Committee advances bill encouraging native plants on state land to support pollinators; amendment delays action until funding secured

Representative Froelich asked the House Finance Committee to advance HB 11‑32, legislation that encourages the use of native plants on state lands to support pollinator habitat, conserve water and improve long‑term land management.

The sponsor said agencies have worked with Colorado State University (CSU) and other departments and indicated they could implement parts of the bill using existing continuously appropriated cash funds, though some elements would depend on gifts, grants or donations. “We will be going to appropriations and they’ll make that determination whether those continuously appropriated cash fund sources are indeed appropriate,” Representative Froelich said.

Supporters and details
Witnesses emphasized the ecological and economic value of pollinators and urged targeted amendments. Ryan Skluzak, an economics student at the University of Colorado Boulder, said modest vegetation-management changes on state lands could measurably increase pollinator habitat at relatively low marginal cost and suggested targeted restoration, cost-sharing for private landowners and regional priority mapping.

Joyce Kennedy, director of People and Pollinators Action Network, noted the bill’s native-plant study element would carry no general-fund obligation because it is contingent on gifts, grants and donations, and would sunset in 2031 if funding isn’t found. “CSU Extension as well as PPAN are in a good position to seek out sources of funding for this study and we’re committed to doing that,” Kennedy told the committee.

Committee concerns
Members pressed about whether the bill would require new plantings or training and whether it would divert agency resources. Representative Brooks and others asked how to ensure the requirements won’t pull staff away from road safety or other core duties. The sponsor and witnesses said agencies had been engaged in negotiations and that the bill language and amendment are intended to be flexible, allowing agencies to implement priorities without large new expenditures when possible.

Amendment and vote
Sponsor amendment L003 allows CSU and agencies to delay implementation until they receive gifts, grants, donations or until the program is fully funded; the committee adopted L003 without objection. The committee then voted to send HB 11‑32 as amended to the Committee on Appropriations.

What’s next
HB 11‑32 will go to Appropriations for fiscal review and any funding decisions. Implementation details—seed sourcing, training, and agency spending—will be determined in later budget and rulemaking processes.