SB 24-056

Senate Bill 24-056 requires out-of-state snowmobile owners or operators to obtain a special permit and pay a fee before using their snowmobiles on publicly owned land in Colorado. This new requirement also includes a search and rescue fee, similar to what is already required for in-state snowmobile users. The bill extends the registration requirements to all private land use and removes the previous commercial-use limitation. It will take effect on August 7, 2024, after being signed by the governor. This means that starting this summer, out-of-state visitors using snowmobiles in Colorado will need to get permits and pay fees to help fund trail maintenance and search and rescue operations.

Official Summary

The snowmobile recreation fund is used to, among other things, establish and maintain snowmobile trails and related facilities. A resident of Colorado who uses a snowmobile on publicly owned land must register the snowmobile and pay a fee, which is deposited in the snowmobile recreation fund. The act replaces a $5 per registration cap with a 17% cap on the amount of the fee that can be used for administration purposes. The act creates an out-of-state snowmobile permit that an owner or operator of an out-of-state snowmobile must obtain and display to drive the snowmobile on publicly owned land. To get the permit, the owner must pay a fee in an amount set by the parks and wildlife commission. Exceptions are created for snowmobiles: Owned by governments; Operated in an organized event authorized by the government with jurisdiction over the land on which the snowmobile is operated; and Operated on publicly owned land for nonrecreational purposes. Concerning the requirement to register a snowmobile, the current exception on private-land commercial use is extended to all private land use by repealing the commercial use element. The fine for a violation is $100. Permits are valid for one year from October 1 to September 30 and are issued by agents of the director of the division of parks and wildlife. A search and rescue program pays for backcountry search and rescue operations. Snowmobile and off-highway vehicle registrations require the payment of a search and rescue fee, which entitles the payer of the fee to be covered by the program. The act adds the search and rescue fee to out-of-state snowmobile permits and off-highway use permits. APPROVED by Governor April 11, 2024 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Votes