First Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REREVISED
This Version Includes All Amendments
Adopted in the Second House
LLS NO. 25-0281.01 Jery Payne x2157
HOUSE BILL 25-1283
House Committees Senate Committees
Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Agriculture & Natural Resources
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING MEASURES THAT IMPLEMENT THE WILD HORSE WORKING101
GROUP'S LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS .102
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
.)
The wild horse working group is given the duty in statute to study
wild horse management in Colorado and make recommendations. The
group has made a report with its preliminary recommendations. The bill
adds many of these recommendations in the wild horse statutes.
Under current law, the wild horse project is a nonprofit,
state-owned corporate entity that manages and operates programs
SENATE
3rd Reading Unamended
April 21, 2025
SENATE
Amended 2nd Reading
April 17, 2025
HOUSE
3rd Reading Unamended
March 19, 2025
HOUSE
Amended 2nd Reading
March 17, 2025
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Duran and Winter T., Bacon, Bird, Brown, Hamrick, Lieder, Lindsay, Lukens, Mauro,
McCormick, Ricks, Sirota, Smith, Stewart K., Willford
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Marchman and Liston, Jodeh, Michaelson Jenet
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. benefitting wild horses and supports wild horse management. The bill
repeals the wild horse project and transfers the statutory duties concerning
wild horses to the department of agriculture (department). The bill repeals
and replaces the wild horse stewardship program and the wild horse
fertility program with support efforts managed by the department and
with an immunocontraception program managed by the department.
The bill authorizes the department to provide
immunocontraception and material support in herd management areas to
keep wild horse populations at appropriate management levels. The
material support may include:
! Using state employees or contracting with others to
administer immunocontraception;
! Providing funding to or administrative support to other
state agencies, federal agencies, and nonprofit entities to
hire employees or contract with agents to administer
immunocontraception;
! Coordinating events where immunocontraception is
administered;
! Buying or funding the purchase of equipment or
technology; and
! Coordinating with educational institutions to provide
training, certification, or internships to individuals
administering immunocontraception.
The department may primarily address federally protected wild
horses but may also address other wild horses.
The department may, when reasonable and effective:
! Expand efforts to engage nonprofit organizations and
foundations that are not normally associated with wild
horse advocacy organizations;
! Engage individuals and businesses for funding, promotion,
and education using iconic wild horse imagery; and
! Develop a logo and brand.
The department may provide staff, resources, or information to:
! Develop a system of shared equipment and staff expertise
to loan out;
! Develop training programs and certifications;
! Cooperate with the federal bureau of land management to
develop additional training, holding, or adoption
opportunities; and
! Cooperate with the department of corrections to create and
expand opportunities for people confined in a correctional
facility.
The bill creates a wild horse advisory committee. The wild horse
advisory committee has the same makeup as the current wild horse
working group, but legislative appointments are changed to at large
1283
-2- appointment and the mandatory appointments are made by the
commissioner of agriculture. The advisory committee will meet at least
once every year and may have additional meetings as necessary. The
advisory committee shall advise the commissioner of agriculture and the
department concerning:
! Financial and material support for wild horse adopters,
sanctuaries, preserves, and refuges;
! The content and delivery of outreach, education, training,
and certification;
! Working with the federal bureau of land management and
wild horse preserves, sanctuaries, and refuges to coordinate
the movement of wild horses off herd management areas
and other lands into temporary holding, adoption events,
and other options;
! Coordinating or assisting with compliance checks to ensure
that adopted wild horses are well cared for and that wild
horse adopters have the support needed to successfully care
for wild horses;
! Coordinating and cooperating with other entities to ensure
comprehensive information about adoption and adoption
success is widely publicized and is available to the public;
and
! Any different or additional scientifically proven
immunocontraceptive fertility control method the
department may consider using.
The wild horse advisory committee sunsets on September 1, 2030,
which is in 5 years. Before the repeal, the advisory committee is
scheduled for sunset review.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 35-1-119, repeal (2)2
as follows:3
35-1-119. Wild horse population management. (2) This section
4
is repealed, effective December 31, 2025.5
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 35-66-101, amend6
(6); and repeal (4), (5), (7), and (9) as follows:7
35-66-101. Definitions. As used in this article 66, unless the8
context otherwise requires:9
1283-3- (4) "Director" means the director of the wild horse project.1
(5) "Fertility control program" means the wild horse fertility2
control program created in section 35-66-107 (1).3
(6) "Fund" means the wild horse project fund created in section4
35-66-104 (1).5
(7) "Stewardship program" means the wild horse stewardship6
program created in section 35-66-106 (1).7
(9) "Wild horse project" means the Colorado wild horse project8
created in section 35-66-102 (1).9
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, repeal 35-66-102,10
35-66-106, and 35-66-107.11
SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 35-66-103, amend12
(1) as follows:13
35-66-103. Wild horse management report - repeal. (1) On or14
before January 31, 2024, and on or before January 31 of each year15
thereafter, the department shall submit a written report to the governor16
and the appropriate committees of reference as determined in accordance17
with section 2-7-203 (1). The department shall also present the report to18
the appropriate joint committee of reference, in accordance with section19
2-7-203 (2), as part of the department's "SMART Act" hearing. The20
report must include a description of the money spent, grants made, and21
actions taken to implement this article 66, including the number of horses22
treated, under the fertility control program, the number of foals born the23
prior year in each herd management area, and the actions taken and24
accomplished in accordance with the stewardship program THIS ARTICLE25
66.26
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 35-66-104, amend27
1283
-4- (1)(b) and (4); and repeal (2)(b)(II) as follows:1
35-66-104. Wild horse fund - legislative declaration - repeal.2
(1) (b) The wild horse project fund is created in the state treasury. The3
fund consists of gifts, grants, and donations; payments from the federal4
government in connection with assisting in the management of wild5
horses; and any other money that the general assembly may appropriate6
or transfer to the fund.7
8
(2) (b) (II) This subsection (2)(b) will be repealed when the9
department creates the wild horse project. The commissioner shall notify10
the revisor of statutes in writing of the date on which the condition11
specified in this subsection (2)(b) has occurred by e-mailing the notice to12
revisorofstatutes.ga@coleg.gov. This subsection (2)(b) is repealed,13
effective upon the date identified in the notice that the department has14
created the wild horse project or, if the notice does not specify that date,15
upon the date of the notice to the revisor of statutes.16
(4) The wild horse project DEPARTMENT may seek and accept17
gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources for the purposes18
of
SECTION 35-1-119 AND this article 66. The wild horse project shall
19
transmit all money received as gifts, grants, or donations under this20
subsection (4) to The state treasurer who shall credit the money GIFT,21
GRANT, OR DONATION to the fund.22
SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 35-66-108,23
35-66-109, and 35-66-110 as follows:24
35-66-108. Wild horse fertility - immunocontraception - grants25
- annual reporting. (1) T
HE DEPARTMENT MAY IMPLEMENT AN26
IMMUNOCONTRACEPTION PROGRAM . THE DEPARTMENT MAY PROVIDE27
1283
-5- STAFF AND MATERIAL SUPPORT FOR IMMUNOCONTRACEPTION FOR WILD1
HORSES IN HERD MANAGEMENT AREAS TO KEEP WILD HORSE POPULATIONS2
AT THE DESIGNATED APPROPRIATE MANAGEMENT LEVELS IN EACH HERD3
MANAGEMENT AREA . THE DEPARTMENT MAY CONSIDER USING DIFFERENT4
OR ADDITIONAL SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN IMMUNOCONTRACEPTIVE5
FERTILITY CONTROL METHODS AFTER CONSULTING WITH THE WILD HORSE6
ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THE MATERIAL SUPPORT MAY INCLUDE :7
(a) U
SING STATE EMPLOYEES TO OR CONTRACTING WITH AGENTS8
TO ADMINISTER IMMUNOCONTRACEPTION ;9
(b) P
ROVIDING FUNDING TO OR ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO10
OTHER STATE AGENCIES, FEDERAL AGENCIES, AND NONPROFIT ENTITIES TO11
HIRE EMPLOYEES OR CONTRACT WITH AGENTS TO ADMINISTER12
IMMUNOCONTRACEPTION ;13
(c) C
OORDINATING EVENTS WHERE IMMUNOCONTRACEPTION IS14
ADMINISTERED;15
(d) B
UYING OR FUNDING THE PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT , SUCH AS16
VEHICLES, OR TECHNOLOGY, SUCH AS EQUINE FACIAL RECOGNITION17
SOFTWARE, TO SUPPORT IMMUNOCONTRACEPTION ; AND18
(e) C
OORDINATING WITH EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO PROVIDE19
TRAINING OF, CERTIFICATION OF, OR INTERNSHIPS TO INDIVIDUALS20
ADMINISTERING IMMUNOCONTRACEPTION .21
35-66-109. Duties and powers. (1) T
HE DEPARTMENT MAY22
PRIMARILY ADDRESS FEDERALLY PROTECTED WILD HORSES BUT MAY ALSO23
ADDRESS NONFEDERALLY PROTECTED WILD HORSES .24
(2) T
O IMPLEMENT THIS ARTICLE 66, THE DEPARTMENT MAY, WHEN25
REASONABLE AND EFFECTIVE :26
(a) E
XPAND EFFORTS TO ENGAGE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND27
1283
-6- FOUNDATIONS, SUCH AS COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS AND VETERANS '1
ORGANIZATIONS, THAT ARE NOT NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH WILD2
HORSE ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS ;3
(b) E
NGAGE INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES FOR FUNDING ,4
PROMOTION, AND EDUCATION THROUGH HORSE SPONSORSHIPS THAT5
LICENSE, LEVERAGE, OR USE ICONIC WILD HORSE IMAGERY; AND6
(c) D
EVELOP AN ENGAGING LOGO AND BRAND TO EMOTIONALLY7
AND FINANCIALLY CONNECT THE PUBLIC AND POTENTIAL SUPPORTERS TO8
THE PURPOSES DESCRIBED IN THIS ARTICLE 66.9
(3) T
HE DEPARTMENT MAY PROVIDE STAFF , RESOURCES, OR10
INFORMATION TO:11
(a) D
EVELOP A SYSTEM OF SHARED EQUIPMENT AND STAFF12
EXPERTISE TO LOAN TO PRIVATE ADOPTERS , SANCTUARIES, PRESERVES,13
AND REFUGES;14
(b) D
EVELOP TRAINING PROGRAMS AND CERTIFICATIONS FOR15
HORSE TRAINERS TO ASSIST IN MAKING HORSES MORE ADOPTABLE AND IN16
TRAINING PEOPLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL HORSE ADOPTERS ;17
(c) C
OOPERATE WITH THE BUREAU TO DEVELOP ADDITIONAL18
TRAINING, HOLDING, OR ADOPTION OPPORTUNITIES; AND19
(d) C
OOPERATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO20
CREATE AND EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS CONFINED IN A21
CORRECTIONAL FACILITY TO HELP THE DEPARTMENT IMPLEMENT THIS22
ARTICLE 66.23
35-66-110. Wild horse advisory committee - membership -24
definition - repeal - subject to review. (1) A
S USED IN THIS SECTION,25
"
ADVISORY COMMITTEE" MEANS THE WILD HORSE ADVISORY COMMITTEE26
CREATED IN SUBSECTION (2) OF THIS SECTION.27
1283
-7- (2) THE WILD HORSE ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS CREATED IN THE1
DEPARTMENT TO ADVISE THE COMMISSIONER AND THE DEPARTMENT ON2
ISSUES CONCERNING WILD HORSES IN COLORADO BEGINNING ON JULY 1,3
2026.4
(3) T
HE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF AT LEAST FOURTEEN5
MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING REPRESENTATION :6
(a) T
HE COMMISSIONER SHALL APPOINT :7
(I) A
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GOVERNOR 'S OFFICE;8
(II) A
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL9
RESOURCES;10
(III) A
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COLORADO TOURISM OFFICE;11
(IV) A
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT ;12
(V) A
N AT-LARGE REPRESENTATIVE, APPOINTED
IN CONSULTATION13
WITH THE MAJORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE AND THE MAJORITY LEADER14
OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ;15
(VI) A
N AT-LARGE REPRESENTATIVE , APPOINTED
IN16
CONSULTATION WITH THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE AND THE17
MINORITY LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ;18
(VII) T
WO REPRESENTATIVES OF NONPROFIT ADVOCACY19
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ADVOCATE FOR WILD
HORSES, APPOINTED IN20
CONSULTATION WITH THE MAJORITY LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF21
REPRESENTATIVES;22
(VIII) A
RESIDENT OF THE WESTERN
SLOPE, APPOINTED IN23
CONSULTATION WITH THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE ;24
(IX) A
REPRESENTATIVE OF A NONPROFIT ENVIRONMENTAL25
CONSERVATION
ORGANIZATION, APPOINTED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE26
MAJORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE ;27
1283
-8- (X) TWO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE RANCHING AND GRAZING1
PERMIT HOLDER COMMUNITY , APPOINTED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE2
MINORITY LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ;3
(XI) A
REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH OF THE LOCAL ON -RANGE4
WILD HORSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT MAINTAIN MEMORANDA OF5 UNDERSTANDING WITH THE BUREAU TO CONDUCT ON-RANGE ACTIVITIES;6
AND7
(XII) A
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATE BOARD OF LAND8
COMMISSIONERS; AND9
(b) (I) T
HE COLORADO STATE DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU MAY10
REPRESENT THE BUREAU OR MAY APPOINT A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE11
BUREAU;12
(II) T
HE SOUTHERN UTE INDIAN TRIBE MAY APPOINT A13
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TRIBE;14
(III) T
HE UTE MOUNTAIN UTE TRIBE MAY APPOINT A15
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TRIBE; AND16
(IV) T
HE REGION TWO REGIONAL FORESTER OF THE UNITED17
S
TATES FOREST SERVICE MAY APPOINT A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UNITED18
S
TATES FOREST SERVICE.19
(4) T
HE COMMISSIONER SHALL MAKE THE INITIAL APPOINTMENTS20
TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE NO LATER THAN JULY 1, 2026.21
(5) E
ACH MEMBER OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHO IS22
APPOINTED UNDER SUBSECTION (3) OF THIS SECTION SERVES AT THE23
PLEASURE OF THE APPOINTING AUTHORITY . THE TERM OF APPOINTMENT IS24
FOUR YEARS.25
(6) M
EMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SERVE WIT HOUT26
COMPENSATION AND WITHOUT REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES FROM THE27
1283
-9- STATE; EXCEPT THAT MEMBERS WHO ARE STATE EMPLOYEES MAY BE1
COMPENSATED AS STATE EMPLOYEES , AND MEMBERS WHO ARE2
LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS ARE PAID IN THE SAME MANNER AS PROVIDED IN3
SECTION 2-2-307 (3).4
(7) (a) T
HE COMMISSIONER SHALL ORGANIZE AND CALL THE FIRST5
MEETING OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE .6
(b) T
HE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL ELECT A CHAIR FROM7
AMONG ITS MEMBERS TO SERVE FOR A TERM NOT TO EXCEED TWO YEARS ,8
AS DETERMINED BY THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE .9
(c) T
HE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL MEET AT LEAST ONCE EVERY10
YEAR. THE CHAIR OR THE COMMISSIONER MAY CALL SUCH ADDITIONAL11
MEETINGS AS ARE NECESSARY FOR THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO12
COMPLETE ITS DUTIES.13
(8) T
HE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL ADVISE THE COMMISSIONER14
AND THE DEPARTMENT CONCERNING :15
(a) F
INANCIAL AND MATERIAL SUPPORT FOR WILD HORSE16
ADOPTERS, SANCTUARIES, PRESERVES, AND REFUGES IN COLORADO;17
(b) T
HE CONTENT AND DELIVERY OF OUTREACH , EDUCATION,18
TRAINING, AND CERTIFICATION REGARDING WILD HORSES IN COLORADO;19
(c) W
ORKING WITH THE BUREAU AND WILD HORSE PRESERVES ,20
SANCTUARIES, AND REFUGES TO COORDINATE THE MOVEMENT OF WILD21
HORSES OFF HERD MANAGEMENT AREAS AND OTHER LANDS INTO22
TEMPORARY HOLDING , ADOPTION EVENTS, AND OTHER NONLETHAL
23
OPTIONS;24
(d) C
OORDINATING OR ASSISTING WITH COMPLIANCE CHECKS TO25
ENSURE THAT ADOPTED WILD HORSES ARE WELL CARED FOR AND THAT26
WILD HORSE ADOPTERS HAVE THE SUPPORT NEEDED TO SUCCESSFULLY27
1283
-10- CARE FOR WILD HORSES;1
(e) C
OORDINATING AND COOPERATING WITH THE BUREAU AND2
OTHER PEOPLE TO ENSURE COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION ABOUT3
ADOPTION AND ADOPTION SUCCESS IS WIDELY PUBLICIZED AND IS4
AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND WILD HORSE ADOPTERS IN A TIMELY5
MANNER;
6
(f) A
NY DIFFERENT OR ADDITIONAL SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN7
IMMUNOCONTRACEPTIVE FERTILITY CONTROL METHOD THE DEPARTMENT8
MAY CONSIDER USING; AND
9
(g) H
UMANE, NONLETHAL ALTERNATIVES TO LONG -TERM
10
CONFINEMENT FOR WILD HORSES THAT ARE TAKEN OFF COLORADO'S WILD11
HORSE RANGES OR HELD IN FEDERAL HOLDING FACILITIES .12
(9) T
HIS SECTION IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2030.13
B
EFORE THE REPEAL, THIS SECTION IS SCHEDULED FOR REVIEW IN14
ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 2-3-1203.15
SECTION 7. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 2-3-1203, add16
(21)(a)(II) as follows:17
2-3-1203. Sunset review of advisory committees - legislative18
declaration - definition - repeal. (21) (a) The following statutory19
authorizations for designated advisory committees will repeal on20
September 1, 2030:21
(II) T
HE WILD HORSE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CREATED IN SECTION22
35-66-110.23
SECTION 8. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act24
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the25
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except26
that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V27
1283
-11- of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this1
act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take2
effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in3
November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the4
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.5
1283
-12-