WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 1340

Revegetate or Dry Farm Formerly Irrigated Agricultural Land

2026 Regular Session

Colorado bill requires owners of formerly irrigated farmland to either revegetate or transition to dry farming to prevent land degradation and address water scarcity.

Governor Signed
#water
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1340

Legislative bill overview

HB 1340 requires owners of formerly irrigated agricultural land in Colorado to either actively revegetate their property or allow it to transition to dry farming practices. The bill establishes standards for what constitutes acceptable vegetation management and appears designed to prevent abandoned or degraded agricultural lands from becoming erosion-prone or ecologically damaged.

Why is this important

Colorado faces significant water scarcity and competition between agricultural, municipal, and environmental water needs. Degraded former farmland can contribute to soil erosion, dust storms, loss of habitat, and watershed damage. This bill addresses the practical and environmental consequences when irrigated land is taken out of production without proper land management, while potentially affecting agricultural property owners' autonomy over their land use decisions.

Potential points of contention

  • Property rights vs. public interest: Landowners may resist mandated revegetation requirements as an infringement on their ability to manage private property as they see fit
  • Cost burden: Revegetation or transition to dry farming requires capital investment; unclear whether costs fall entirely on property owners or if cost-sharing/incentive programs are included
  • Enforcement mechanisms and definitions: The bill's success depends on clear definitions of "acceptable" vegetation and viable enforcement capacity, which existing language doesn't clarify
  • Water rights implications: Relationship between this mandate and existing water rights allocations is unclear—could affect broader agricultural water rights policy

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

Sign in to ask a question.