Legislative Updates Impacting Colorado's Agricultural Community
As part of our commitment to supporting our agricultural clients, we believe that keeping you informed about legislative developments that may affect your operations is important. Listed are summaries of recent Colorado bills pertinent to agriculture, property rights, and related sectors.
1. HB25-1285: Veterinary Workforce Requirements
In November 2024, Colorado voters approved Proposition 129, establishing the role of Veterinary Professional Associates (VPAs). Effective January 1, 2026, VPAs are permitted to practice veterinary medicine under specific conditions. HB25-1285 outlines the framework for VPA practice, including registration processes and supervision requirements. Notably, VPAs must operate under the immediate or direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian, with telesupervision explicitly prohibited. The bill also mandates a written agreement between the supervising veterinarian and the VPA, filed with the State Board of Veterinary Medicine, to ensure accountability. Additionally, the bill clarifies that only licensed veterinarians can establish and maintain veterinarian-client-patient relationships and imposes specific restrictions on prescribing certain controlled substances.
2. HB25-1131: Eliminate Student Cap at Colorado State University's Veterinary Program
This bill removes the statutory cap on the number of veterinary students permitted to attend Colorado State University (CSU) simultaneously. By eliminating this limitation, CSU's Professional Veterinary Medicine Program can expand enrollment, potentially addressing veterinary workforce shortages and enhancing support for Colorado's agricultural sector.
3. HB25-1203: Misbranding Cultivated Meat Products as Meat
This bill addresses the labeling of cell-cultivated meat products to ensure transparency for consumers. It prohibits food processing plants from selling or offering for sale cell-cultivated meat that is misbranded as traditional meat products. Furthermore, it requires that such products be clearly labeled as "cell-cultivated meat." The Department of Public Health and Environment is authorized to inspect food processing plants suspected of misbranding or failing to label these products appropriately. If violations are found, the department can issue stop or embargo orders to prevent the sale of improperly labeled products within Colorado.
4. HB25-1023: Local Government Review of Fencing Projects
Aimed at regulating fencing projects within the Sangre de Cristo land grant lands, this bill requires individuals planning to install or substantially repair contiguous fences of a specified size to submit an application to the relevant local government starting July 1, 2025. The local government must publish notice of the application within 14 days and decide to approve or reject it within 60 days, based on established criteria. However, local governments retain the discretion to approve applications if the benefits of the fencing project outweigh potential harms. Additionally, local governing bodies may opt out of these requirements through an ordinance or resolution.
5. HB25-1009: Vegetative Fuel Mitigation
To enhance wildfire mitigation efforts, this bill allows fire protection districts or metropolitan districts providing fire protection services to establish programs targeting the removal of dead or dry vegetation on privately owned properties. These programs must align with the 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code or standards set by the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code Board. Property owners who fail to comply with vegetative fuel removal requirements may face fines, following a structured notification process. Funds collected from fines are designated for further vegetative fuel removal within the district, prioritizing assistance to low-income individuals, seniors, or those with disabilities.
6. SB25-039: Colorado Building Energy Exemption for Agriculture
The draft of Sen. B Pelton’s proposed bill SB25-039 makes the exemption of agricultural buildings from compliance with HB 210-1286 exceedingly clear. If Sen. B Pelton’s proposed bill is passed, Colorado farmers will be able to once again own agricultural structures without the worry of paying fees to the State Energy Board and being subject to fines on their supposedly exempt buildings.
To stay current on Sen. B Pelton’s proposed exemption bill, follow trusted sources on the subject, such as AGPROfessionals, Sen. B Pelton’s legislative page, and the Colorado Accountability Project. To further support the bill, contact Sen. B. Pelton.
Being Informed and Staying Involved is Key to the Success of Agriculture
We encourage all agricultural producers to review these legislative updates and assess their potential impacts on your operations. Staying informed and engaged with policy changes is crucial and your lawmakers need to hear from you regarding legislation you both support and oppose.
Links
Bill Language and Information HB25-1285 HERE
Bill Language and Information HB25-1131 HERE
Bill Language and Information HB25-1203 HERE
Bill Language and Information HB25-1009 HERE
Bill Language and Information SB25-039 HERE and AGPROfessionals article about the necessity for SB25-039 HERE