SB26-089 • 2026

Recreate Wildfire Matters Interim Committee

The bill recreates the wildfire matters review committee (interim committee) to succeed the wildfire matters review committee that repealed on September 1, 2025. The purpose of the interim committee i

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Sen. M. Baisley, Sen. L. Cutter, Rep. E. Velasco
Last action: 2026-02-19
Official status: Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources Refer Amended to Appropriations
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included some speculative claims about the committee's effectiveness and funding, which are not supported by the official material.

Recreate Wildfire Matters Review Committee

This bill recreates an interim committee to review and recommend improvements in state policies related to wildfire prevention and mitigation.

What This Bill Does

Creates the Wildfire Matters Review Committee (interim committee) to succeed a previous committee that was repealed on September 1, 2025.
Appoints ten members from both the Senate and House of Representatives.
Requires the committee to meet at least twice each year and allows up to two field trips during every interim period.
Allows the committee to recommend up to five bills during each interim period.

Who It Names or Affects

Members of the Colorado General Assembly who will serve on the committee.
State agencies, local governments, private industry, and impacted communities involved in wildfire prevention and mitigation.

Terms To Know

Interim Committee: A temporary group created by the legislature to study specific issues between regular legislative sessions.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify how the committee will be funded.
The effectiveness of the committee's recommendations is uncertain.

Amendments

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

L.001

SEN Agriculture & Natural Resources

Passed [*]

Plain English: The amendment changes the order of words in the bill to prioritize 'response' before 'prevention' when discussing wildfire matters.

Changes the phrase from 'PREVENTION' to 'RESPONSE, PREVENTION,' at multiple locations in the bill.

The exact implications of this change are not detailed in the amendment text provided.

Bill History

2026-02-19 Senate
Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources Refer Amended to Appropriations
2026-02-10 Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Agriculture & Natural Resources

Official Summary Text

The bill recreates the wildfire matters review committee (interim committee) to succeed the wildfire matters review committee that repealed on September 1, 2025. The purpose of the interim committee is to review the implementation and effectiveness of state policies and resources for wildfire prevention and mitigation and to consider and recommend legislation or other policy changes to address all matters relating to wildfire prevention and mitigation including public safety, forest health, and cooperation with appropriate federal agencies and local governments.
The interim committee consists of 10 members of the general assembly appointed as follows:
5 members of the senate: 3 appointed by the president of the senate and 2 appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and
5 members of the house of representatives: 3 appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and 2 appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives.
The appointing authorities must make their original appointments to the interim committee no later than June 1, 2026. The term of appointment is 2 years. Incumbent members may be reappointed to the committee.
The bill requires the interim committee to meet at least twice and allows the committee to take 2 field trips during every interim. The committee's duties are to:
Review the implementation and effectiveness of state policies and resources for wildfire prevention and mitigation;
Seek presentations and comments from individuals with professional expertise relating to wildfire prevention and mitigation and from representatives of relevant state agencies, local governments, private industry, and impacted communities; and
Recommend legislation or other policy changes to address matters related to wildfire prevention and mitigation, including public safety, forest health, and cooperation with appropriate federal agencies and local governments.
The bill allows the committee to recommend up to 5 bills during each interim.
The committee is repealed, effective June 30, 2031.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Second Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED

LLS NO. 26-0201.01 Alison Killen x4350 SENATE BILL 26-089
Senate Committees House Committees
Agriculture & Natural Resources
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING THE RECREATION OF THE WILDFIRE MATTERS REVIEW101
COMMITTEE.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.)
The bill recreates the wildfire matters review committee (interim
committee) to succeed the wildfire matters review committee that
repealed on September 1, 2025. The purpose of the interim committee is
to review the implementation and effectiveness of state policies and
resources for wildfire prevention and mitigation and to consider and
recommend legislation or other policy changes to address all matters
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Cutter and Baisley,
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Velasco,
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.
relating to wildfire prevention a nd mitigat ion including public safety,
forest health, and cooperation with appropriate federal agencies and local
governments.
The interim committee consists of 10 members of the general
assembly appointed as follows:
! 5 members of the senate: 3 appointed by the president of
the senate and 2 appointed by the minority leader of the
senate; and
! 5 members of the house of representatives: 3 appointed by
the speaker of the house of representatives and 2 appointed
by the minority leader of the house of representatives.
The appointing authorities must make their original appointments
to the interim committee no later than June 1, 2026. The term of
appointment is 2 years. Incumbent members may be reappointed to the
committee.
The bill requires the interim committee to meet at least twice and
allows the committee to take 2 field trips during every interim. The
committee's duties are to:
! Review the implementation and effectiveness of state
policies and resources for wildfire prevention and
mitigation;
! Seek presentations and comments from individuals with
professional expertise relating to wildfire prevention and
mitigation and from representatives of relevant state
agencies, local governments, private industry, and impacted
communities; and
! Recommend legislation or other policy changes to address
matters related to wildfire prevention and mitigation,
including public safety, forest health, and cooperation with
appropriate federal agencies and local governments.
The bill allows the committee to recommend up to 5 bills during
each interim.
The committee is repealed, effective June 30, 2031.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, recreate and2
reenact, with amendments, part 16 of article 3 of title 2 as follows: 3
PART 164
WILDFIRE MATTERS REVIEW COMMITTEE5
2-3-1601. Legislative declaration.6
SB26-089-2-
(1) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS THAT:1
(a) WILDFIRES ARE PART OF THE NATURAL CYCLE OF COLORADO'S2
FORESTS, YET INCREASINGLY POSE A SEVERE THREAT TO HUMAN LIFE AND3
PROPERTY;4
(b) PEOPLE ARE ATTRACTED TO THE FOREST AND MOUNTAIN AREAS5
OF THE STATE AND INCREASINGLY CHOOSE TO MAKE THEIR HOMES IN6
WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE "WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE ", WHERE7
WILDLAND AREAS MEET RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT;8
(c) THESE AND OTHER RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS LOCATED IN9
NUMEROUS PARTS OF THE STATE ARE REGULARLY THREATENED BY CLOSE10
PROXIMITY TO WILDFIRES AND, TRAGICALLY, DURING THE WINTER OF 202111
AND THE SPRING AND SUMMER OF 2012, COLORADO WILDFIRES RESULTED12
IN THE LOSS OF LIFE AND EXTENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE, INCLUDING THE13
DESTRUCTION OF HOMES, AFFECTING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE; AND14
(d) SINCE WILDFIRES CAUSE ANNUAL HARM TO MANY AREAS OF15
THE STATE AND THE RESIDENTS OF THOSE AREAS, WILDFIRE PREVENTION16
AND MITIGATION IS A MATTER OF EXTREME AND STATEWIDE IMPORTANCE17
THAT DEMANDS CRITICAL ATTENTION FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON18
A REGULAR BASIS.19
(2) ACCORDINGLY, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DECLARES THAT THE20
RECREATION OF THE WILDFIRE MATTERS REVIEW COMMITTEE IS CRITICAL21
TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE A PUBLIC FORUM FOR LEGISLATIVE SCRUTINY OF22
STATE POLICIES AND RESOURCES ADDRESSING WILDFIRE PREVENTION AND23
MITIGATION WITH PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.24
2-3-1602. Wildfire matters review committee - creation -25
membership - duties - repeal.26
(1) N OTWITHSTANDING SECTION 2-3-303.3, THE WILDFIRE27
SB26-089-3-
MATTERS REVIEW COMMITTEE IS CREATED.1
(2) T HE PURPOSE OF THE COMMITTEE IS TO REVIEW THE2
IMPLEMENTATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF STATE POLICIES AND RESOURCES3
FOR WILDFIRE PREVENTION AND MITIGATION AND TO RECOMMEND4
LEGISLATION OR OTHER POLICY CHANGES TO ADDRESS ALL MATTERS5
RELATED TO WILDFIRE PREVENTION AND MITIGATION INCLUDING PUBLIC6
SAFETY, FOREST HEALTH, AND COOPERATION WITH APPROPRIATE FEDERAL7
AGENCIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.8
(3) (a) T HE COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF TEN MEMBERS OF THE9
GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPOINTED AS FOLLOWS:10
(I) FIVE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE, THREE MEMBERS APPOINTED BY11
THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND TWO MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE12
MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE; AND13
(II) FIVE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES , THREE14
MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF15
REPRESENTATIVES AND TWO MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY16
LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.17
(b) T HE APPOINTING AUTHORITIES SHALL MAKE THEIR INITIAL18
APPOINTMENTS TO THE COMMITTEE NO LATER THAN JUNE 1, 2026.19
(c) THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE SHALL APPOINT THE CHAIR OF20
THE COMMITTEE IN EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS AND THE VICE-CHAIR OF THE21
COMMITTEE IN ODD-NUMBERED YEARS. THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF22
REPRESENTATIVES SHALL APPOINT THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE IN23
ODD-NUMBERED YEARS AND THE VICE -CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE IN24
EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS.25
(4) EACH MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE SERVES AT THE PLEASURE26
OF THE APPOINTING AUTHORITY AND CONTINUES UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS27
SB26-089-4-
APPOINTED. THE TERM OF APPOINTMENT IS TWO YEARS . THE TERM OF1
EACH MEMBER TERMINATES ON THE CONVENING DAY OF THE FIRST2
REGULAR SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY NEXT FOLLOWING THEIR3
APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT TO THE COMMITTEE; EXCEPT THAT THE4
TERM OF EACH MEMBER APPOINTED INITIALLY PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION5
(3)(b) OF THIS SECTION TERMINATES ON THE CONVENING DATE OF THE6
FIRST REGULAR SESSION OF THE SEVENTY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. THE7
APPOINTING AUTHORITIES SHALL MAKE ALL NECESSARY APPOINTMENTS8
SUBSEQUENT TO TERMINATION AS SET FORTH IN THIS SUBSECTION (4) AS9
SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER THE RELEVANT CONVENING DATE .10
INCUMBENT MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE MAY BE REAPPOINTED WITHOUT11
LIMITATION.12
(5) M EMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE SERVE WITHOUT13
COMPENSATION; EXCEPT THAT EACH MEMBER IS ENTITLED TO14
REIMBURSEMENT FOR ACTUAL AND NECESSARY EXPENSES IN CONNECTION15
WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF THE MEMBER 'S DUTIES AND RECEIVES THE16
SAME PER DIEM AS OTHER MEMBERS OF INTERIM COMMITTEES IN17
ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS.18
(6) (a) T HE COMMITTEE SHALL MEET AT LEAST TWICE AND MAY19
TAKE UP TO TWO FIELD TRIPS EVERY INTERIM. THE CHAIR MAY CALL SUCH20
ADDITIONAL MEETINGS AS ARE NECESSARY FOR THE COMMITTEE TO21
COMPLETE ITS DUTIES.22
(b) T HE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE SHALL SCHEDULE THE FIRST23
MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE NO LATER THAN JULY 31 OF EACH YEAR.24
(7) THE COMMITTEE MAY RECOMMEND UP TO FIVE BILLS DURING25
EACH INTERIM. LEGISLATION RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE MUST BE26
TREATED AS LEGISLATION RECOMMENDED BY AN INTERIM COMMITTEE FOR27
SB26-089-5-
PURPOSES OF APPLICABLE DEADLINES , BILL INTRODUCTION LIMITS , AND1
ANY OTHER REQUIREMENTS IMPOSED BY THE JOINT RULES OF THE GENERAL2
ASSEMBLY.3
(8) THE COMMITTEE SHALL:4
(a) REVIEW THE IMPLEMENTATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF STATE5
POLICIES AND RESOURCES FOR WILDFIRE PREVENTION AND MITIGATION;6
(b) S EEK PRESENTATIONS AND COMMENTS FROM INDIVIDUALS7
WITH PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE RELATING TO WILDFIRE PREVENTION AND8
MITIGATION, AND FROM REPRESENTATIVES OF RELEVANT STATE AGENCIES,9
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, PRIVATE INDUSTRY, AND IMPACTED COMMUNITIES;10
AND11
(c) R ECOMMEND LEGISLATION OR OTHER POLICY CHANGES TO12
ADDRESS MATTERS RELATED TO WILDFIRE PREVENTION AND MITIGATION13
INCLUDING PUBLIC SAFETY , FOREST HEALTH , AND COOPERATION WITH14
APPROPRIATE FEDERAL AGENCIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.15
(9) THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE16
LEGAL SERVICES SHALL PROVIDE STAFF ASSISTANCE TO THE COMMITTEE.17
(10) THIS PART 16 IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE JUNE 30, 2031.18
SECTION 2. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,19
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate20
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for21
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state22
institutions.23
SB26-089-6-