SB 25-283
Fiscal Note
Legislative Council Staff
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature
SB 25-283: FUNDING WATER CONSE RVATION BOARD PROJEC TS
Prime Sponsors:
Sen. Roberts; Simpson
Rep. McCormick; Soper
Published for: Senate Finance
Drafting number: LLS 25-1041
Fiscal Analyst:
Josh Abram, 303-866-3561
josh.abram@coleg.gov
Version: First Revised Note
Date: April 11, 2025
Fiscal note status: The fiscal note reflects the introduced bill and is being revised to include additional
information and to correct a typographic error in the initial fiscal note.
Summary Information
Overview. The bill funds water projects in the Department of Natural Resources and directs transfers
between cash funds for appropriation to water-related projects.
Types of impacts. The bill is projected to affect the following areas in FY 2025-26:
State Expenditures
State Transfers
Local Government
Appropriations. For FY 2025-26, the bill appropriates a total of $53,980,000 to the Department of Natural
Resources and $500,000 to the Department of Agriculture.
Table 1
State Fiscal Impacts
Type of Impact
1
Budget Year
FY 2025-26
Out Year
FY 2026-27
State Revenue $0 $0
State Expenditures $66,958,500 $0
Transferred Funds $2,725,000 $0
Change in TABOR Refunds $0 $0
Change in State FTE 0.0 FTE 0.0 FTE
1
Fund sources for these impacts are shown in the tables below.
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April 11, 2025 SB 25-283
Table 1A
State Expenditures
Fund Source
Budget Year
FY 2025-26
Out Year
FY 2026-27
General Fund $0 $0
Cash Funds $66,958,500 $0
Federal Funds $0 $0
Centrally Appropriated $0 $0
Total Expenditures $66,958,500 $0
Total FTE 0.0 FTE 0.0 FTE
Table 1B
State Transfers
Fund Source
Budget Year
FY 2025-26
Out Year
FY 2026-27
Colorado Water Conservation Board Construction Fund -$2,500,000 $0
Water Efficiency Grant Program Fund -$225,000 $0
Colorado Water Conservation Board Litigation Fund $2,000,000 $0
Plant Health, Pest Control, and Environmental Protection Fund $500,000 $0
Severance Tax Perpetual Base Fund $225,000 $0
Net Transfer $0 $0
Summary of Legislation
In FY 2025-26, the bill allocates money for water projects as follows:
appropriates a total of $24,280,000 from the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB)
Construction Fund to the CWCB in the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for specified
water-related projects;
appropriates $29,200,000 from the Water Plan Implementation Cash Fund to the DNR;
transfers up to $2.0 million from the CWCB Construction Fund to restore the balance in the
Litigation Fund for legal issues related to water compact compliance;
transfers $500,000 from the CWCB Construction Fund to the Plant Health, Pest Control, and
Environmental Protection Cash Fund and appropriates the funds to the Department of
Agriculture; Page 3
April 11, 2025 SB 25-283
authorizes the CWCB to make a loan in an amount of $12,978,500 from the Severance Tax
Perpetual Base Cash Fund to the North Poudre Irrigation Company to support the Park
Creek Reservoir Expansion Project; and
eliminates the Office of Water Conservation in the DNR, transfers all responsibilities to the
CWCB, and transfers any remaining funds in the Water Efficiency Grant Program Cash Fund
to the Severance Tax Perpetual Base Fund.
State Transfers
In FY 2025-26, the bill makes the following transfers:
up to $2.0 million from the CWCB Construction Fund to the CWCB Litigation Fund;
$500,000 from the CWCB Construction Fund to the Plant Health, Pest Control, and
Environmental Protection Cash Fund; and
$225,000 from the Water Efficiency Grant Program Cash Fund to the Severance Tax
Perpetual Base Fund.
State Expenditures
The bill increases total state expenditures by about $67 million in FY 2025-26, paid from cash
funds.
Appropriations
For FY 2025-26, the bill appropriates $53,480,000 to the Department of Natural Resources for
water-related projects, and $500,000 to the Department of Agriculture for soil health programs.
The funds are available for the designated purposes until fully expended.
Loan Authorization
The bill includes authorization for the CWCB to loan $12,978,500 from the Severance Tax
Perpetual Base Fund to the North Poudre Irrigation Company for the completion of the Park
Creek Reservoir Expansion Project. These funds are available until fully expended. State
expenditures for loans is recovered in loan payments based on terms negotiated by the DNR;
loan repayment revenue will vary depending on the interest rates issued and the length of the
loan term. This fiscal note assumes that interest is calculated to pay the administrative costs to
originate and manage the loan, and that any state revenue from interest payments will be
minimal. Page 4
April 11, 2025 SB 25-283
Local Government
Funding provided by this bill may benefit local water districts and water providers.
Effective Date
The bill takes effect upon signature of the Governor, or upon becoming law without his
signature.
State Appropriations
For FY 2025-26, the bill includes appropriations totaling $53,980,000. These appropriations
include:
$24,280,000 from the Colorado Water Conservation Board Construction Cash Fund to the
Department of Natural Resources;
$29,200,000 from the Water Plan Implementation Cash Fund to the Department of Natural
Resources; and
$500,000 from the Plant Health, Pest Control, and Environmental Protection Cash Fund to
the Department of Agriculture.
State and Local Government Contacts
Agriculture Natural Resources
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.