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HB 25-1163

Free Access to State Parks for Colorado Ute Tribes

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Judy Amabile and 37 co-sponsors

HB 25‑1163 — Free Access to State Parks for Colorado Ute TribesStatus: Governor signed (May 29, 2025) | Introduced: Feb 3, 2025 | Codified at: new CRS 33‑12‑103.8 Purpose / IntentT

Governor Signed
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Bill Summary · HB 25-1163

HB 25‑1163 — Free Access to State Parks for Colorado Ute Tribes

Status: Governor signed (May 29, 2025) | Introduced: Feb 3, 2025 | Codified at: new CRS 33‑12‑103.8

Purpose / Intent

The act authorizes enrolled members of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe to enter Colorado state parks managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (the Division) without paying park entrance fees. The legislative declaration cites historical, cultural, and treaty-based ties of the Ute peoples to lands now designated as state parks and frames the measure as reducing financial barriers to ancestral lands and sacred sites.

Key provisions

  • Free park entry: Enrolled members of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe who present a current tribal identification card with an intact photo are exempt from paying entrance fees at state parks managed by the Division (CRS 33‑12‑103.8(2)).
  • Compliance with rules: Access under the exemption remains subject to all applicable park rules and regulations (CRS 33‑12‑103.8(3)).
  • Tribal engagement/outreach: By June 1, 2026 the Division must build on existing outreach and engagement with the two tribes, other tribal governments, and Indigenous communities regarding opportunities related to state parks (CRS 33‑12‑103.8(4)(a)).
  • Reporting: The Department of Natural Resources must include information about these outreach and engagement efforts in its SMART Act presentation in January 2026 and January 2027 (CRS 33‑12‑103.8(4)(b)).
  • Sunset of reporting requirement: The outreach/reporting subsection is repealed effective July 1, 2027.
  • Effective date: The act takes effect 12:01 a.m. the day after the 90‑day period following final adjournment of the General Assembly (practical effective date per fiscal note: August 6, 2025), unless a referendum delays implementation until after a public vote (Nov 2026).

Fiscal and operational impact

  • Revenue: Estimated ongoing reduction in park entrance fee revenue of approximately $39,400 per year beginning FY 2025‑26 (fiscal note: ‑$39,400 in FY 2025‑26 and FY 2026‑27). Estimate based on ~1,770 annual tribal pass purchases and typical pass price (Keep Colorado Wild Pass ~$27).
  • Fund affected: Parks and Outdoor Recreation Cash Fund (Colorado Parks and Wildlife has enterprise status).
  • TABOR: No impact on TABOR refunds (enterprise status).
  • Workload: Minimal ongoing workload increase for implementation, outreach, and reporting. No new appropriation required.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: Enrolled members of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe (must present current tribal photo ID).
  • Implementing agency: Colorado Parks and Wildlife (Department of Natural Resources).
  • Fiscal impact is limited to the Parks & Outdoor Recreation Cash Fund (small revenue decrease).

Legislative history & sponsors

  • House prime sponsors: Rep. Katie Stewart and Rep. Rick Taggart (with many cosponsors). Senate sponsors: Sen. Dylan Roberts and Sen. Cleave Simpson.
  • Passed both chambers without substantive change; sent to governor May 12, 2025; signed May 29, 2025.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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