Senate panel advances Outdoor Opportunities Act after extensive testimony from counties, conservation groups and recreation industries

Senators Marchman and Rich, prime sponsors of House Bill 1008 (the Colorado Outdoor Opportunities Act), told the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on March 26 that the bill would formalize Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) as the lead state agency to implement Colorado’s Outdoor Strategy and add "boots on the ground" capacity for regional recreation planning.

Senator Rich said the bill aims to manage growth in outdoor recreation — hunting, angling, hiking, biking, snowmobiling and boating — to protect wildlife, working lands and infrastructure while supporting an industry the sponsors said contributes tens of billions to the state economy. She emphasized that the bill does not expand recreational access where it currently does not exist and that regional coordinators would facilitate local planning.

CPW assistant director Fletcher Jacobs testified in support and framed the bill as a coordination and capacity-building measure rather than a mandate: "This bill does not create any new mandates for entities other than CPW," he said, while describing the Outdoor Strategy’s goals and the need to reduce conflict between users and protect habitat.

Several supporting witnesses — including Jackie Miller of Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), Matt Nunez of the Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, conservation groups and industry organizations — urged committee approval and said the bill would strengthen regional partnerships and data-driven planning. GOCO clarified the bill would not affect lottery proceeds it invests. Industry and recreation groups (snowmobile clubs, OHV coalitions, resort investors, and regional trail advocates) urged action to make recreation sustainable and maintain Colorado’s economic competitiveness in outdoor tourism.

County officials offered mixed testimony. A number of county commissioners moved from opposition to support after negotiated amendments with Colorado Counties Inc. (CCI) and DNR, but some remained in an amend or opposed position. Rio Blanco County Commissioner Kelly Scrichfield testified in opposition, arguing the bill is "in search of a problem" that CPW already addresses and raising fiscal concerns about adding FTEs while the state faces a significant budget shortfall. Fletcher Jacobs and sponsors replied that the Outdoor Strategy is voluntary and that conservation easements and local participation remain owner- and community-led; sponsors also said the additional CPW capacity would be funded from existing cash funds, not the general fund.

The committee adopted amendment L009, which clarifies that CPW must engage local governments and give "appropriate consideration" to local priorities in regional planning — an amendment negotiated with CCI. After sponsor wrap-up and assurances about funding sources and continued stakeholder engagement, Senator Henriksen moved to refer HB1008 (as amended) to the Committee of the Whole or to Appropriations. The motion passed unanimously; the bill will proceed as amended for further consideration.

What remains unresolved from the hearing are practical funding gaps county officials described for roads, emergency services and other local infrastructure that can be strained by large visitation; commissioners urged that implementation include tangible support and data-sharing to address inequitable distribution of recreation-related costs.

Next steps: HB1008, as amended with L009, was referred to the Committee of the Whole (or Appropriations) for additional consideration.