SB 25-115
Fiscal Note
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
SB 25-115: TREE NURSERY SPENDING AUTHORITY EXTENSION
Prime Sponsors:
Sen. Bridges; Kirkmeyer
Rep. Sirota; Taggart
Published for: Senate Appropriations
Drafting number: LLS 25-0841
Fiscal Analyst:
Josh Abram, 303-866-3561
josh.abram@coleg.gov
Version: Initial Fiscal Note
Date: February 3, 2025
Fiscal note status: The fiscal note reflects the introduced bill, which was recommended by the Joint
Budget Committee.
Summary Information
Overview. The bill extends spending authority for renovations to the State Nursery by two years.
Types of impacts. The bill is projected to affect the following areas through FY 2026-27:
State Expenditures
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 $0 $0
State Expenditures
1
$0 $0
Transferred Funds $0 $0
Change in TABOR Refunds $0 $0
Change in State FTE 0.0 FTE 0.0 FTE
1
The bill extends the spending authority for prior year General Fund appropriations, which if unspent,
would otherwise revert back to the General Fund and be available for other uses. See State
Expenditures section for more details. Page 2
February 3, 2025 SB 25-115
Summary of Legislation
The bill extends spending authority through FY 2026-27 for money appropriated to the
Colorado State University System for use by the Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) to
renovate and expand the seedling tree nursery.
Background
In 2022, the General Assembly passed House Bill 22-1323, which required that CSFS upgrade the nursery
greenhouses, shade house structures, container and shipping supplies, and conduct an analysis of priority
investments necessary to address reforestation needs in response to more frequent weather and disease
incidents. The General Assembly appropriated $5 million in FY 2022-23 for these upgrades with spending
authority through FY 2023-24.
In 2023, the General Assembly passed House Bill 23-1060, which appropriated about $5.4 million
for the remaining costs and gave the CSFS spending authority through the current FY 2024-25.
This bill extends the spending authority until FY 2026-27.
State Expenditures
Including federal awards and the extended spending authority under this bill, the CSFS is
expected to spend roughly $7.8 million in FY2025-26 and $2.6M in FY 2026-27 to complete the
nursery upgrades. The CSFS is anticipating that the project will be completed during FY 2025-26,
but with certain payments extending into FY 2026-27, following completion of the project and
all deliverables.
Effective Date
The bill takes effect upon signature of the Governor, or upon becoming law without his
signature.
State and Local Government Contacts
Joint Budget Committee
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.