ColoradoHB26-13382026 Regular SessionHouse

2026 Water Projects Bill

Sponsored By: Cleave Simpson (Republican), Dylan Roberts (Democratic), Karen McCormick (Democratic), Ty Winter (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Water

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

9 provisions identified: 8 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Loan funding for Fort Collins water

The law authorizes a $151.5 million state loan to Fort Collins for the Halligan water supply project. Funding comes from the severance tax perpetual base fund and stays available until spent. The project aims to meet future municipal and industrial water needs. Loan amounts and terms can change for construction costs, plan changes, unexpected site conditions, regulatory changes, or material quantities beyond contract limits. The law does not set household water rates or give households direct loans.

Colorado funds interstate river planning

For budget year 2026–27, the law provides $750,000 from the water board's Construction Fund for Upper Colorado River Commission support. The money supports interstate planning and negotiations, including modeling, water forecasts, data analysis, and drought planning. It stays available until spent; households do not receive direct payments.

Colorado funds water data and forecasts

For budget year 2026–27, the law funds water monitoring and planning through the water board's Construction Fund. The Division of Water Resources gets $380,000 to install, maintain, and operate satellite-monitored stream gauges and water-measuring tools for water-rights decisions. The water board gets $200,000 for Colorado Mesonet weather stations, travel, communications, databases, and its website. It also gets $2.5 million for remote-sensing data, water-flow models, water-supply forecasts, and snowpack measurements. Another $750,000 keeps the Colorado Decision Support System running for water planning; all four amounts stay available until spent.

Colorado restores water litigation funding

By July 1, 2026, the state treasurer must restore the water board's litigation fund balance to $6 million. The transfer comes from unreserved cash in the board's Construction Fund and cannot exceed the amount needed. The money supports compliance with interstate water agreements and other specified legal matters, not household payments.

Water districts get cloud-seeding support

For budget year 2026–27, the law provides $500,000 from the water board's Construction Fund for cloud-seeding support. The money helps water conservation and conservancy districts develop programs aimed at increasing snowpack for recreation, streams, and reservoirs. It stays available until spent and does not provide direct household payments.

Funding protects watersheds, communities, and wildlife

For budget year 2026–27, the law provides $5 million for watershed restoration and flood mitigation planning, engineering, and projects. Work can include aquatic habitat protection, environmental water-flow needs, and tracking State Water Plan stream and watershed goals. Another $500,000 updates floodplain studies and maps, including work with federal map programs. Both amounts come from the water board's Construction Fund and stay available until spent. On July 1, 2026, that fund also transfers $2 million to the Fish and Wildlife Resources Fund for grants reducing harm from building, running, or maintaining water facilities.

More funding for Colorado water projects

For budget year 2026–27, the law provides $37.7 million from the Water Plan Implementation Cash Fund for grants. Projects must help carry out Colorado's State Water Plan and follow the Colorado Water Conservation Board's application process and guidelines. Another $1.35 million from the board's Construction Fund supports coordinated water planning, reuse, statewide messaging, and a water innovation challenge. Both amounts stay available until spent; the law does not create a direct household payment.

Reservoir loan supports Weld County farms

The law authorizes a $20.16667 million state loan to the Lower Latham Reservoir Company. It funds more storage at Jurgens Reservoir to supply irrigation water to Weld County farmland. Funding comes from the severance tax perpetual base fund and stays available until spent. Loan amounts and terms can change for construction costs, plan changes, unexpected site conditions, regulatory changes, or material quantities beyond contract limits.

Turf replacement funding has spending deadline

The law provides $550,000 from the Turf Replacement Fund for turf-replacement work in budget year 2025–26. Money unspent before July 1, 2026, stays available for designated program purposes through June 30, 2028. On July 1, 2028, all money remaining in the Turf Replacement Fund moves to the water board's Construction Fund. These provisions do not say which households qualify or how much a participant can receive.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Andrew Boesenecker
Democratic • House
Bob Marshall
Democratic • House
Brianna Titone
Democratic • House
Carlos Barron
Republican • House
Dusty Johnson
Republican • House
Eliza Hamrick
Democratic • House
Emily Sirota
Democratic • House
Elizabeth Velasco
Democratic • House
Julie McCluskie
Democratic • House
Kyle Brown
Democratic • House
Kenny Nguyen
Democratic • House
Katie Stewart
Democratic • House
Lesley Smith
Democratic • House
Monica Duran
Democratic • House
Mandy Lindsay
Democratic • House
Meghan Lukens
Democratic • House
Matthew Martinez
Democratic • House
Manny Rutinel
Democratic • House
Matt Soper
Republican • House
Sean Camacho
Democratic • House
Barbara Kirkmeyer
Republican • Senate
Cathy Kipp
Democratic • Senate
Chris Kolker
Democratic • Senate
Judy Amabile
Democratic • Senate
Jeff Bridges
Democratic • Senate
James Coleman
Democratic • Senate
Julie Gonzales
Democratic • Senate
Janice Marchman
Democratic • Senate
Katie Wallace
Democratic • Senate
Lindsey Daugherty
Democratic • Senate
Larry Liston
Republican • Senate
Marc Catlin
Republican • Senate
Rod Pelton
Republican • Senate
Tony Exum
Democratic • Senate
William Lindstedt
Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 133 • No: 10

Senate vote • 5/6/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 34 • No: 1

Senate vote • 5/5/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1338 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.

Yes: 7 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/28/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1338 to the Committee on Appropriations.

Yes: 8 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/23/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1338 to the Committee on Finance.

Yes: 6 • No: 0

House vote • 4/21/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 54 • No: 9

House vote • 4/17/2026

Refer House Bill 26-1338 to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 11 • No: 0

House vote • 3/30/2026