Second Regular Session
Seventy-fourth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED
LLS NO. 24-0427.01 Brita Darling x2241
HOUSE BILL 24-1024
House Committees Senate Committees
Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING THE CONTINUATION OF PUBLIC OUTREACH CAMPAIGNS101
RELATING TO WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION IN THE102
WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE , AND, IN CONNECTION103
THEREWITH, MAKING AN APPROPRIATION .104
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov/
.)
Wildfire Matters Review Committee. The bill requires the
Colorado state forest service (forest service) to conduct enhanced wildfire
awareness month outreach campaigns (campaigns) through 2027 and
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Story and Velasco, Snyder
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Cutter, Jaquez Lewis
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. other outreach efforts through the 2026-27 state fiscal year that are
expected to increase awareness of wildfire risk mitigation by residents in
the wildland-urban interface.
For state fiscal year 2024-25, the bill appropriates $300,000 from
the general fund to the healthy forests and vibrant communities fund for
use by the forest service for the ongoing campaigns and outreach efforts.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 23-31-313, amend2
(9.5)(c) and (9.5)(e)(I); and add (9.5)(f) as follows:3
23-31-313. Healthy forests - vibrant communities - funds4
created - outreach working group - loan program - legislative5
declaration - definitions - repeal. (9.5) Wildfire risk mitigation public6
outreach and educational campaign - legislative declaration - report7
- appropriation. (c) After considering feedback from the working group,8
and subject to available appropriations, the forest service:9
(I) Shall implement an enhanced wildfire awareness month10
outreach campaign in conjunction with the division of fire prevention and11
control in the department of public safety and the United States forest12
service in 2023 and 2024, and, subject to available appropriations, may
13
implement enhanced wildfire awareness month outreach campaigns in14
subsequent years THROUGH 2027; and15
(II) May SHALL implement other outreach efforts during the16
2022-23 and 2023-24 THROUGH 2026-27 state fiscal years and subsequent17
state fiscal years that are expected to increase awareness of wildfire risk18
mitigation by residents in the wildland-urban interface.19
(e) (I) During the 2023 and 2024 THROUGH THE 2027 legislative20
interims, the state forester shall submit a report to the wildfire matters21
review committee created in section 2-3-1602 concerning outreach efforts22
HB24-1024-2- implemented pursuant to this subsection (9.5) OR, IF THE WILDFIRE1
MATTERS REVIEW COMMI TTEE IS REPEALED , TO THE HOUSE OF2
REPRESENTATIVES AGRICULTURE , WATER, AND NATURAL RESOURCES3
COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES4
COMMITTEE, OR THEIR SUCCESSOR COMMITTEES .5
(f) (I) F
OR PURPOSES OF CONDUCTING ONGOING WILDFIRE6
AWARENESS MONTH OUTREACH CAMPAIGNS AND OTHER OUTREACH7
EFFORTS PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (9.5)(c) OF THIS SECTION, THE8
GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHALL APPROPRIATE THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND9
DOLLARS TO THE HEALTHY FORESTS AND VIBRANT COMMUNITIES FUND10
CREATED IN SUBSECTION (10) OF THIS SECTION.11
(II) T
HIS SUBSECTION (9.5)(f) IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE JULY 1,12
2028.13
SECTION 2. Appropriation. For the 2024-25 state fiscal year,14
$300,000 is appropriated to the healthy forests and vibrant communities15
fund created in section 23-31-313 (10), C.R.S. This appropriation is from16
the general fund. The department of higher education is responsible for17
the accounting related to this appropriation.18
SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,19
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate20
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for21
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state22
institutions.23
HB24-1024
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