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HB 1340STATE · ColoradoIntroduced

Revegetate or Dry Farm Formerly Irrigated Agricultural Land

The act requires a water right owner that changes the use of their water right in water division 2 from agricultural irrigation purposes to another beneficial use on or after January 1, 2027, to engage in revegetation or a conversion to dryland farming with effective erosion control and weed management on the formerly irrigated agricultural land. The act implements a procedure that includes:The identification of site-specific criteria and an associated scientific and objective evaluation methodology to measure and determine the success of the revegetation or conversion to dryland farming;A requirement that the water court appoint a third-party revegetation or dryland farming expert to conduct annual field reviews and issue reports concerning the success of the revegetation or conversion to dryland farming until the revegetation or conversion is successfully established; andA requirement that the water court:Order the water right owner to provide financial assurance to the local land use authority to cover the anticipated cost to achieve successful revegetation;Place limitations on the timing of use or percentage of the water that may be used for the new beneficial use during the revegetation or conversion to dryland farming process; orIf the water right owner has obtained a permit or entered into an intergovernmental agreement that requires financial assurance or establishes requirements governing the timing of use or percentage of the water that may be used for the new beneficial use, incorporate those requirements into the change-of-use decree.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Voted: 5/29/2026Source

How representatives voted

57 yea·5 nay·2 other

Action history

  • 4/30/2026House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
  • 4/29/2026House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
  • 4/28/2026House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
  • 4/23/2026House Committee on Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
  • 4/20/2026House Committee on Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Witness Testimony and/or Committee Discussion Only
  • 3/25/2026Introduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources