HB 17-1141

House Bill 17-1141, which is now law in Colorado, protects range allotment owners from federal employees who might unfairly take away their rights related to the land they use for grazing. If a federal employee acts improperly and deprives an owner of these rights without fair treatment or compensation, it becomes a serious crime with penalties including fines up to $500,000 and jail time up to five years. The bill also allows owners who suffer losses due to such actions to sue the responsible parties for damages. This law affects range allotment owners in Colorado and federal employees who manage these lands. Since it has been signed into law, it is now enforceable by the legal system in Colorado.

Official Summary

The bill makes it illegal for a person who is a federal employee acting under color of law to take any action: That deprives a range allotment owner of any property right appurtenant, inherent, or related to the range allotment, including the right to possess, use, dispose of, exclude other from, or defend the range allotment; and For which the deprivation offends due process or is a physical or regulatory taking without the payment of just compensation. A violation is an unclassified felony punishable by a fine of up to $500,000 and imprisonment of up to 5 years, or both. An owner who suffers a loss as a result of the person's actions also has a civil right of action to recover damages. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

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