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March 1, 2024 SB 24-161
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
Fiscal Note
Drafting Number:
Prime Sponsors:
LLS 24-0884
Sen. Pelton R.; Marchman
Rep. Lukens; Soper
Date:
Bill Status:
Fiscal Analyst:
March 1, 2024
Senate Ag., & Nat. Resources
Alexa Kelly | 303-866-3469
alexa.kelly@coleg.gov
Bill Topic: PARKS & WILDLIFE LICENSES & PASSES
Summary of
Fiscal Impact:
☒ State Revenue
☒ State Expenditure
☐ State Transfer
☐ TABOR Refund
☐ Local Government
☐ Statutory Public Entity
The bill makes a variety of changes to certain fees, requirements, and procedures
related to licenses and passes issued by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. It decreases state
revenue on an annual basis.
Appropriation
Summary:
No appropriation is required.
Fiscal Note
Status:
The fiscal note reflects the introduced bill.
Table 1
State Fiscal Impacts Under SB 24-161
Budget Year
FY 2024-25
Out Year
FY 2025-26
Revenue Cash Funds ($155,322) ($149,782)
Expenditures
- -
Transfers - -
Other Budget Impacts - -
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March 1, 2024 SB 24-161
Summary of Legislation
The bill makes a variety of changes to certain fees, requirements, and procedures related to
licenses and passes issued by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). Specifically, the bill:
lowers the age threshold for senior annual fishing licenses from 65 to 64 years of age;
lowers the cost of youth big game and youth small game resident and nonresident hunting
licenses by $0.25;
amends the definition of “low-income senior” used for granting discounted licenses;
lowers the disability level threshold used for granting discounted licenses to veterans with
disabilities from 60 percent to 50 percent;
creates the ability for CPW to establish a harvest permit surcharge of up to $5;
allows revenue from the Keep Colorado Wild pass sales to be used for capital construction
costs; and
establishes a specific process for the purpose of conducting CPW hearings when a river
outfitter license holder or applicant is alleged to have committed a violation and allows a
hearing officer to conduct said hearings on behalf of CPW.
State Revenue
On net, the bill is estimated to reduce revenue for CPW in the Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) by approximately $150,000 annually in the Wildlife Cash Fund beginning in FY 2024-25.
This cash fund is annually appropriated, and the decrease in funds will not affect the
department’s ability to expend its full annual appropriation. As CPW is an enterprise, this
revenue is not subject to TABOR.
Senior annual fishing licenses. By reducing the senior annual fishing license age cutoff from
65 to 64 years, it is expected that more individuals will purchase the senior annual fishing
license, which is priced at a lower cost (currently $11.47) than the regular resident fishing license
(currently $41.83). This is expected to affect approximately 5,000 license holders per year based
on current demographic data.
Service-connected disability passes. The disability level threshold decrease for discounted
licenses for veterans is not expected to substantially change revenue to the department. The
CPW may see a minimal decrease in revenue from more individuals obtaining a discounted pass
based on their disability status.
Youth hunting licenses. Modifying the rate for youth big game and small game hunting
licenses is not expected to create any change in revenue for CPW. This is a technical change to
reflect the search and rescue fee that is charged separately.
Harvest permit surcharge. If CPW creates a harvest permit surcharge as is authorized in the
bill, this will increase revenue to the department. This is dependent on whether or not CPW
institutes a fee and what the fee is. The exact revenue impact from this change has not been
estimated. Page 3
March 1, 2024 SB 24-161
State Expenditures
The DNR will experience a minimal increase in expenditures and workload under the bill
beginning in FY 2024-25 to incorporate the changes outlined in the bill. The Department of Law
may also see a minimal increase in workload and expenditures to assist DNR in the rulemaking
process, if necessary.
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
Natural Resources Information Technology Law
Personnel
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 the General Assembly website.