HB 25-1014: Increasing Efficiency Division of Water Resources - Colorado

Rerevised (04/14/2025) → Revised (04/11/2025) · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised to clarify its status as being on second reading in the Senate rather than third reading unamended. A new provision was added requiring a $30 filing fee and a two-year construction window for reinstating conditional well permits, while also specifying that prior expiration orders are exempt from certain requirements.

Scope change

The bill now includes a new requirement for a $30 filing fee and a two-year construction deadline for conditional well permits, with an exemption for permits that expired through prior orders.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement that conditional well permits must be constructed within two years after issuance and accompanied by a $30 filing fee.

ENFORCEMENT

Added language specifying that the Commission will review its records and evidence provided to determine whether to reinstate conditional permits.

EXEMPTIONS

Added an exemption stating that the new permit requirements do not apply to permits that were formally expired through orders issued prior to the amendment.

TECHNICAL

Updated the revision status from 'Rerevised' to 'Revised' to reflect that amendments were adopted on second reading in the Senate.

PA1 (01/29/2025) → Rerevised (04/14/2025) · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was re-revised to include all amendments adopted in the Second House, expanding the list of co-sponsors in both the House and Senate. The document was updated to reflect the bill's progression through the legislative process, including new reading dates and committee assignments. Substantive policy content regarding water well permits and conditional permit reinstatement remains unchanged in this revision.

Scope change

No substantive changes to the bill's scope or applicability; this revision primarily updates procedural metadata including sponsor lists, reading dates, and committee assignments.

TECHNICAL

Added additional House and Senate co-sponsors to the bill, including Bacon, Bird, Boesenecker, Brown, Caldwell, Duran, Joseph, Keltie, Lieder, Lindsay, Martinez, Mauro, McCluskie, McCormick, Richardson, Smith, Stewart K., Story, Titone, Willford, and Winter T. in the House, and Amabile, Catlin, Cutter, Jodeh, Kipp, Michaelson Jenet, and Winter F. in the Senate.

Added reading status labels indicating '3rd Reading Unamended' for the Senate (April 14, 2025) and '3rd Reading Unamended' for the House (March 5, 2025), along with 'Amended 2nd Reading' for the House (March 4, 2025).

Updated the document header from 'PREAMENDED' to 'REREVISED' and changed the version note from 'Committee Amendments Not Yet Adopted on Second Reading' to 'All Amendments Adopted in the Second House'.

Updated committee assignments to show 'Agriculture & Natural Resources' in the Senate instead of the previous listing, and added 'Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources' to the House committees.

Final Act (05/15/2025) → PA1 (01/29/2025) · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill modifies Colorado's water well permitting process by extending the time allowed to construct wells from one year to two years, removing the need for a separate extension approval. It also simplifies permit expiration procedures and adjusts the timeline for water right abandonment reviews.

Scope change

The bill applies to all designated groundwater permits in Colorado, with specific exemptions for certain bedrock aquifers and federally authorized projects.

TIMELINE

Extended the time frame for constructing wells from one year to two years after permit issuance, eliminating the need for a one-year extension approval.

Split the decennial water right abandonment review process into two batches spaced five years apart, beginning in 2030 and 2035, while maintaining the 10-year cycle per water division.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed the requirement for the commission or state engineer to send a certified letter before a permit can expire, and added authority to reinstate expired permits with a $30 fee if the well was completed on time.

ELIGIBILITY

Eliminated final permitting requirements for non-Denver Basin bedrock aquifer wells in designated basins, treating conditional permits as final determinations for those wells.

Engrossed (03/04/2025) → Reengrossed (03/05/2025) · 3 edits · Apr 14, 2025

MINOR

The bill was reengrossed to add more sponsors to the House and update the bill summary date to reflect third reading status. A significant substantive change was made to Section 3, which now clarifies that the permit holder must provide sworn affidavit evidence of beneficial water use within three years of permit issuance, with specific formatting adjustments to the text.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on water resource permits, but the language was refined to more clearly define the permit holder's obligations regarding beneficial use reporting.

SCOPE

Multiple new sponsors were added to the House sponsorship list, expanding the coalition supporting the bill.

REQUIREMENT

Section 3 was revised to clarify that the permit holder must furnish sworn affidavit evidence of beneficial water use within three years of permit issuance, with improved text formatting for clarity.

TECHNICAL

The bill summary was updated to include the '3rd Reading Unamended' status and the date March 5, 2025, reflecting the current legislative stage.

Introduced (01/08/2025) → Engrossed (03/04/2025) · 3 edits · Apr 14, 2025

MINOR

The bill was amended during second reading in the House to add the Appropriations committee to the list of House committees involved. The document also includes a new amendment stamp indicating changes were adopted on March 4, 2025. Minor formatting updates were made to the bill number and page headers.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains unchanged; the amendment only adds the Appropriations committee to the House committee list and includes a new amendment stamp.

SCOPE

Added Appropriations to the list of House Committees handling the bill.

TECHNICAL

Added an amendment stamp indicating the bill was amended on March 4, 2025 during second reading in the House.

Updated bill number formatting from HB25-1014 to 1014 on page headers.

Increasing Efficiency Division of Water Resources

What changed between versions

How they voted

Actions timeline

Sponsors