HB 23-1066 Colorado House · 2023 Regular Session

Public Access Landlocked Publicly Owned Land

Summary
Section 1 of the bill authorizes an individual to move from one corner of public land to another corner of public land where 2 public parcels meet 2 private parcels and share a common border, without being liable for criminal or civil trespass, if: 2 parcels of public land touch so that the individual can reasonably step from one parcel of public land to the other parcel of public land, or if there's a fence, could make the step as if there were not a fence; The individual moves over private land only as much as necessary to cross from one parcel of public land to the other; The individual does not step on or stand on the privately owned land or touch a fence on or other improvement to the privately owned land, but the individual may use mechanical means to move over the privately owned land; and The individual does not use a vehicle other than a wheelchair to cross over the private land. This authorization does not apply to the following: Moving over an improvement to public land that is designed to be occupied by individuals; Entering public land to use it in a way that violates the law; Moving over public land that the governing entity has prohibited the general public from entering or has controlled access to. Section 1 also prohibits a landowner from erecting an improvement to such a corner that is more than 54 inches high within 4 feet of the corner. Section 2 requires a court to dismiss a trespass tort if the defendant has complied with section 1. A successful defendant is awarded costs, including attorney fees. Section 3 instructs the parks and wildlife commission to promulgate rules codifying the actions allowed in section 1. The division of parks and wildlife will publicize the rules.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2023
Committee Review
May 2023
House Passage
May 2023
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 19, 2023 Last action May 7, 2023
Floor votes · House May 5, 2023

How they voted

585
Passed
Total votes 63
May 5, 2023
D Democratic45
43 Yea 2 Nay
95% Yea
R Republican18
15 Yea 3 Nay
83% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
10
Key actions
4
Committee
4
May 7, 2023
Upper · Passed
Senate Committee on Appropriations Postpone Indefinitely
upper
May 5, 2023
Introduced
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Appropriations
upper
May 5, 2023
Lower · Passed
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
lower
Apr 29, 2023
Lower · Passed
House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
lower
Mar 13, 2023
Committee
House Committee on Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Refer Amended to Appropriations
lower
Feb 27, 2023
Lower · Passed
House Committee on Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
lower
Jan 19, 2023
Introduced
Introduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources
lower
3 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors