SB26-165 • 2026

Species Conservation Measures

For state fiscal year 2026-27, the bill appropriates $5,000,000 from the species conservation trust fund in the state treasury for various wildlife conservation programs directed at conserving candida

Land

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Sen. R. Pelton, Sen. D. Roberts, Rep. K. McCormick, Rep. M. Soper
Last action: 2026-04-16
Official status: Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Agriculture & Natural Resources
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details on what happens if funds are not fully used by the end of fiscal year 2026-27.

Species Conservation Measures

The bill allocates $5 million from a trust fund to various wildlife conservation programs aimed at conserving candidate species or those likely to become candidates, as determined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

What This Bill Does

Allocates $2,380,000 for the recovery of endangered fish in the upper Colorado and San Juan rivers.
Provides $60,000 each for Rio Grande native fish protection and selenium management.
Funds $1.25 million each for conserving terrestrial and aquatic wildlife species.

Who It Names or Affects

Wildlife conservation programs in the state of Colorado
The executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources

Terms To Know

Candidate Species: Species that are likely to become endangered and may be listed under federal or state law.
Selenium Management: Activities related to controlling the levels of selenium, a mineral harmful in high concentrations to wildlife.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if funds are not fully used by the end of fiscal year 2026-27.
It is unclear how future eligibility lists will be modified or adopted after this initial funding allocation.

Bill History

2026-04-16 Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Agriculture & Natural Resources

Official Summary Text

For state fiscal year 2026-27, the bill appropriates $5,000,000 from the species conservation trust fund in the state treasury for various wildlife conservation programs directed at conserving candidate species or species that are likely to become candidate species, as determined by the United States fish and wildlife service. The executive director of the Colorado department of natural resources, after consulting with the Colorado water conservation board, the parks and wildlife commission, and the director of the division of parks and wildlife, has submitted to the general assembly a list of programs and associated costs that are eligible to receive funding from the species conservation trust fund as follows:
$2,380,000 for the upper Colorado river endangered fish recovery program and San Juan river basin recovery implementation program;
$60,000 for Rio Grande native fish protection and habitat improvements;
$60,000 for selenium management, research, monitoring, evaluation, and control;
$1,250,000 for native terrestrial wildlife conservation; and
$1,250,000 for native aquatic wildlife conservation.
(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. 26-0973.01 Jennifer Berman x3286 SENATE BILL 26-165
Senate Committees House Committees
Agriculture & Natural Resources
A BILL FOR AN ACT
CONCERNING MEASURES TO SUPPORT SPECIES CONSERVATION, AND, IN101
CONNECTION THEREWITH , AUTHORIZING AN APPROPRIATION102
FROM THE SPECIES CONSERVATION TRUST FUND.103
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.)
For state fiscal year 2026-27, the bill appropriates $5,000,000 from
the species conservation trust fund in the state treasury for various
wildlife conservation programs directed at conserving candidate species
or species that are likely to become candidate species, as determined by
the United States fish and wildlife service. The executive director of the
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Roberts and Pelton R.,
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
McCormick and Soper,
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.
Colorado department of natural resources, after consulting with the
Colorado water conservation board, the parks and wildlife commission,
and the director of the division of parks and wildlife, has submitted to the
general assembly a list of programs and associated costs that are eligible
to receive funding from the species conservation trust fund as follows:
! $2,380,000 for the upper Colorado river endangered fish
recovery program and San Juan river basin recovery
implementation program;
! $60,000 for Rio Grande native fish protection and habitat
improvements;
! $60,000 for selenium management, research, monitoring,
evaluation, and control;
! $1,250,000 for native terrestrial wildlife conservation; and
! $1,250,000 for native aquatic wildlife conservation.
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) Section 24-33-111 (2), Colorado Revised Statutes, creates the4
species conservation trust fund in the state treasury to fund programs5
designed to conserve native species that have been listed as threatened or6
endangered under state or federal law or that are candidate species or are7
likely to become candidate species, as determined by the United States8
fish and wildlife service; and9
(b) Pursuant to section 24-33-111 (3), Colorado Revised Statutes:10
(I) The executive director of the department of natural resources,11
after consulting with the Colorado water conservation board, the parks12
and wildlife commission, and the director of the division of parks and13
wildlife, has prepared and delivered to the general assembly a species14
conservation eligibility list describing programs and associated costs that15
are eligible to receive funding from the species conservation trust fund;16
and17
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(II) The species conservation eligibility list is subject to1
modification and adoption through the passage of this Senate Bill 26-___,2
enacted in 2026.3
SECTION 2. Eligibility list - approval. (1) The general4
assembly deems the recommended expenditures described in the species5
conservation eligibility list to be in the interest of the people of the state.6
The money specified in this subsection (1) is available in state fiscal year7
2026-27 and remains available for the designated purposes until it is fully8
expended. The executive director of the department of natural resources9
is authorized to obligate and expend five million dollars ($5,000,000)10
from the species conservation trust fund created in section 24-33-111 (2),11
Colorado Revised Statutes, for the following activities, programs, and12
species in the following amounts:13
PROGRAM/SPECIES AMOUNT 14
(a) Upper Colorado river15
endangered fish recovery16
program and San Juan river basin17
recovery implementation program; $2,380,000 18
(b) Rio Grande native fish19
protection and habitat improvements; $60,000 20
(c) Selenium management, research,21
monitoring, evaluation,22
and control; $60,000 23
(d) Native terrestrial24
wildlife conservation; $1,250,000 25
(e) Native aquatic26
wildlife conservation. $1,250,000 27
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Total authorization $5,000,000 1
SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,2
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate3
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for4
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state5
institutions.6
SB26-165-4-