All Roll Calls
Yes: 188 • No: 6
ColoradoHB25-10142025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Increasing Efficiency Division of Water Resources
Sponsored By: Cleave Simpson (Republican), Dusty Johnson (Republican), Dylan Roberts (Democratic), Meghan Lukens (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
Water
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 5 mixed.
Federal water projects get permit extensions
The State Engineer can extend well permits needed for federally authorized water projects for up to one year per extension. The engineer must find good cause and review each project at least annually. Permit holders must explain construction delays and estimate the time needed to finish.
Groundwater objectors get five extra days
People entitled to object to notices under Colorado's designated-groundwater law now have 35 days after the notice's last publication. The former deadline was 30 days. Objections must be filed in writing.
Well owners get two construction years
Conditional designated-groundwater permits now allow two years for construction, replacing one year plus a possible one-year extension. The same change covers outside-basin well permits issued on or after April 21, 1967. Permits expire for missed construction deadlines or missing construction reports under agency rules; agencies must notify holders and applicable contractors. Designated-groundwater completion reports must include well depth, water-bearing formations, and maximum sustained pumping rate. The law covers pending and future applications, plus existing and future valid permits.
Bedrock water rights follow land ownership
The law extends groundwater allocation rules to bedrock aquifers designated by the Ground Water Commission. Allocations depend on ownership of the land above the aquifer and the available groundwater beneath that land. Permits must base withdrawals on a 100-year aquifer life. Applications must include replacement-plan requests or plans when commission rules require replacing water losses in alluvial aquifers. Existing fees remain $60 per aquifer allocation decision and $100 per well-permit application.
Bedrock well owners face simpler paperwork
Conditional bedrock groundwater permits no longer require a sworn beneficial-use statement within three years. Instead, holders must report the first beneficial use within 35 days, and the well must meet construction requirements. A separate final permit is no longer required when the well satisfies its permit conditions and other applicable groundwater-law requirements. The conditional permit then serves as the final decision on the water right, with protections against waste and harm to others.
Expired well permits get paid reinstatement
The Ground Water Commission can restore expired conditional designated-groundwater permits; the State Engineer can restore expired outside-basin well permits. Holders must provide satisfactory proof that construction finished within two years after issuance and pay a $30 filing fee. Neither option covers permits formally expired by an order issued before September 1, 2025. Conditional designated-groundwater permits also cannot qualify if they expired because proof of beneficial use was missing.
Water-right owners get staggered abandonment reviews
Water-right abandonment lists are due July 1, 2030, for divisions 1–3 and July 1, 2035, for divisions 4–7. Each group repeats every 10 years, with related notice, objection, and protest deadlines shifted to match. Hearings begin at the September or October court term in 2032 and 2037, respectively. Without protests, judges must confirm the lists unchanged after July 1 of those years and every tenth anniversary thereafter. Contested cases follow civil procedure and evidence rules; judges can allow additional protests and protect water-right owners.
Well owners get longer proof deadline
Non-bedrock conditional permit holders must submit a sworn statement of beneficial use within three years after issuance. If proof is missing then, the commission must give holders 21 days after receiving notice to respond, up from 20. Missing well-completion proof must also be supplied; statements for permits issued on or after July 14, 1975, require $30. Satisfactory proof keeps the permit in force; no response or inadequate proof causes expiration without reinstatement. For non-bedrock wells, verified use and compliance lead to final permits with limits preventing waste and protecting other water users.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Cleave Simpson
Republican • Senate
Dusty Johnson
Republican • House
Dylan Roberts
Democratic • Senate
Meghan Lukens
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Andrew Boesenecker
Democratic • House
Brianna Titone
Democratic • House
Chris Richardson
Republican • House
Jennifer Bacon
Democratic • House
Jarvis Caldwell
Republican • House
Junie Joseph
Democratic • House
Julie McCluskie
Democratic • House
Jenny Willford
Democratic • House
Kyle Brown
Democratic • House
Karen McCormick
Democratic • House
Katie Stewart
Democratic • House
Lesley Smith
Democratic • House
Monica Duran
Democratic • House
Mandy Lindsay
Democratic • House
Matthew Martinez
Democratic • House
Rebecca Keltie
Republican • House
Rep. S. Bird
Affiliation unavailable
Sheila Lieder
Democratic • House
Tisha Mauro
Democratic • House
Tammy Story
Democratic • House
Ty Winter
Republican • House
Cathy Kipp
Democratic • Senate
Dafna Michaelson Jenet
Democratic • Senate
Sen. F. Winter
Affiliation unavailable
Iman Jodeh
Democratic • Senate
Judy Amabile
Democratic • Senate
Lisa Cutter
Democratic • Senate
Marc Catlin
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/14/2025
Third reading: Bill
Yes: 33 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/11/2025
Refer House Bill 25-1014 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.
Yes: 7 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/27/2025
Refer House Bill 25-1014 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Yes: 7 • No: 0
House vote • 3/5/2025
Third reading: Bill
Yes: 61 • No: 0
House vote • 3/3/2025
Committee of the whole: Amd (h.001)
Yes: 57 • No: 6
House vote • 2/28/2025
Refer House Bill 25-1014 to the Committee of the Whole.
Yes: 10 • No: 0
House vote • 1/27/2025
Refer House Bill 25-1014, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Yes: 13 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
6/3/2025HouseSigned by the Speaker of the House
5/15/2025HouseSigned by the President of the Senate
5/15/2025SenateSent to the Governor
5/15/2025HouseSenate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
4/14/2025SenateSenate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
4/11/2025SenateSenate Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments
4/11/2025SenateSenate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources Refer Unamended to Appropriations
3/27/2025SenateIntroduced In Senate - Assigned to Agriculture & Natural Resources
3/10/2025SenateHouse Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
3/5/2025HouseHouse Committee of the Whole Amendment - Change from ----- to -----
3/4/2025HouseHouse Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
3/4/2025HouseHouse Committee of the Whole Amendment - Change from Passed to Lost
3/3/2025HouseHouse Second Reading Special Order - Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
3/3/2025HouseHouse Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
2/28/2025HouseHouse Committee on Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Refer Amended to Appropriations
1/27/2025HouseIntroduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources
1/8/2025House
Bill Text
Engrossed
Final Act
Introduced
Reengrossed
Rerevised
Revised
Signed Act