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ColoradoHB26-10082026 Regular SessionHouse

Colorado Outdoor Opportunities Act

Sponsored By: Janice Marchman (Democratic), Janice Rich (Republican), Meghan Lukens (Democratic), Rick Taggart (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Natural Resources & Environment

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Colorado strengthens outdoor planning and staffing

Colorado Parks and Wildlife leads the state’s outdoor strategy and must maintain enough staff and leadership capacity for that work. It coordinates with government and Tribal partners, connects recreation with wildlife, agriculture, and climate planning, and shares voluntary planning tools. Private groups and other non-state entities do not have to participate. For fiscal year 2026–27, the law provides $444,015 from the Parks and Outdoor Recreation Cash Fund. This includes $436,025 for park operations, based on 4.1 additional full-time-equivalent positions, and $7,990 for vehicle leases. The wildlife cash fund is not the funding source for this staffing expansion. The effective-date rule is 12:01 a.m. the day after the 90th day following final legislative adjournment. That means August 12, 2026, for a May 13, 2026, adjournment. A timely referendum petition delays the challenged portion until voter approval in November 2026 and the governor’s official declaration of the vote.

Colorado supports recreation access and communities

Colorado Parks and Wildlife must support planning, building, and maintaining outdoor recreation facilities, infrastructure, and access under the state’s outdoor strategy. It must plan visitor use around available staff, maintenance, and coordination capacity while protecting wildlife, natural resources, and working lands. This work must also protect private property rights and farm operations. The Division must work with local governments to identify recreation’s effects on services and infrastructure and ways to reduce those effects. It must share funding opportunities and consider local priorities, local authority, and regional plans; the law does not guarantee local payments.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Janice Marchman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Janice Rich

    Republican • Senate

  • Meghan Lukens

    Democratic • House

  • Rick Taggart

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Andrew Boesenecker

    Democratic • House

  • Amy Paschal

    Democratic • House

  • Alex Valdez

    Democratic • House

  • Brianna Titone

    Democratic • House

  • Chad Clifford

    Democratic • House

  • Cecelia Espenoza

    Democratic • House

  • Eliza Hamrick

    Democratic • House

  • Jennifer Bacon

    Democratic • House

  • Junie Joseph

    Democratic • House

  • Julie McCluskie

    Democratic • House

  • Jacque Phillips

    Democratic • House

  • Kyle Brown

    Democratic • House

  • Karen McCormick

    Democratic • House

  • Kenny Nguyen

    Democratic • House

  • Katie Stewart

    Democratic • House

  • Lori Goldstein

    Democratic • House

  • Lesley Smith

    Democratic • House

  • Monica Duran

    Democratic • House

  • Meg Froelich

    Democratic • House

  • Mandy Lindsay

    Democratic • House

  • Manny Rutinel

    Democratic • House

  • Matt Soper

    Republican • House

  • Regina English

    Democratic • House

  • Sean Camacho

    Democratic • House

  • Sheila Lieder

    Democratic • House

  • Steven Woodrow

    Democratic • House

  • Tisha Mauro

    Democratic • House

  • Tammy Story

    Democratic • House

  • Dylan Roberts

    Democratic • Senate

  • Iman Jodeh

    Democratic • Senate

  • James Coleman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Katie Wallace

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 247 • No: 52

House vote • 5/4/2026

Senate amendments: Repass

Yes: 46 • No: 19

House vote • 5/4/2026

Senate amendments: Concur

Yes: 61 • No: 4

Senate vote • 4/27/2026

Third reading: Amend (l.012)

Yes: 34 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/27/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 27 • No: 7

Senate vote • 4/24/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1008 to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 7 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/26/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1008, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.

Yes: 7 • No: 0

House vote • 3/9/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 47 • No: 17

House vote • 3/6/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1008, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 9 • No: 1

House vote • 2/23/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1008, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.

Yes: 9 • No: 4

Actions Timeline

  1. Governor Signed

    5/27/2026House

  2. Signed by the Speaker of the House

    5/18/2026House

  3. Signed by the President of the Senate

    5/18/2026Senate

  4. Sent to the Governor

    5/18/2026House

  5. House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass

    5/4/2026House

  6. House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily

    4/28/2026House

  7. Senate Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor

    4/27/2026Senate

  8. Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole

    4/24/2026Senate

  9. Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor

    4/24/2026Senate

  10. Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources Refer Amended to Appropriations

    3/26/2026Senate

  11. Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Agriculture & Natural Resources

    3/12/2026Senate

  12. House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

    3/9/2026House

  13. House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole

    3/6/2026House

  14. House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor

    3/6/2026House

  15. House Committee on Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Refer Amended to Appropriations

    2/23/2026House

  16. Introduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources

    1/14/2026House

Bill Text

  • Engrossed

    PDF

  • Final Act

    PDF

  • House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Preamend

    PDF

  • House Appropriations Preamend

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

  • Reengrossed

    PDF

  • Rerevised

    PDF

  • Revised

    PDF

  • Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Preamend

    PDF

  • Signed Act

    PDF

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