1. (1) As used in this section, advisory committee means the wild horse advisory committee created in subsection (2) of this section.
2. (2) The wild horse advisory committee is created in the department to advise the commissioner and the department on issues concerning wild horses in Colorado beginning on July 1, 2026.

3. (3) The advisory committee consists of at least fourteen members, including the following representation:

   1. (a) The commissioner shall appoint:

      1. (I) A representative of the governor's office;
      2. (II) A representative of the department of natural resources;
      3. (III) A representative of the Colorado tourism office;
      4. (IV) A representative of the department;
      5. (V) An at-large representative, appointed in consultation with the majority leader of the senate and the majority leader of the house of representatives;
      6. (VI) An at-large representative, appointed in consultation with the minority leader of the senate and the minority leader of the house of representatives;
      7. (VII) Two representatives of nonprofit advocacy organizations that advocate for wild horses, appointed in consultation with the majority leader of the house of representatives;
      8. (VIII) A resident of the western slope, appointed in consultation with the minority leader of the senate;
      9. (IX) A representative of a nonprofit environmental conservation organization, appointed in consultation with the majority leader of the senate;
      10. (X) Two representatives of the ranching and grazing permit holder community, appointed in consultation with the minority leader of the house of representatives;
      11. (XI) A representative from each of the local on-range wild horse organizations that maintain memoranda of understanding with the bureau to conduct on-range activities; and
      12. (XII) A representative of the state board of land commissioners; and

   2. (b)

      1. (I) The Colorado state director of the bureau may represent the bureau or may appoint a representative of the bureau;
      2. (II) The Southern Ute Indian Tribe may appoint a representative of the tribe;
      3. (III) The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe may appoint a representative of the tribe; and
      4. (IV) The region two regional forester of the United States forest service may appoint a representative of the United States forest service.
4. (4) The commissioner shall make the initial appointments to the advisory committee no later than July 1, 2026.
5. (5) Each member of the advisory committee who is appointed under subsection (3) of this section serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority. The term of appointment is four years.
6. (6) Members of the advisory committee serve without compensation and without reimbursement for expenses from the state; except that members who are state employees may be compensated as state employees, and members who are legislative members are paid in the same manner as provided in section 2-2-307 (3).

7. (7)

   1. (a) The commissioner shall organize and call the first meeting of the advisory committee.
   2. (b) The advisory committee shall elect a chair from among its members to serve for a term not to exceed two years, as determined by the advisory committee.
   3. (c) The advisory committee shall meet at least once every year. The chair or the commissioner may call such additional meetings as are necessary for the advisory committee to complete its duties.

8. (8) The advisory committee shall advise the commissioner and the department concerning:

   1. (a) Financial and material support for wild horse adopters, sanctuaries, preserves, and refuges in Colorado;
   2. (b) The content and delivery of outreach, education, training, and certification regarding wild horses in Colorado;
   3. (c) Working with the bureau and wild horse preserves, sanctuaries, and refuges to coordinate the movement of wild horses off herd management areas and other lands into temporary holding, adoption events, and other nonlethal options;
   4. (d) Coordinating or assisting with compliance checks to ensure that adopted wild horses are well cared for and that wild horse adopters have the support needed to successfully care for wild horses;
   5. (e) Coordinating and cooperating with the bureau and other people to ensure comprehensive information about adoption and adoption success is widely publicized and is available to the public and wild horse adopters in a timely manner;
   6. (f) Any different or additional scientifically proven immunocontraceptive fertility control method the department may consider using; and
   7. (g) Humane, nonlethal alternatives to long-term confinement for wild horses that are taken off Colorado's wild horse ranges or held in federal holding facilities.
9. (9) This section is repealed, effective September 1, 2030. Before the repeal, this section is scheduled for review in accordance with section 2-3-1203.

Source: L. 2025: Entire section added, (HB 25-1283), ch. 225, p. 1031, § 6, effective August 6.

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