and the governing body of
the municipality to discuss and address any negative impacts that would
result from the disconnection, including any change in the level or extent
of services being provided to the tract of land that is the subject of the
disconnection application. The failure of the board of county
commissioners, the board of any affected special district, or the
commissioners of any affected urban renewal authority to request a
meeting constitutes an acknowledgment that the disconnection will not
adversely affect the county, the affected special district, or the affected
urban renewal authority.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 31-12-501, amend2
(1) and (2); and add (6) as follows:3
31-12-501. Application - enactment - filing - definitions.4
(1) When the owner of a tract of land within and adjacent to the5
boundary of a municipality desires to have said tract disconnected from6
such THE municipality, such THE owner may apply to the governing body7
of such THE municipality for the enactment of an ordinance disconnecting8
1253-2-
such THE tract of land from such THE municipality. The owner shall also1
provide notice and a copy of the application to the board of county2
commissioners of the county in which the tract of land that is the subject3
of the application is located, and to the board of directors of any affected4
special district, AND TO ANY AFFECTED URBAN RENEWAL AUTHORITY.5
No later than the effective date of the disconnection of a particular tract6
of land, any vested property rights affecting the tract that have been7
established pursuant to article 68 of title 24 prior to such date that are8
possessed by the owner of the tract shall be expired or relinquished.9
(2) (a) Not more than thirty days after receiving the notice10
required by subsection (1) of this section, either the board of county11
commissioners, or the board of directors of any affected special district,12
OR ANY AFFECTED URBAN RENEWAL AUTHORITY may request a meeting13
with the owner and the governing body of the municipality, or its14
appointee, to discuss and address any negative impacts on the county that15
would result from the disconnection, INCLUDING ANY CH ANGE IN THE16
LEVEL OR EXTENT OF SERVICES BEING PROVIDED BY AN AFFECTED SPECIAL17
DISTRICT OR ANY INTERFERENCE WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN18
URBAN RENEWAL PLAN OF ANY AFFECTED URBAN RENEWAL AUTHORITY.19
If such meeting is requested, the owner and the governing body or its20
appointee shall meet with either the board of county commissioners, or21
its appointee, or the board of any affected special district, or its appointee,22
OR ANY AFFECTED URBAN RENEWAL AUTHORITY, OR ITS APPOINTEE, not23
more than thirty days after the meeting was requested. Failure by either24
the board of county commissioners, or the board of any affected special25
district, OR ANY AFFECTED URBAN RENEWAL AUTHORITY to request a26
meeting constitutes an acknowledgment by the particular board OR27
1253-3-
AUTHORITY that the disconnection will not adversely affect the county, or1
an THE affected special district, OR THE AFFECTED URBAN RENEWAL2
AUTHORITY, as applicable.3
(b) As used in paragraph (a) of this subsection (2), "affected4
special district" means any special district that by its service plan or5
pursuant to an intergovernmental agreement is or will be expected to6
provide service to the tract of land that is the subject of the disconnection7
application. For purposes of paragraph (a) of this subsection (2),8
"negative impact" includes any change in the level or extent of services9
being provided to the tract of land by any special district.10
(6) AS USED IN THIS SECTION , UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE11
REQUIRES:12
(a) "AFFECTED SPECIAL DISTRICT" MEANS ANY SPECIAL DISTRICT13
THAT, BY ITS SERVICE PLAN OR PURSUANT TO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL14
AGREEMENT, IS OR WILL BE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO THE TRACT15
OF LAND THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF THE DISCONNECTION APPLICATION.16
(b) "AFFECTED URBAN RENEWAL AUTHORITY" MEANS ANY URBAN17
RENEWAL AUTHORITY FORMED PURSUANT TO PART 1 OF ARTICLE 25 OF18
THIS TITLE 31 WITH AN URBAN RENEWAL AREA DESCRIBED IN AN URBAN19
RENEWAL PLAN THAT INCLUDES THE TRACT OF LAND THAT IS THE SUBJECT20
OF THE DISCONNECTION APPLICATION. 21
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 31-12-601 as22
follows:23
31-12-601. Petition to disconnect territory.24
(1) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (2) OF THIS25
SECTION, when a tract or contiguous tracts of land, aggregating twenty or26
more acres in area, are embraced within the municipal limits of any city,27
1253-4-
which are upon or contiguous to the border thereof OF THE CITY , the1
owners of said THE tracts of land may petition the district court for the2
county in which such THE land, or any part thereof, is situated to have the3
same LAND disconnected from said THE city.4
(2) THE PROCESS FOR DISCONNECTION FROM A CITY AS PROVIDED5
IN THIS PART 6 IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR ANY TRACT OF LAND THAT IS6
INCLUDED WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF:7
(a) AN URBAN RENEWAL AREA DESCRIBED IN AN URBAN RENEWAL8
PLAN APPROVED PURSUANT TO PART 1 OF ARTICLE 25 OF THIS TITLE 31; OR9
(b) A SPECIAL DISTRICT THAT, BY ITS SERVICE PLAN OR PURSUANT10
TO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT , IS OR WILL BE EXPECTED TO11
PROVIDE SERVICE TO THE TRACT OF LAND.12
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 31-12-602, amend13
(1) introductory portion and (1)(f); and add (1)(g) as follows:14
31-12-602. Contents of petition.15
(1) The petition shall MUST contain the following:16
(f) An allegation that all taxes or assessments lawfully due upon17
the land up to the time of the filing of the petition have been fully paid;18
AND19
(g) AN ALLEGATION THAT THE TRACTS OF LAND ARE NOT LOCATED20
WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF AN URBAN RENEWAL AREA DESCRIBED IN AN21
URBAN RENEWAL PLAN APPROVED PURSUANT TO PART 1 OF ARTICLE 25 OF22
THIS TITLE 31 OR A SPECIAL DISTRICT THAT, BY ITS SERVICE PLAN OR23
PURSUANT TO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT , IS OR WILL BE24
EXPECTED TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO THE TRACT OF LAND.25
SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 31-12-603 as26
follows:27
1253-5-
31-12-603. Hearing - decree - proviso.1
(1) Upon the filing of such petition in the district court, the judge2
thereof shall set a date for a hearing, not less than forty days nor more3
than sixty days thereafter. It is the duty of The clerk of said THE court to4
cause SHALL SERVE a copy of such THE petition and a notice of the date5
and the time set for such hearing to be served upon the mayor of the city6
The same shall be served at least thirty days prior to the hearing of such7
petition. by the court Upon the hearing and proof of the facts set forth in8
said THE petition, it THE COURT shall be determined DETERMINE whether9
said THE tracts of land should be disconnected from such THE city, and the10
court shall enter an order or decree accordingly.11
(2) When a city has maintained streets, lights, and other public12
utilities for a period of three years through or adjoining said tracts of land,13
The owners shall ARE not be entitled to disconnect the land under the14
provisions of this part 6 WHEN:15
(a) T HE CITY HAS MAINTAINED STREETS, LIGHTS, AND OTHER16
PUBLIC UTILITIES FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS THROUGH OR ADJOINING17
THE TRACTS OF LAND; OR18
(b) THE TRACTS OF LAND ARE INCLUDED WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES19
OF:20
(I) AN URBAN RENEWAL AREA DESCRIBED IN AN URBAN RENEWAL21
PLAN APPROVED PURSUANT TO PART 1 OF ARTICLE 25 OF THIS TITLE 31; OR22
(II) A SPECIAL DISTRICT THAT, BY ITS SERVICE PLAN OR PURSUANT23
TO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT, IS OR WILL BE EXPECTED TO24
PROVIDE SERVICE TO THE TRACT OF LAND.25
(2) (3) If an area has been annexed to a city for a period of two26
years and then successful action is undertaken to disconnect such THE27
1253-6-
area, the disconnected land shall be made subject to the applicable1
county's zoning resolution and map and other land development2
regulations within ninety days after the effective date of the disconnection3
as described in section 31-12-501 (5).4
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 31-12-7025
as follows:6
31-12-702. Petition court to disconnect from town.7
(1) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (2) OF THIS8
SECTION, when a tract or two or more contiguous tracts of agricultural or9
farm land aggregating twenty or more acres in area are embraced within10
the corporate limits of any town, the outer boundary of which acreage is11
adjacent to or upon the border of said town, the owners of said THE tracts12
of land may petition the district court for the county in which such THE13
land is situated to have the same land disconnected from said THE14
incorporated town. Intersecting highways or intervening railroads shall15
DO not render said THE tracts of land noncontiguous or nonadjacent.16
(2) T HE PROCESS FOR DISCONNECTION FROM A T O W N A S17
PROVIDED IN THIS PART 7 IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR ANY TRACT OF LAND18
THAT IS INCLUDED WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF:19
(a) AN URBAN RENEWAL AREA DESCRIBED IN AN URBAN RENEWAL20
PLAN APPROVED PURSUANT TO PART 1 OF ARTICLE 25 OF THIS TITLE 31; OR21
(b) A SPECIAL DISTRICT THAT, BY ITS SERVICE PLAN OR PURSUANT22
TO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT , IS OR WILL BE EXPECTED TO23
PROVIDE SERVICE TO THE TRACT OF LAND.24
SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 31-12-703, amend25
(1) introductory portion and (1)(f); and add (1)(g) as follows:26
31-12-703. Petition - contents.27
1253-7-
(1) The petition shall MUST contain the following:1
(f) A representation that, for a period of six years after the2
effective date of disconnection, said tracts will not be subdivided into lots3
or plots of smaller area than is required during said period for lots within4
said town adjoining said tracts under the applicable ordinances or5
regulations of the town from which disconnection is sought and will not6
be used during said period for industrial or commercial use if during said7
period the applicable ordinances of the town from which disconnection8
is sought prohibits such use in the area within said town adjoining such9
tracts; AND10
(g) AN ALLEGATION THAT THE TRACTS OF LAND ARE NOT LOCATED11
WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF AN URBAN RENEWAL AREA DESCRIBED IN AN12
URBAN RENEWAL PLAN APPROVED PURSUANT TO PART 1 OF ARTICLE 25 OF13
THIS TITLE 31 OR A SPECIAL DISTRICT THAT , BY ITS SERVICE PLAN OR14
PURSUANT TO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT , I S O R W I L L B E15
EXPECTED TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO THE TRACT OF LAND.16
SECTION 7. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 31-12-704 as17
follows:18
31-12-704. Hearing - decree - proviso.19
(1) Upon the filing of such petition in the district court, the judge20
shall set a date for a hearing, not less than forty days nor more than sixty21
days thereafter. The clerk of the court shall serve a copy of the petition22
and a notice of the date and the time set for such hearing upon the mayor23
of the town The same must be served at least thirty days prior to the24
hearing on such petition. by the court Upon the hearing and proof of the25
facts set forth in such petition, the court shall determine whether the tracts26
of land should be disconnected from the town, and the judge shall enter27
1253-8-
an order or decree accordingly.1
(2) THE PETITIONERS ARE NOT ENTITLED TO DISCONNECT THE LAND2
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS PART 7 when:3
(a) A town has improved any of the highways passing through or4
adjoining said tracts of land by the construction and maintenance by the5
town of any special improvements along, under, or over the same for a6
period of more than two years prior to the presentation of the petition; the7
petitioners are not entitled to disconnect the land under the provisions of8
this part 7 OR9
(b) THE TRACTS OF LAND ARE INCLUDED WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES10
OF:11
(I) AN URBAN RENEWAL AREA DESCRIBED IN AN URBAN RENEWAL12
PLAN APPROVED PURSUANT TO PART 1 OF ARTICLE 25 OF THIS TITLE 31; OR13
(II) A SPECIAL DISTRICT THAT, BY ITS SERVICE PLAN OR PURSUANT14
TO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT , IS OR WILL BE EXPECTED TO15
PROVIDE SERVICE TO THE TRACT OF LAND.16
(3) Any disconnected land shall be made subject to the applicable17
county's zoning resolution and map and other land development18
regulations within ninety days after the effective date of the disconnection19
as described in section 31-12-501 (5).20
SECTION 8. Act subject to petition - effective date -21
applicability. (1) This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following22
the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the23
general assembly (August 12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13,24
2026); except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 125
(3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an item, section,26
or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part27
1253-9-
will not take effect unless approved by the people at the general election1
to be held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the2
date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.3
(2) This act applies to applications for disconnection from a4
municipality and petitions for disconnection from a city or town5
commenced on or after the applicable effective date of this act.6
1253-10-