SB 26-157

Senate Bill 26-157 in Colorado updates the process for determining if a town has been abandoned. It allows individuals like registered voters and landowners, not just counties, to apply for an abandonment determination when a town hasn't held elections or doesn’t have officials for five years, or when it faces critical issues such as failing water infrastructure. If a town is struggling with its water system, the state can transfer up to $100,000 from one fund to another to help maintain the water supply until the situation is resolved. The bill has been signed into law, meaning these changes are now in effect and will impact how towns that are no longer functioning are handled by the government.

Official Summary

The act allows for a county, a landowner in the town, or a registered elector in the town to apply to the secretary of state (secretary) to determine a town is abandoned when a town:Has no board of trustees or town clerk;Is unable to hold an election; andOwns or operates infrastructure critical for the treatment or delivery of water to residents.      The act authorizes the department of public health and environment to transfer up to $100,000 from the small communities water and wastewater grant fund to the department of public safety to cover the cost of operation and maintenance of a town's water system if an application for abandonment of the town has been filed with the secretary and the town has a water system that is failing or is likely to fail.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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