Colo. Rev. Stat. § 33-12-103.8 – Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe - access to state parks - legislative declaration - repeal.

(1)
1. (a) The general assembly finds and declares that:
  1. (I) The Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe are the oldest continuous residents of what is now known as the state of Colorado and have significant historical and cultural ties to the majority of the land within the state; and
  2. (II) The vast majority of Colorado's state parks are located on ancestral lands of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. These ancestral lands may also include sacred sites of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. Providing free access to Colorado state parks to members of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe reduces certain financial barriers that may otherwise prevent tribal members from accessing state parks.
2. (b) The general assembly therefore further finds and declares that enrolled members of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe should be eligible to enter any state park free of charge.
(2) Enrolled members of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe who present a current tribal identification card with an intact photo are not required to pay a fee to enter state parks that are managed by the division.
(3) Entrance to and access to state parks pursuant to this section is subject to the tribal member's observance of rules and regulations concerning the state park.
(4)
1. (a) By June 1, 2026, the division shall build on existing efforts to conduct outreach to and engagement with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and other tribal governments, American Indian communities, and Indigenous communities on opportunities related to state parks that are managed by the division.
2. (b) In January 2026 and in January 2027, the department shall include, as part of its presentation during its SMART Act hearing required by section 2-7-203, information concerning the division's outreach and engagement on opportunities related to state parks set forth in subsection (4)(a) of this section.
3. (c) This subsection (4) is repealed, effective July 1, 2027.

Source: L. 2025: Entire section added, (HB 25-1163), ch. 289, p. 1487, § 2, effective August 6.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in HB 25-1163, see section 1 of chapter 289, Session Laws of Colorado 2025.