Page 1 January 11, 2024 SB 24-005 Legislative Council Staff Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature Fiscal Note Drafting Number: Prime Sponsors: LLS 24-0362 Sen. Roberts; Simpson Rep. McCormick; McLachlan Date: Bill Status: Fiscal Analyst: January 11, 2024 Senate Ag. & Natural Resources Colin Gaiser | 303-866-2677 colin.gaiser@coleg.gov Bill Topic: PROHIBIT LANDSCAPING PRACTICES FOR WATER CONSERV ATION Summary of Fiscal Impact: ☐ State Revenue ☒ State Expenditure ☐ State Transfer ☐ TABOR Refund ☒ Local Government ☐ Statutory Public Entity The bill restricts the installation or planting of nonfunctional turf, artificial turf, and invasive plant species. The bill increases state agency workload and may increase local revenue and expenditures on an ongoing basis. Appropriation Summary: No appropriation is required. Fiscal Note Status: The fiscal note reflects the introduced bill. Summary of Legislation Beginning January 1, 2025, the bill prohibits local governments or home owners’ associations from installing, planting, or placing nonfunctional turf, artificial turf, or invasive plant species on any commercial, institutional, or industrial property or transportation corridor. Further, the Department of Personnel and Administration (DPA) must not use prohibited landscaping in construction and renovation projects on state facilities. The bill does not apply to artificial turf on athletic fields of play. State Expenditures The bill minimally increases workload in the Community Development Office in the Department of Local Affairs to update reference materials provided to local governments. The DPA will also have minimal workload to modify the internal policy and technical assistance provided by the Office of the State Architect. Page 2 January 11, 2024 SB 24-005 Local Governments The bill may increase local government workload and costs in several ways. First, local governments will need to update ordinances and other regulations to reflect the prohibition on artificial turf, and will be required to respond to complaints, investigate potential violations, and take enforcement actions. Second, when undertaking future landscaping projects, local governments may have higher costs to pay for the installation and maintenance of alternative surfaces at their facilities. Some costs to local governments may be offset by implementing and enforcing new fines or fees related to the bill’s restrictions. Effective Date The bill takes effect 90 days following adjournment of the General Assembly sine die, assuming no referendum petition is filed. State and Local Government Contacts Counties Local Affairs Personnel Regulatory Agencies The revenue and expenditure impacts in this fiscal note represent changes from current law under the bill for each fiscal year. For additional information about fiscal notes, please visit: leg.colorado.gov/fiscalnotes.