Monitoring legislation is integral to keeping a finger on the pulse of dynamic water policy in the state. On behalf of its diverse constituents in southwestern Colorado, the Southwestern Water Conservation District tracks state water legislation closely, specifically through participation in the Colorado Water Congress State Affairs Committee. SWCD representatives attend weekly meetings of the Committee during the legislative session (January – May) to ensure southwestern Colorado is considered as the State legislature enacts new laws affecting water management.
SWCD staff provides regular written summaries of water-related legislation during the session, which are found below. These summaries are distributed via email as a service to interested stakeholders. If you would like to sign up for these regular email updates, please contact [email protected]. SWCD staff also provides updates via biweekly teleconferences with the Board of Directors. If you would like to get email notifications for these calls, please contact [email protected]. We hope you find these services informative and beneficial.
Update: The Colorado General Assembly reconvened on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 after a temporary adjournment in mid-March due to COVID-19.
SWCD supports the following 2020 legislation:
- HB20-1119 State Government Regulation Of Perfluoroalkyl And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
- HB20-1159 State Engineer Confirm Existing Use Instream Flow (PASSED & SIGNED BY GOVERNOR)
- HB20-1172 No Abandonment of Water Rights for Efficiencies (POSTPONED INDEFINITELY)
- SJR20-003 Water Projects Eligibility List
SWCD opposes the following 2020 legislation:
- HB20-1138 Public Real Property Index
- HB20-1164 Housing Authority Exemptions from Water Fees
- HB20-1233 Basic Life Functions in Public Spaces
- HB20-1338 Operational Severance Tax Transfer to Agriculture Value-Added (POSTPONED INDEFINITELY)
SWCD is monitoring the following legislation:
Below are the 2020 legislative summaries from SWCD. Click here for the bill status report provided by Colorado Water Congress.
- SWCD Legislative Report 5-26-20
- SWCD Legislative Report 3-9-20
- SWCD Legislative Report 3-2-20
- SWCD Legislative Report 2-24-20
- SWCD Legislative Report 2-18-20
- SWCD Legislative Report 2-10-20
- SWCD Legislative Report 2-3-20
- SWCD Legislative Report 1-27-20
- SWCD Legislative Report 1-21-20
- SWCD Legislative Report 1-14-20
SWCD is supportive of the following 2019 legislation:
- SB19-016 Severance Tax Operational Fund Distribution Methodology – PASSED & SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
- HB19-1015 Recreation of the Colorado Water Institute – PASSED & SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
- HB19-1082 Water Rights Easements – PASSED & SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
- HB19-1113 Protect Water Quality Adverse Mining Impacts – PASSED & SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
- HRJ19-1005 Water Projects Eligibility List – PASSED & SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
SWCD opposes the following 2019 legislation as written:
- HB19-1218 Loaned Water For Instream Flows To Improve Environment – KILLED
- HB19-1108 Non-Resident Electors and Special Districts – KILLED
Below are the 2019 legislative summaries from SWCD. Click here for the bill status report provided by Colorado Water Congress.
- Legislative Update #14 4-22-19
- Legislative Report #13 4-9-18
- Legislative Report #12 4-2-19
- Legislative Report #11 3-27-19
- Legislative Report #10 3-18-19
- Legislative Report #9 3-11-19
- Legislative Report #8 3-4-19
- Legislative Report #7 2-26-19
- Legislative Report #6 2-19-19
- Legislative Report #5 2-4-19
- Legislative Report #4 1-28-19
- Legislative Report #3 1-22-19
- Legislative Report #2 1-14-19
- Legislative Report #1 1-7-19
The SWCD Board supported the following legislation during the 2018 session, which adjourned on May 9:
- SB18-038 Reclaimed Water Use On Industrial Hemp (Passed and Sent to the Governor)
- SB18-143 Parks And Wildlife Measures To Increase Revenue (Passed and Signed by the Governor)
- SB18-170 Reservoir Releases For Fish And Wildlife Mitigation (Passed and Signed by the Governor)
- SB18-176 Board Meeting Dates Southwestern Water Conservation District (Passed and Signed by the Governor)
- SB18-218 Colorado Water Conservation Board Construction Fund Project (Passed and Sent to the Governor)
- SJM18-004 Memorialize Former Congressman Ray Kogovsek (Passed and Signed by the Governor)
- HB18-1008 Mussel-Free Colorado Act (Passed and Signed by the Governor)
- HB18-1053 Reclaimed Water Use for Marijuana Cultivation(Postponed Indefinitely)
- HB18-1069 Reclaimed Water Use for Toilet Flushing (Passed and Signed by the Governor)
- HB18-1147 Sunset Process Weather Modification(Passed and Signed by the Governor)
- HB18-1301 Protect Water Quality Adverse Mining Impacts (Postponed Indefinitely)
Below are the 2018 legislative summaries from SWCD. Click here for the bill status report provided by Colorado Water Congress.
- Legislative Report #13 5-7-18
- Legislative Report #12 4-23-18
- Legislative Report #11 4-16-18
- Legislative Report #10 4-2-18
- Legislative Report #9 3-19-18
- Legislative Report #8 3-12-18
- Legislative Report #7 3-5-18
- Legislative Report #6 2-26-18
- Legislative Report #5 2-20-18
- Legislative Report #4 2-12-18
- Legislative Report #3 2-5-18
- Legislative Report #2 1-22-18
- Legislative Report #1 1-16-18
- Legislative Report #16A 5-04-17
- Legislative Report #16 5-01-17
- Legislative Report #15 4-17-17
- Legislative Report #14 4-10-17
- Legislative Report #13 4-03-17
- Legislative Report #12 3-27-17
- Legislative Report #11 3-20-17
- Legislative Report #10 3-13-17
- Legislative Report #09 3-6-17
- Legislative Report #08 2-27-17
- Legislative Report #07 2-21-17
- Legislative Report #06 02-13-17
- Legislative Report #05 02-6-17
- Legislative Report #04 01-30-17
- Legislative Report #03 01-23-17
- Legislative Report #02 01-17-17
- Legislative Report #01 01-09-17
- Interim Legislative Report 9-26-16
- Legislative Update #16 05-09-16
- Legislative Update #15 05-02-16
- Legislative Update #14 04-11-16
- Legislative Update #13 04-11-16
- Legislative Update #12 04-04-16
- Legislative Update #11 03-28-16
- Legislative Update #10 03-21-16
- Legislative Update #9 03-14-16
- Legislative Update #8 03-7-16
- Legislative Update #7 02-29-16
- Legislative Update #6 02-22-16
- Legislative Update #5 02-16-16
- Legislative Update #4 02-08-16
- Legislative Update #3 01-25-16
- Legislative Update #2 01-19-16
- Legislative Update #1 01-05-16