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SB 25-168

Prevention of Wildlife Trafficking

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Judy Amabile and 28 co-sponsors

Colorado bans illegal wildlife trafficking, raises penalties, adds ESA/CITES species, suspends licenses for offenders, and funds CPW investigations to guide enforcement.

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Bill Summary · SB 25-168

SB 25-168 — Prevention of Wildlife Trafficking

Status: Governor Signed (June 2, 2025) | Introduced: Feb 19, 2025

Purpose

To strengthen Colorado law to prevent illegal wildlife trafficking by (1) creating a specific trafficking offense, (2) expanding covered species, (3) increasing penalties and license-suspension authority, and (4) directing Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to investigate and survey commonly trafficked wildlife to inform conservation, management, and enforcement.

Key provisions

  • New criminal offense (illegal trafficking of wildlife). It is unlawful, in the course of the same criminal episode, to knowingly possess, sell, purchase, transport, import, export, or cause such conduct for monetary gain or other compensation when the actor knew (or should have known) the wildlife was taken/handled in violation of state, federal, tribal, or foreign law or regulation.
  • Penalty structure (criminal class depends on value/species):
    • Default: class 1 misdemeanor.
    • Class 5 felony when aggregate value is > $1,000 and < $10,000.
    • Class 4 felony when aggregate value is > $10,000 — or if the wildlife is endangered/threatened under Colorado law or the federal Endangered Species Act, or is listed in Appendix I of CITES.
  • Adds species listed under the federal Endangered Species Act and CITES Appendix I to the statutes governing illegal possession, sale, and willful destruction of wildlife.
  • Licensing consequences: the Parks and Wildlife Commission may suspend any or all wildlife license privileges of convicted persons (statutory language authorizes suspension for one year to life). (Note: an earlier fiscal note referenced five years to life as an assumption; the enacted statute specifies one year to life.)
  • CPW duties: required to conduct investigations and surveys of commonly trafficked wildlife and use resulting data to guide conservation, management, and enforcement responses. The division must also make CITES Appendix I available on its public website and for public inspection.
  • Civil remedies: CPW may bring civil actions to recover possession or value of unlawfully taken wildlife; statute specifies minimum recoverable values for certain species (e.g., $1,000 for eagles/endangered species; $700 for elk/threatened species).

Fiscal and operational impact

  • Effective/implementation timing: fiscal analyses model impacts beginning FY 2026-27 (fiscal note uses July 1, 2026, as the operational start for some provisions).
  • CPW: increased ongoing expenditures of roughly $1.7–$1.8 million per year (Wildlife Cash Fund) and about 9.0 FTE for wildlife investigations, surveys, and enforcement support.
  • Department of Corrections: modest General Fund costs beginning in later years to accommodate at least one projected felony incarceration per year (initial estimates: ~$24,765 in FY 2027‑28, rising in subsequent years).
  • Judicial/court revenue: potential additional fine and court-fee revenue (ranges by offense class); precise revenue uncertain because courts have discretion on fines and incarceration. Fine ranges noted in fiscal materials: class 1 misdemeanor $500–$1,000; class 5 felony $1,000–$100,000; class 4 felony $2,000–$500,000. Criminal fine revenue is TABOR‑relevant.
  • Funding: CPW costs anticipated to be paid from the Wildlife Cash Fund (CPW enterprise fund); Legislative analyses indicate no immediate need for a General Fund appropriation for initial CPW costs.

Who is affected

  • Individuals and entities who possess, sell, transport, import, or export wildlife for compensation (including commercial traffickers and related actors).
  • Colorado Parks and Wildlife — expanded investigative/enforcement responsibilities.
  • Judicial system and Department of Corrections — potential incremental caseload and incarceration costs.
  • Wildlife species covered under state/federal ESA and CITES Appendix I will receive added statutory protection and higher penalties for related offenses.

Legislative timeline & status

  • Introduced in Senate: Feb 19, 2025
  • Passed both chambers (Senate and House) in April 2025
  • Sent to Governor: May 6, 2025
  • Governor signed: June 2, 2025

This summary reflects the enacted bill text and associated fiscal analyses prepared during consideration.

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

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