All Roll Calls
Yes: 133 • No: 1
ColoradoSB25-0542025 Regular SessionSenate
Mining Reclamation & Interstate Compact
Sponsored By: Cleave Simpson (Republican), Jeff Bridges (Democratic), Karen McCormick (Democratic), Matthew Martinez (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
Natural Resources & Environment
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
15 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 4 costs, 5 mixed.
Colorado can address legacy mine emergencies
Colorado's mining board or office can respond to dangerous conditions at legacy mines after investigating. Conditions qualify when they threaten public health, public welfare, or the environment. The danger qualifies even when no person's actions caused it.
Colorado joins states on mine protection
Colorado joins the Interstate Mining Compact with states adopting substantially the same agreement. Each state has one commissioner, normally its governor; Colorado's governor can name a designee. An advisory body includes mining, conservation, and other public and private interests. Member states must establish effective mined-land programs within a reasonable time. These programs must protect people and neighboring landowners, address mining waste, restore mined land, and prevent or control pollution.
Forfeited mine security funds land cleanup
All forfeited cleanup-warranty proceeds go into a special account in the general fund to reclaim the covered land. The former 5% share for administrative costs is removed. The board can enter the land to carry out cleanup. After cleanup, the board provides an accounting and returns unspent money to the financial backer.
Mine planting favors native pollinator plants
Mine cleanup plans involving planting must first consider native plants that support pollinators. Plant cover must be diverse, durable, self-renewing, and at least as extensive as surrounding vegetation. It must also fit the planned use of the land after mining. The board can allow introduced plants when it finds them desirable.
Lower warranty costs for some operators
Construction-materials applicants using specified self-insurance provisions no longer pay the annual financial-warranty review fee. The related authority to spend those fees on outside financial and legal services is removed. The law also removes an old requirement to include construction-material value throughout certain warranties. A remaining historical January 1, 1996, rule applies to deed-of-trust warranties existing on July 1, 1993, and later deed amendments.
Mining applicants get clearer hearing deadlines
For construction-materials permit hearings, the board or office must post the time, date, and location on the Division website. A local newspaper must also publish notice once weekly for the two consecutive weeks immediately before the hearing. The board must decide applications within 120 days of receipt. It can add 60 days for complexity, serious unforeseen circumstances, or significant snow cover blocking a needed site inspection.
Mine operators face ongoing warranty checks
Operators and financial backers must keep cleanup warranties in good standing throughout the permit and immediately report possible impairment. Those using specified financial-responsibility forms must file yearly independent-auditor certifications covering compliance at fiscal year-end. Covered parties must report quarterly net losses within 60 days and replace warranties when they no longer qualify. They have 60 days after notice to meet adjusted warranty requirements. After a hearing finds material impairment, the board can require a replacement warranty within 90 days.
Mining rules cover waste removal
Operators recovering minerals from refuse on affected land must follow mining rules. The definition of mining operations also covers removing waste piles and refuse. These activities fall under the applicable mining and reclamation requirements.
Operators must fund selected cleanup trusts
Operators using an individual reclamation fund must establish it when production begins or site conditions and liabilities change. An independent trustee holds the money for the board. Operators make periodic cash payments to provide money for cleanup. The board sets the fund's terms.
Operators pay warranty hearing consultant fees
Operators must pay independent consultants hired by the board for financial-warranty hearings. The operator must sign a written fee agreement before the consultant is hired. Refusing to sign lets the board order a replacement warranty without a hearing. After a hearing finds material impairment, the board can also require a replacement warranty.
Mining commission benefits and staffing flexibility
The Interstate Mining Commission can establish retirement and other benefit programs for its employees. Social Security old-age and survivor coverage requires the commission to complete federal participation steps. With commission approval, its executive director can hire and remove staff and set duties and pay. These staffing powers apply despite member states' civil-service, personnel, or merit-system laws.
Colorado funds mining compact with safeguards
Half the commission's requested state funding is divided equally; half follows each state's share of mined-mineral value. The commission must identify the public sources used to measure those values. Colorado can pay annual dues from specified mining fees, abandoned-mine funds, natural-resource operations funds, or eligible federal grants. The law provides $1,440 from the mined land reclamation fund for minerals-program costs in fiscal year 2025–26. Colorado is not liable for the commission's retirement or employee-benefit obligations or solvency.
Faster mine cleanup permits with fees
Legacy mines lack a bond, other financial backing, or reclamation responsibility covering cleanup of earlier or abandoned mining. Operators can seek faster cleanup-only permits for sites under five acres through applications filed after September 1, 2025. Each application costs $288 and requires land-access rights, site and work details, local approvals, and a financial warranty. Permits exclude designated mining operations, cannot change to another permit type, and allow three years from excavation through completed cleanup. Federal Superfund response actions are excluded; water-quality and radiation-control rules still apply.
Mine cleanup security options change
The law removes specified financial-rating, financial-test, and project-equipment-lien options for proving operators can pay for cleanup. The board can accept property only for cleanup liabilities above $30 million, or above $50 million for construction-materials operations. The amount credited cannot exceed 75% of appraised value. Property providers must show clear title and value, with a deed of trust or security agreement giving Colorado a first lien. Related rules on equipment salvage value, lower-ranking liens, and equipment upkeep and removal are deleted.
State mine liens outrank most creditors
Colorado's reclamation liens take priority over most other liens, regardless of when those other claims were recorded. Exceptions protect liens already of record on June 19, 1981, and government liens for unpaid taxes. The state's lien attaches and counts as legally perfected when the board approves the operator's permit. This strengthens the state's cleanup claim but can move competing creditors behind it.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Cleave Simpson
Republican • Senate
Jeff Bridges
Democratic • Senate
Karen McCormick
Democratic • House
Matthew Martinez
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Brianna Titone
Democratic • House
Chad Clifford
Democratic • House
Eliza Hamrick
Democratic • House
Jennifer Bacon
Democratic • House
Jarvis Caldwell
Republican • House
Junie Joseph
Democratic • House
Julie McCluskie
Democratic • House
Katie Stewart
Democratic • House
Lesley Smith
Democratic • House
Monica Duran
Democratic • House
Naquetta Ricks
Democratic • House
Ryan Gonzalez
Republican • House
Rebecca Keltie
Republican • House
Tisha Mauro
Democratic • House
Cathy Kipp
Democratic • Senate
Sen. F. Winter
Affiliation unavailable
Iman Jodeh
Democratic • Senate
Judy Amabile
Democratic • Senate
Katie Wallace
Democratic • Senate
Lisa Cutter
Democratic • Senate
Matt Ball
Democratic • Senate
Marc Catlin
Republican • Senate
Marc Snyder
Democratic • Senate
Tony Exum
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 4/28/2025
Third reading: Bill
Yes: 63 • No: 1
House vote • 4/25/2025
Refer Senate Bill 25-054 to the Committee of the Whole.
Yes: 11 • No: 0
House vote • 4/21/2025
Refer Senate Bill 25-054 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Yes: 13 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/14/2025
Third reading: Bill
Yes: 33 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/11/2025
Refer Senate Bill 25-054, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Yes: 7 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/12/2025
Refer Senate Bill 25-054, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Yes: 6 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Governor Signed
5/16/2025HouseSigned by the President of the Senate
5/12/2025SenateSent to the Governor
5/12/2025HouseSigned by the Speaker of the House
5/12/2025HouseHouse 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
4/14/2025SenateIntroduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources
4/14/2025HouseSenate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
4/11/2025SenateSenate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
4/11/2025SenateSenate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources Refer Amended to Appropriations
2/12/2025SenateIntroduced In Senate - Assigned to Agriculture & Natural Resources
1/16/2025Senate
Bill Text
Engrossed
Final Act
Introduced
Reengrossed
Rerevised
Revised
Signed Act