SB 23-295

Senate Bill 23-295 establishes a Colorado River Drought Task Force that will work on developing recommendations for state legislation aimed at addressing drought in the Colorado river basin. The task force, which began meeting by July 31, 2023, includes members who are diverse and have experience with water issues. It also requires the creation of a sub-task force to focus specifically on tribal matters related to water conservation. The bill allocates $200,000 for its implementation and mandates that both task forces submit their findings by December 15, 2023. This bill was signed into law on May 20, 2023, and is now effective.

Official Summary

The act creates the Colorado river drought task force (task force). The members of the task force must, to the extent practicable, reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the state and have experience with a wide range of water issues. The act directs the executive committee of the legislative council to hire a facilitator to support the work of the task force. The task force must begin meeting no later than July 31, 2023, and may hold up to 12 meetings in the 2023 legislative interim. The purpose of the task force is to develop recommendations for state legislation that provides additional tools for the Colorado water conservation board to collaborate with the Colorado river water conservation district, the southwestern water conservation district, and other relevant stakeholders in the development of programs that address drought in the Colorado river basin and interstate commitments related to the Colorado river and its tributaries through water conservation (recommendations). The act also requires the task force to establish a sub-task force to study tribal matters (sub-task force) and provide additional recommendations for state legislation. No later than December 15, 2023, the task force and sub-task force must submit a report that includes the recommendations and a summary of the task force's and sub-task force's work to the water resources and agriculture review committee. The act is repealed July 1, 2024. For the 2023-24 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $200,000 to the legislative department for use by the legislative council to implement the act. APPROVED by Governor May 20, 2023 EFFECTIVE May 20, 2023 (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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