Committee advances $5 million species conservation appropriation to Appropriations
April 23, 2026 | 2026 Legislature CO, Colorado
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The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on April 23 unanimously moved Senate Bill 165, the Department of Natural Resources' annual Species Conservation Trust Fund appropriation, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Sponsor Senator Roberts described the bill as the annual mechanism that authorizes DNR to fund conservation research and recovery projects for threatened or endangered species, noting it appropriates $5,000,000 from the severance tax operational fund. "This is an annual bill that will appropriate $5,000,000 from the severance tax operational fund for the conservation research and study efforts on threatened and or endangered species here in Colorado," Roberts told the committee.
Co-prime sponsor Senator Pelton summarized how the funds will be split among CPW and CWCB priorities, citing specific allocations: $1,250,000 for native terrestrial wildlife conservation and $1,250,000 for native aquatic wildlife conservation on the CPW side; $2,380,000 for the Upper Colorado endangered fish recovery program and additional small line items including $60,000 for Rio Grande native fish protection and $60,000 for selenium management and monitoring in the Gunnison River Basin on the CWCB side.
Witnesses from conservation organizations and DNR staff urged support. Sarah Orange testified for the Colorado Water Congress in support of SB165; Gaspar Perricone of the Colorado Wildlife Conservation Project noted the fund helps protect the state’s 960 species beyond the relatively small set pursued by big-game interests. Tim Brass, assistant director for Parks, Wildlife and Lands at DNR, described the fund’s origin (1998) and noted the FY26 long bill included the $5 million appropriation split between CPW and CWCB priorities.
Senator Roberts moved the bill to Appropriations and the committee polled; members voiced support (one member specifically cited the lesser prairie chicken) and the motion passed unanimously. The committee adjourned after completing the item.
Next steps: SB165 will go to the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
Sponsor Senator Roberts described the bill as the annual mechanism that authorizes DNR to fund conservation research and recovery projects for threatened or endangered species, noting it appropriates $5,000,000 from the severance tax operational fund. "This is an annual bill that will appropriate $5,000,000 from the severance tax operational fund for the conservation research and study efforts on threatened and or endangered species here in Colorado," Roberts told the committee.
Co-prime sponsor Senator Pelton summarized how the funds will be split among CPW and CWCB priorities, citing specific allocations: $1,250,000 for native terrestrial wildlife conservation and $1,250,000 for native aquatic wildlife conservation on the CPW side; $2,380,000 for the Upper Colorado endangered fish recovery program and additional small line items including $60,000 for Rio Grande native fish protection and $60,000 for selenium management and monitoring in the Gunnison River Basin on the CWCB side.
Witnesses from conservation organizations and DNR staff urged support. Sarah Orange testified for the Colorado Water Congress in support of SB165; Gaspar Perricone of the Colorado Wildlife Conservation Project noted the fund helps protect the state’s 960 species beyond the relatively small set pursued by big-game interests. Tim Brass, assistant director for Parks, Wildlife and Lands at DNR, described the fund’s origin (1998) and noted the FY26 long bill included the $5 million appropriation split between CPW and CWCB priorities.
Senator Roberts moved the bill to Appropriations and the committee polled; members voiced support (one member specifically cited the lesser prairie chicken) and the motion passed unanimously. The committee adjourned after completing the item.
Next steps: SB165 will go to the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
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