ColoradoSB26-1412026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Wildlife Collision Prevention

Sponsored By: Cleave Simpson (Republican), Dylan Roberts (Democratic), Julie McCluskie (Democratic), Rick Taggart (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Natural Resources & EnvironmentTransportation & Motor Vehicles

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Colorado expands work on wildlife road crossings

The law expands Colorado’s bridge enterprise into a bridge and tunnel enterprise, with the existing commission remaining its board. Its work now includes wildlife safe passage, tunnel transportation projects, and bridge repairs, replacement, maintenance, and financing. Wildlife projects can include studies, construction, repairs, roadkill tracking, animal detection, signs, fencing, animal escape points, and land conservation. The enterprise must consult transportation and wildlife agencies, the Colorado Wildlife and Transportation Alliance, local governments, and other stakeholders. Tribal governments must be consulted for projects on or next to tribal land. Project selection should consider statewide wildlife studies, bridge and tunnel work, landowner agreements, and conservation opportunities. Collision Prevention Fund projects must follow state purchasing rules, including a preference for resident bidders.

State funds wildlife fee setup costs

For 2026–27, the law provides $53,516 from the DRIVES Cash Fund for motor vehicle administration. This includes $39,782 for system support, $3,403 for vehicle-services staff, $4,715 for administrative staff, and $5,616 for information technology payments. It provides $778 from the Parks and Outdoor Recreation Cash Fund for park operations, then transfers that same amount to motor vehicle system support. It also provides $19,940 from the Legal Services Cash Fund for transportation legal services, assuming 0.1 additional full-time-equivalent staff. These are one-time implementation amounts, not household payments. The law sets October 1, 2026, as its effective date, subject to its referendum clause. A referendum petition filed within 90 days after final adjournment delays the affected provisions until voter approval in November 2026 and the Governor’s official declaration of the vote.

Wildlife fee money supports crossings and conservation

The Department of Revenue sends monthly fee receipts to the State Treasurer after deducting collection costs. Of those net receipts, 75% goes to the Collision Prevention Fund and 25% to the Wildlife Cash Fund. Both shares are available without yearly budget approval for their assigned purposes. The enterprise’s share supports crossings, maintenance, federal grant matching, staff, administration, and fee outreach; Parks and Wildlife’s share supports habitat connections and crossing-related conservation. The law also creates a Bridge Special Fund for enterprise revenue and lets the Treasurer invest both new funds. State Highway Fund loans cover costs before fee or bond money arrives; loans enter the enterprise operating fund, not the Bridge Special Fund. Loans require repayment with interest as enterprise revenue allows, and either new fund can reimburse the State Highway Fund. Collision Prevention Fund loan debts not due that fiscal year are excluded from statutory fund-balance calculations. Fee receipts are exempt from Colorado’s TABOR tax and spending limits; the fee creates no new enterprise, requires no voter approval, and triggers no spending-limit adjustment.

Drivers must decline park passes yearly

The law ends automatic carryover of a prior decision to decline the Keep Colorado Wild pass fee. You must decline the pass again each year when registering the same vehicle. Declining the wildlife collision prevention fee does not replace this separate choice.

Drivers get an optional wildlife crossing fee

Beginning January 1, 2027, vehicle owners can pay an optional $5 wildlife collision prevention fee during initial registration or renewal. It covers passenger vehicles, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, and light trucks weighing 16,000 pounds or less when empty. You can decline it in person or online without affecting registration; payments are nonrefundable. Each year, you must actively decline the fee to avoid paying it. Its opt-out must appear separately from, and after, the Keep Colorado Wild pass opt-out. The enterprise board can raise the fee for Denver-Aurora-Lakewood inflation each July 1, starting July 1, 2028. Agencies must explain the choice through website notices and public outreach, with materials reaching county clerks by December 1, 2026.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Alex Valdez
Democratic • House
Chad Clifford
Democratic • House
Jennifer Bacon
Democratic • House
Jarvis Caldwell
Republican • House
Junie Joseph
Democratic • House
Kyle Brown
Democratic • House
Kenny Nguyen
Democratic • House
Lorena Garcia
Democratic • House
Max Brooks
Republican • House
Michael Carter
Democratic • House
Monica Duran
Democratic • House
Meg Froelich
Democratic • House
Mandy Lindsay
Democratic • House
Manny Rutinel
Democratic • House
Matt Soper
Republican • House
Sheila Lieder
Democratic • House
Tisha Mauro
Democratic • House
Tammy Story
Democratic • House
Sen. A. Benavidez
Affiliation unavailable
Chris Kolker
Democratic • Senate
Judy Amabile
Democratic • Senate
James Coleman
Democratic • Senate
Janice Marchman
Democratic • Senate
Lindsey Daugherty
Democratic • Senate
Matt Ball
Democratic • Senate
Mike Weissman
Democratic • Senate
Tony Exum
Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 115 • No: 30

House vote • 5/4/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 49 • No: 16

House vote • 5/1/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-141 to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 10 • No: 1

House vote • 4/20/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-141 to the Committee on Appropriations.

Yes: 8 • No: 2

Senate vote • 4/13/2026

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 28 • No: 7

Senate vote • 4/10/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-141, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 5 • No: 2

Senate vote • 3/31/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-141, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.

Yes: 8 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/25/2026

Refer Senate Bill 26-141, as amended, to the Committee on Finance.

Yes: 7 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

Governor Signed
5/27/2026House
Signed by the President of the Senate
5/20/2026Senate
Signed by the Speaker of the House
5/20/2026House
Sent to the Governor
5/20/2026House
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
5/4/2026House
House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
5/1/2026House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments
5/1/2026House
House Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to Appropriations
4/20/2026House
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
4/13/2026Senate
Introduced In House - Assigned to Finance
4/13/2026House
Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole
4/10/2026Senate
Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
4/10/2026Senate
Senate Committee on Finance Refer Amended to Appropriations
3/31/2026Senate
Senate Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Amended to Finance
3/25/2026Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Transportation & Energy
3/16/2026Senate

Bill Text

Engrossed
PDF
Final Act
PDF
Introduced
PDF
Reengrossed
PDF
Rerevised
PDF
Revised
PDF
Senate Appropriations Preamend
PDF
Senate Finance Preamend
PDF
Senate Transportation & Energy Preamend
PDF
Signed Act
PDF

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