This bill will explore and formalize ways to expand conservation and recreational use of Colorado state trust lands while preserving their role in generating revenue for public schools.
State Trust Lands Background
Managed by the State Board of Land Commissioners for the benefit of public schools.
The board must protect natural features, wildlife habitat, and open space, while ensuring the lands continue to produce revenue (e.g., through leases, grazing, energy).
Creation of a Work Group
The Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources must create a State Trust Lands Conservation and Recreation Work Group.
Purpose: To study and identify opportunities for conservation and recreational use of trust lands.
Focus includes supporting long-term stewardship and ensuring alignment with the board's fiduciary duties.
RecommendationsDeadline:
By July 1, 2026, the work group must submit recommendations to the State Land Board, the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources.
Implementation by State Board Deadline:
By December 15, 2026, the State Land Board must review the recommendations, adopt administrative rules or policies to guide the implementation of conservation leases, and ensure conservation leases balance environmental goals with the constitutional requirement to generate revenue for public education
Overall Effect
Establishes a structured, collaborative process to integrate conservation and recreation into the long-term management of trust lands.
Supports environmental stewardship without undermining the financial purpose of these lands.
Lays groundwork for conservation leasing, a new policy tool that could benefit public lands and school funding.
Summary
The state board of land commissioners (state board) serves as the
trustee for lands granted to the state in public trust for the support of public schools (state trust lands). The state board is responsible for the management and protection of the state trust lands, including by protecting and enhancing the natural features, open space, and wildlife habitat of the state trust lands. The bill requires the executive director of the department of
natural resources (department) to convene a state trust lands conservation and recreation work group (work group) to study opportunities to advance conservation and recreation activities on state trust lands as part of the state board's long-term stewardship of the state trust lands while maintaining the state board's fiduciary responsibilities regarding its management of the state trust lands. On or before July 1, 2026, the work group is required to make recommendations to the state board, the governor, the general assembly, and the executive director of the department based on the study.
On or before December 15, 2026, the state board is required to
take into consideration the work group's recommendations and adopt an administrative policy or rules to establish a process and policy regarding the state board's implementation of conservation leases while balancing such conservation efforts with the requirement to generate revenue from the state trust lands.
