HB 25-1023

House Bill 25-1023, which has been signed into law, requires people planning to build or significantly repair large fences in the Sangre de Cristo land grant lands to get approval from local governments if those governments choose to follow this rule. Local governments must review these fence projects and either approve them based on certain criteria or reject them within 60 days of receiving an application. The law allows for exceptions, such as fences needed for public utilities, schools, prisons, and wildlife management. This means that starting July 1, 2025, anyone wanting to build a large fence in these areas will need to check with their local government first if the government has opted into this requirement.

Official Summary

On or after July 1, 2025, the act requires a person, before commencing a project to install or substantially repair a contiguous fence of at least a specified certain size in the Sangre de Cristo land grant lands (covered fencing project), to submit an application for the covered fencing project to the local government with jurisdiction over the covered fencing project (application) if the local government has opted into the act's requirements. No later than 14 days after the local government's receipt of an application, the local government must publish notice of the application on the local government's website. No later than 60 days after the local government's receipt of an application, the local government must either approve or reject the application based on certain criteria; except that, despite the criteria, a local government may approve an application if it determines that the benefits of the covered fencing project outweigh the harms. If the local government finds that a covered fencing project presents no significant environmental impacts, then the local government shall not require a person commencing the covered fencing project to submit an application or pay a fee. The act does not apply to a covered fencing project that is necessary for a public utility or department of transportation project, an energy sector public works project, the safety or security of a public school or prison, or fences provided by the division of parks and wildlife. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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