HB 25-1163
Fiscal Note
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
HB 25-1163: FREE ACCESS TO STATE PARKS FOR CO UTE TRIBES
Prime Sponsors:
Rep. Stewart K.; Taggart
Sen. Roberts; Simpson
Published for: Senate Ag. & Natural Resources
Drafting number: LLS 25-0500
Fiscal Analyst:
Alexa Kelly, 303-866-3469
alexa.kelly@coleg.gov
Version: First Revised Note
Date: April 16, 2025
Fiscal note status: This revised fiscal note reflects the reengrossed bill.
Summary Information
Overview. The bill allows Southern Ute Indian and Ute Mountain Ute tribe members to access state parks
without having to pay a fee.
Types of impacts. The bill is projected to affect the following areas on an ongoing basis:
State Revenue Minimal State Workload
Appropriations. No appropriation is required.
Table 1
State Fiscal Impacts
Type of Impact
Budget Year
FY 2025-26
Out Year
FY 2026-27
State Revenue (Cash Funds) -$39,400 -$39,400
State Expenditures $0 $0
Transferred Funds $0 $0
Change in TABOR Refunds $0 $0
Change in State FTE 0.0 FTE 0.0 FTE
Page 2
April 16, 2025
HB 25-1163
Summary of Legislation
The bill allows for enrolled members of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute
Tribe to access any Colorado state park without paying an entrance fee. Members of the tribes
must present a current tribal identification card with an intact photo.
The bill also requires that by June 1, 2026, Colorado Parks and Wildlife build on existing efforts
to engage with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, tribal governments, and
American Indian and Indigenous communities on opportunities related to Colorado state parks.
The Department of Natural Resources must report on the status of these efforts during its
annual SMART Act hearing in January 2026 and 2027.
Assumptions
Based on 2023 population data, the fiscal note assumes that 1,770 passes are purchased
annually by members of the state’s Ute tribes each year. Park passes range from $7 to $74, with
the Keep Colorado Wild Pass at $27 being the most common purchase.
State Revenue and Expenditures
Colorado Parks and Wildlife, in the Department of Natural Resources, will incur an ongoing
decrease in park entrance fee revenue of approximately $40,000 beginning in FY 2025-26 from
the Parks and Outdoor Recreation Cash Fund. Since Colorado Parks and Wildlife has enterprise
status, this revenue change will not have any impact on TABOR refunds.
The department will also incur a minimal increase in workload to implement the new entry
regulation, increase engagement with tribal community groups, and report on engagement
efforts during its SMART Act hearing. No change in appropriations is required.
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 Revenue
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.