Amendments for SB25-053
Senate Journal, March 21
After consideration on the merits, the Committee recommends that SB25-053 be amended
as follows, and as so amended, be referred to the Committee on Appropriations with
favorable recommendation.
Amend printed bill, page 2, after line 1 insert:
"SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly
finds and declares that:
(a) The history of the American bison is deeply intertwined with the
history of indigenous peoples in North America. Once roaming the continent
in vast herds numbering in the tens of millions, bison are a cornerstone of life
for many American Indians and are revered as sacred relatives. Many American
Indians and Tribal Nations continue to rely upon bison for survival, including
for food, shelter, and clothing.
(b) Recognizing the bison's critical role in the livelihood of indigenous
peoples and in the campaign to continue European claim and control over lands
inhabited by indigenous peoples, the United States government implemented
a scorched-earth policy, granting military commanders the authority to decimate
bison populations;
(c) Over a span of 40 years, more than 30 million bison were killed.
This mass extermination was not only wasteful and inhumane but also a
calculated effort to undermine the cultural and physical survival of indigenous
peoples.
(d) Colonel Richard Irving Dodge infamously declared, "Kill every
buffalo you can! Every buffalo dead is an Indian gone." The policy of killing
bison had devastating impacts on American Indians and Tribal Nations and
played a significant role in the federal government' s efforts to destroy tribal
sovereignty. The resulting food and cultural scarcity played a significant role in
the forced relocation of the plains peoples from Colorado in the late 1860s. It
also contributed to the pressures restricting the Ute people to western Colorado.
(e) By the time Colorado achieved statehood in 1876, hunting and
habitat destruction caused by the development of farms, cities, and railroads had
reduced the bison population to only a few hundred south of the Platte river;
(f) Colorado seeks to protect, serve, and honor the enduring bond
between bison and American Indians and Tribal Nations by classifying certain
bison as wildlife; and
(g) This action represents a step toward making amends for the
attempted genocide of American Indians through the eradication of their food
source, the bison.".
Renumber succeeding sections accordingly.
Page 2, lines 2 and 3, strike "(2), (29)," and substitute "(2)".
Page 2, strike lines 14 through 16.
Page 3, strike line 1 and substitute "BISON, BISON LEGALLY REDUCED TO
CAPTIVITY, OR BISON THAT HAVE ESCAPED LAWFUL CAPTIVITY;".
Page 3, after line 1 insert:
"(II) BISON OWNED BY OR LAWFULLY REDUCED TO CAPTIVITY BY AN
INDIAN TRIBE; OR".
Renumber succeeding subparagraph accordingly.
Page 3, line 2, strike "determined to be" and substitute "determined to be
CLASSIFIED AS".
Page 3, strike line 5 and substitute:
"(d) Such determination within this statute shall A CLASSIFICATION
MADE UNDER".
Page 3, line 6, strike "(51)(c)(II)" and substitute "(51)(c)(III)".
Page 3, strike lines 12 through 19 and substitute "takes effect January 1, 2026;
except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article
V of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act
within the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly,
then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless approved by the
people at the general election to be held in November 2026 and, in such case,
will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the
governor.".
Senate Journal, April 11
After consideration on the merits, the Committee recommends that SB25-053 be amended
as follows, and as so amended, be referred to the Committee of the Whole with favorable
recommendation.
Amend printed bill, page 3, after line 10 insert:
"SECTION 2. Appropriation. For the 2025-26 state fiscal year,
$75,000 is appropriated to the department of natural resources for use by the
division of parks and wildlife. This appropriation is from the wildlife cash fund
created in section 33-1-112 (1)(a), C.R.S. To implement this act, the division
may use this appropriation for wildlife operations.".
Renumber succeeding section accordingly.
Page 1, line 102, strike "LIVESTOCK." and substitute "LIVESTOCK, AND, IN
CONNECTION THEREWITH, MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.".
Senate Journal, April 15
SB25-053 by Senator(s) Danielson; also Representative(s) Joseph, Duran--Concerning the
classification of bison as wildlife unless classified as livestock.
Amendment No. 1, Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee Amendment.
(Printed in Senate Journal, March 21, page(s) 534-536 and placed in members' bill files.)
Amendment No. 2, Appropriations Committee Amendment.
(Printed in Senate Journal, April 11, page(s) 813 and placed in members' bill files.)
Amendment No. 3(L.011), by Senator Danielson.
Amend the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee Report, dated March
20, 2025, page 1, after line 9 insert:
"(b) Among many tribal nations, the buffalo is regarded as a sacred
relative. This relationship is deeply embedded in ceremonial traditions,
including the Sundance, the Buffalo Ceremony, and the White-Buffalo
Calf-Woman teachings. These ceremonies are not simply historical relics but
are actively practiced today, reinforcing the spiritual, cultural, and communal
well-being of native people. Additionally, many other tribes have traditional
buffalo dances and other sacred rites honoring the buffalo's spiritual role. These
ceremonies are vital to the continuation of traditional ways of life and
connection to the natural world.".
Reletter succeeding paragraphs accordingly.
Amendment No. 4(L.010), by Senator Danielson.
Amend the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee Report, dated March
20, 2025, page 2, strike lines 13 through 24 and substitute:
"Page 2 of the printed bill, strike lines 17 through 27.
Page 3 of the bill, strike lines 1 through 10 and substitute:
"(51) (a) "Wildlife" means wild vertebrates, mollusks, and crustaceans,
whether alive or dead, including any part, product, egg, or offspring thereof,
that exist as a species in a natural wild state in their place of origin, presently
or historically, except those species determined to be domestic animals by rule
or regulation by OF the commission and the state agricultural commission. Such
determination within this statute shall not affect other statutes or court decisions
determining injury to persons or damage to property which THAT depend on the
classification of animals by such statute or court decision as wild or domestic
animals.
(b) "WILDLIFE" DOES NOT INCLUDE:
(I) PRIVATELY OWNED CATTLE, INCLUDING PRIVATELY OWNED BISON,
BISON LEGALLY REDUCED TO CAPTIVITY, OR BISON THAT HAVE ESCAPED
LAWFUL CAPTIVITY; OR
(II) BISON OWNED BY OR LAWFULLY REDUCED TO CAPTIVITY BY AN
INDIAN TRIBE.".".
Amendment No. 5(L.009), by Senator Danielson.
Amend printed bill, page 3, after line 10 insert:
"SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 33-4-102, add (1.4)(cc)
as follows:
33-4-102. Types of licenses and fees - rules. (1.4) Except as otherwise
provided in subsections (1.5) and (1.6) of this section, the division may issue
the following resident and nonresident licenses and shall collect the following
fees:
Fees
Resident Nonresident
(cc) BISON 374.22 2,756.74
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 33-6-109, amend (3)(b)
and (3.4)(a)(VII); and add (3.4)(a)(VIII) as follows:
33-6-109. Wildlife - illegal possession. (3) A person who THAT
violates subsection (1) or (2) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and,
depending upon the wildlife involved, shall be punished upon conviction by a
fine or imprisonment, or both, and license suspension points or suspension or
revocation of license privileges as follows:
(b) For each BISON, bald eagle, golden eagle, rocky mountain goat,
desert bighorn sheep, American peregrine falcon, or rocky mountain bighorn
sheep, a fine of not less than one thousand dollars and not more than one
hundred thousand dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than one year in the
county jail, or both such fine and such imprisonment, and an assessment of
twenty points. Upon conviction, the commission may suspend any or all license
privileges of the person for a period of one year to life. A person who THAT
possesses all or a part of a bald eagle or golden eagle shall not be in violation
of this section if the possession is authorized by 50 CFR 22.
(3.4) (a) In addition to the criminal penalties listed in subsection (3) of
this section, there may be assessed a further penalty in the following amount for
each of the following big game animals illegally taken:
(VII) For each pronghorn antelope with a horn length of at least
fourteen inches, four thousand dollars; OR
(VIII) FOR EACH BISON, TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS.
SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 33-6-110, amend (1)
introductory portion and (1)(a) as follows:
33-6-110. Division action to recover possession and value of wildlife
unlawfully taken. (1) The division may bring and maintain a civil action
against any person, in the name of the people of the state, to recover possession
or value or both possession and value of any wildlife taken in violation of
articles 1 to 6 of this title TITLE 33. A writ of replevin may issue in such an
action without bond. No previous demand for possession shall be necessary. If
costs or damages are adjudged in favor of the defendant, the same shall be paid
out of the wildlife cash fund CREATED IN SECTION 33-1-112. Neither the
pendency of such civil action nor a criminal prosecution for the same taking
shall be a bar to the other; nor shall anything in this section affect the right of
seizure under other provisions of articles 1 to 6 of this title TITLE 33. The
following shall be considered the minimum value of the wildlife unlawfully
taken or possessed and may be recovered in addition to recovery of possession
of the wildlife:
(a) For each BISON, eagle, member of an endangered species, rocky
mountain goat, moose, rocky mountain bighorn
sheep, or lynx ...........................................................................$ 1,000".
Renumber succeeding section accordingly.
As amended, ordered engrossed and placed on the calendar for third reading and final
passage.