Bill Tracker

This bill would require the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) to develop a statewide program to provide financial incentives for voluntary replacement of irrigated turf with water wise landscaping.  As the state has been deemed to be in a megadrought situation, it needs to conserve as much water as possible, and to encourage any water wise conservation measures.  It is scheduled for a hearing in House Agriculture on 2/28.

UPDATE: 

This bill would require the CWCB to develop a program to provide financial incentives for voluntary replacement of irrigated turf with water wise landscaping.  The bill was heard on 2/28 in House Agriculture Committee and had 2 amendments, one adding language to create and maintain defensible spaces to reduce wildfire risk when replacement is considered and the second dealing with funding continues to the board created in the CWCB.  The bill passed unanimously and was sent to Appropriations.

Concerning measures to incentivize water-wise landscapes, and, in connection therewith, creating a state program to finance the voluntary replacement of irrigated turf and making an appropriation.

SB 29, Concerning Water Speculation in the State, is a bill originating from the Water Resources Review Interim Committee.  It sets out a process that prohibits a purchaser of agricultural water rights that are in a mutual ditch company from engaging in investment water speculation and from profiting from another person for nonuse of all or a portion of the water right.  The latter is described in Colorado Water law.  If water speculation is determined, it authorizes the attorney general to bring civil action against a complainant when the state engineer refers the matter.  In a time of extreme weather conditions and a need for all water to stay in the state for beneficial use, it is necessary to haves this legislation in the toolbox.  LWVCO supports this bill.