All Roll Calls
Yes: 87 • No: 50
ColoradoSB25-0532025 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
Protect Wild Bison
Sponsored By: Elizabeth Velasco (Democratic), Jessie Danielson (Democratic), Junie Joseph (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
AgricultureNatural Resources & Environment
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Hunters pay new bison license fees
Beginning January 1, 2026, Colorado sets a bison hunting license fee of $374.22 for residents. Nonresidents pay $2,756.74 per license. The Division of Parks and Wildlife issues these licenses under its rules.
Colorado funds bison law enforcement work
For the 2025–26 budget year, the law provides $75,000 from Colorado's wildlife cash fund. The money goes to the Department of Natural Resources for the Division of Parks and Wildlife. The division can use it for wildlife operations to carry out this law. It does not create a direct household payment.
Illegal bison possession brings steep penalties
Beginning January 1, 2026, illegal bison possession carries a $1,000–$100,000 fine, up to one year in jail, or both. Violators also receive 20 license suspension points; after conviction, the wildlife commission may suspend license privileges for one year to life. Illegally taking a bison carries an additional $10,000 penalty per animal, beyond other criminal penalties. The law also lists an additional $4,000 penalty for a pronghorn antelope with horns at least 14 inches long. Colorado can bring civil cases to recover unlawfully taken wildlife or its value, without blocking related criminal cases. The minimum civil recovery value is $1,000 per unlawfully taken or possessed bison. That minimum also covers eagles, endangered species, Rocky Mountain goats, moose, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, and lynx. The state can obtain a court order to recover wildlife without posting a bond. Costs or damages awarded in these cases are payable from the wildlife cash fund.
Wild bison gain big-game status
Colorado classifies American bison as big game when they qualify as wildlife, bringing them under big-game rules. Wildlife excludes privately owned bison lawfully held in captivity or escaped from lawful captivity. It also excludes bison owned by or lawfully held in captivity by an Indian tribe. The law sets January 1, 2026, as its effective date. A referendum petition filed within 90 days after final adjournment delays the challenged provisions until voters approve them. In that case, approval must come at the 2026 general election, with effectiveness upon the governor's official vote declaration.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Elizabeth Velasco
Democratic • House
Jessie Danielson
Democratic • Senate
Junie Joseph
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Alex Valdez
Democratic • House
Jamie Jackson
Democratic • House
Kyle Brown
Democratic • House
Mandy Lindsay
Democratic • House
Manny Rutinel
Democratic • House
Cathy Kipp
Democratic • Senate
Chris Kolker
Democratic • Senate
Dafna Michaelson Jenet
Democratic • Senate
Sen. F. Winter
Affiliation unavailable
Iman Jodeh
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
Lisa Cutter
Democratic • Senate
Matt Ball
Democratic • Senate
Mike Weissman
Democratic • Senate
Tony Exum
Democratic • Senate
Tom Sullivan
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/28/2025
Third reading: Bill
Yes: 40 • No: 24
House vote • 4/25/2025
Refer Senate Bill 25-053 to the Committee of the Whole.
Yes: 7 • No: 4
House vote • 4/21/2025
Refer Senate Bill 25-053 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Yes: 8 • No: 5
Senate vote • 4/17/2025
Third reading: Bill
Yes: 24 • No: 11
Senate vote • 4/11/2025
Refer Senate Bill 25-053, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Yes: 4 • No: 3
Senate vote • 3/20/2025
Refer Senate Bill 25-053, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Yes: 4 • No: 3
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
5/22/2025HouseSigned by the President of the Senate
5/6/2025SenateSent to the Governor
5/6/2025HouseSigned by the Speaker of the House
5/6/2025HouseHouse Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
4/28/2025HouseHouse Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
4/25/2025HouseHouse Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments
4/25/2025HouseHouse Committee on Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Refer Unamended to Appropriations
4/21/2025HouseSenate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
4/17/2025SenateIntroduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources
4/17/2025HouseSenate Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
4/16/2025SenateSenate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
4/15/2025SenateSenate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
4/11/2025SenateSenate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources Refer Amended to Appropriations
3/20/2025SenateIntroduced In Senate - Assigned to Agriculture & Natural Resources
1/15/2025Senate
Bill Text
Engrossed
Final Act
Introduced
Reengrossed
Rerevised
Revised
Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Preamend
Senate Appropriations Preamend
Signed Act