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HB26-1304 • 2026

History Colorado to Dispose of Mineral Rights

Capital Development Committee. The bill authorizes the state historical society, also known as history Colorado, to sell mineral rights and nonparticipating royalty interests that are referred to as i

Energy Land
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Rep. M. Lindsay, Rep. T. Winter, Sen. N. Hinrichsen, Sen. B. Pelton, Rep. T. Story, Sen. K. Mullica, Rep. M. Duran, Rep. C. Espenoza, Rep. M. Rutinel, Rep. R. Weinberg
Last action
2026-04-06
Official status
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans, & Military Affairs
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on how proceeds will be used beyond strategic investments in capital improvements, leaving room for interpretation of exact uses.

History Colorado to Sell Mineral Rights

This bill allows History Colorado to sell certain mineral rights in Weld County and West Virginia, with proceeds going into a fund for museum improvements.

What This Bill Does

  • Gives History Colorado permission to sell specific mineral rights in Weld County and West Virginia.
  • Requires that any proceeds from selling these rights go into the state museum cash fund for capital improvements.

Who It Names or Affects

  • History Colorado, which is the state historical society.
  • The people who might buy the mineral rights from History Colorado.

Terms To Know

Mineral Rights
Ownership of minerals under a piece of land. People with mineral rights can sell or lease them to others.
Nonparticipating Royalty Interests
A share in the profits from selling something, like oil or gas, without owning the main property itself.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much money History Colorado might get from selling these rights.
  • It is unclear what will happen to the mineral rights after they are sold.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-06 Senate

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

  2. 2026-04-02 House

    House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  3. 2026-03-30 House

    House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

  4. 2026-03-27 House

    House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments

  5. 2026-03-25 House

    House Second Reading Special Order - Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

  6. 2026-03-23 House

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

  7. 2026-02-27 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs

Official Summary Text

Capital Development Committee.
The bill authorizes the state historical society, also known as history Colorado, to sell mineral rights and nonparticipating royalty interests that are referred to as its Weld County rights and West Virginia rights. History Colorado is required to credit the proceeds of the sale to the state museum cash fund to be used for a strategic investment in capital improvements, including the retrofitting of the collections care facility and controlled maintenance.
(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 
Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REENGROSSED
This Version Includes All Amendments
Adopted in the House of Introduction
LLS NO. 26-0834.01 Caroline Martin x5902 HOUSE BILL 26-1304
House Committees Senate Committees
State, Civic, Military, & Veterans Affairs
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING THE AUTHORITY OF HISTORY COLORADO TO DISPOSE OF101
RIGHTS RELATED TO MINERALS , AND , IN CONNECTION102
THEREWITH, AUTHORIZING THE DISPOSAL OF WELD COUNTY103
RIGHTS AND WEST VIRGINIA RIGHTS.104
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 w ill be av ailable at
http://leg.colorado.gov/.)
Capital Development Committee. The bill authorizes the state
historical society, also known as history Colorado, to sell mineral rights
and nonparticipating royalty interests that are referred to as its Weld
HOUSE
Amended 3rd Reading
April 2, 2026
HOUSE
2nd Reading Unamended
March 27, 2026
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Lindsay and Winter T., Story, Duran, Espenoza, Rutinel, Weinberg
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Pelton B. and Hinrichsen, Mullica
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.
County rights and West Virginia rights. History Colorado is required to
credit the proceeds of the sale to the state museum cash fund to be used
for a strategic investment in capital improvements, including the
retrofitting of the collections care facility and controlled maintenance.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly2
finds and declares that:3
(a) In 1980, the state historical society, also known as history4
Colorado, was deeded mineral rights and a nonparticipating royalty5
interest on various parcels in Weld County, referred to as the Weld6
County rights. The Weld County rights were donated to history Colorado7
through the estate of Eleanor Bein.8
(b) In 2012, history Colorado was deeded mineral rights on9
various parcels in West Virginia, referred to as the West Virginia rights,10
which were mistakenly recorded as belonging to St. Elizabeth's Retreat11
Chapel. In 2024, an oil and natural gas company contacted history12
Colorado to relay the mistaken recording of mineral rights.13
(c) History Colorado has determined that the intent of the donors14
of the Weld County rights and the West Virginia rights are best served by15
selling the rights. Given the current market interest in the rights, history16
Colorado has determined that a sale would be most financially beneficial17
for history Colorado in the near term. A sale would also alleviate history18
Colorado from administrative obligations associated with the rights.19
SECTION 2. History Colorado authority to dispose of real20
property. 21
(1) The state of Colorado, acting by and through the state22
historical society, also known as history Colorado, is authorized to23
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dispose of mineral rights and nonparticipating royalty interests associated1
with the following properties:2
(a) Section 28, Township 4 north, range 68 west, 6th Principal3
Meridian, Weld County, Colorado; and4
(b) West Virginia property formerly associated with St. Elizabeth's5
Retreat Chapel.6
(2) The state controller must approve all agreements relating to7
the disposition described in subsection (1) of this section prior to closing.8
History Colorado shall provide an update on the disposition of mineral9
rights and nonparticipating royalty interests to the capital development10
committee.11
(3) History Colorado shall credit the proceeds of the disposition12
described in subsection (1) of this section to the state museum cash fund13
created in section 24-80-214 to be used for a strategic investment in14
capital improvements, including the retrofitting of the collections care15
facility and controlled maintenance.16
SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,17
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate18
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for19
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state20
institutions.21
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