Aurora staff flags three state bills: rural revegetation bill and competing data‑center proposals

Staff provided council members with a legislative update on three bills that could affect local water and land use.

A staff member identified in the transcript as Shnie said HB 261340 is a revegetation measure focused on District 2 intended to slow the conversion of irrigated agricultural land and prevent dust‑bowl conditions in the Arkansas Valley. "Their goal is to really slow down... when land is dried up and the water is removed from agriculture that the ground does not get revegetated and therefore it really does cause a bit of a dust bowl issue," the presenter said. Aurora has discussed possible amendments with bill proponents and delayed action in Colorado Water Congress by proponents' request while amendments are incorporated.

Shnie grouped two other bills (SB26102 and HB261030) as competing data‑center measures: SB26102 would require reporting and set efficiency parameters for data centers' water and power use; HB261030 would offer tax incentives that favor data‑center attraction. "SB26102 is... trying to discourage or at least put some parameters around data centers... requiring efficiencies for both water and power," the staff member said, while noting Aurora already maintains a large water user guide that sets local parameters.

Committee members asked staff to continue monitoring hearings (the presenter noted an upcoming hearing date on the revegetation bill) and to report proposed amendments when available. The Municipal League and other regional bodies are coordinating positions and may follow Aurora's lead on amendments.

Next steps: staff will track amendments and hearings and report back to the committee.