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 (SWCD) tracks state water legislation closely. Beth Van Vurst, SWCD General Counsel, and Chris Treese, lobbyist, ensure the views and priorities of southwestern Colorado are considered as the State legislature enacts new laws affecting water resources.
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.
The first regular session of the 73rd Colorado General Assembly convened on January 13, 2021 and then temporarily adjourned until February 16, 2021.
SWCD supports the following legislation:
SB21-054 Transfers For Wildfire Mitigation And Response (PASSED & SIGNED BY GOVERNOR)
SB21-189 Colorado Water Conservation Board Construction Fund Project
SB21-220 Reverse Transfers from Severance Tax Operational Fund (PASSED & SIGNED BY GOVERNOR)
SB21-234 General Fund Transfer Agriculture and Drought Resiliency
SB21-240 Watershed Restoration Grant Program Stimulus
HJR21-1002 Water Projects Eligibility Lists (PASSED & SIGNED BY GOVERNOR)
HB21-1008 Forest Health Project Financing (PASSED & AWAITING GOVERNOR’S CONSIDERATION)
HB21-1105 Low-income Utility Payment Assistance Contributions
HB21-1226 More Robust Check Station Aquatic Nuisance Species (PASSED & AWAITING GOVERNOR’S CONSIDERATION)
HB21-1260 General Fund Transfer Implement State Water Plan
SWCD is monitoring the following legislation:
SB21-034 Water Resource Financing Enterprise (POSTPONED INDEFINITELY)
SB21-237 Create Forest Health Council in Department of Natural Resources
HB21-1043 Study Underground Water Storage Maximum Beneficial Use
HB21-1046 Water Share Right Mutual Ditch Corporation (PASSED & AWAITING GOVERNOR’S CONSIDERATION)
HB21-1233 Conservation Easement Tax Credits
HB21-1266 Environmental Justice Disproportionate Impacted Community
HB21-1268 Study Emerging Technologies for Water Management
SWCD opposes the following legislation:
SB21-087 Agricultural Workers’ Rights
SB21-164 Uniform Easement Relocation Act (POSTPONED INDEFINITELY)
Below are the 2021 legislative summaries from SWCD. Click here for the bill status report provided by Colorado Water Congress.
- SWCD State Legislative Report 5-17-21
- SWCD State Legislative Report 5-3-21
- SWCD State Legislative Report 4-19-21
- SWCD State Legislative Report 4-5-21
- SWCD State Legislative Report 3-29-21
- SWCD State Legislative Report 3-22-21
- SWCD State Legislative Report 3-8-21
- SWCD State Legislative Report 2-22-21
SWCD supported the following 2020 legislation:
- HB20-1119 State Government Regulation Of Perfluoroalkyl And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances(PASSED)
- HB20-1159 State Engineer Confirm Existing Use Instream Flow (PASSED & SIGNED BY GOVERNOR)
- HB20-1172 No Abandonment of Water Rights for Efficiencies (POSTPONED INDEFINITELY)
- HB20-1403 Colorado Water Conservation Board Construction Fund Project(PASSED)
- SJR20-003 Water Projects Eligibility List (PASSED & ADOPTED BY GOVERNOR)
SWCD opposed the following 2020 legislation:
- HB20-1138 Public Real Property Index(POSTPONED INDEFINITELY)
- HB20-1164 Housing Authority Exemptions from Water Fees (POSTPONED INDEFINITELY)
- HB20-1233 Basic Life Functions in Public Spaces (POSTPONED INDEFINITELY)
- HB20-1338 Operational Severance Tax Transfer to Agriculture Value-Added (POSTPONED INDEFINITELY)
SWCD monitored 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 6-22-20
- SWCD Legislative Report 6-1-20
- 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 supported 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 opposed 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:
- 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