H_AWN_2025A 03/13/2025 11:05:24 AM Committee Summary

Majority Leader Duran, bill co-prime sponsor, introduced House Bill 25-1283. Implementing recommendations from the Wild Horse Working Group, the bill repeals the state-owned, nonprofit Wild Horse Project in the Colorado Department of Agriculture, and authorizes wild horse management activities directed by the department.

Assistant Minority Leader Winter, co-prime sponsor, gave opening comments on the bill.

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Sandra Hagen-Solin, representing American Wild Horse Conservation, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Roland Halpern, representing Colorado Voters for Animals, testified in support of the bill. Scott Wilson, representing American Wild Horse Conservation, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Tessa Archibald, representing The Homes for Horses Coalition and The Animal Welfare Institute, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Elise Lowe-Vaughn, representing Rewilding America Now, testified in support of the bill.



The panel responded to questions from the committee.

J Burow, representing
Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Erick
Lundgren, representing Rewilding America Now, testified in support of the
bill. Ms. Stella Trueblood, representing SWAT - Sand Wash Advocate Team,
testified in support of the bill. Delia Malone, representing themself,
testified to amend the bill.



The panel responded
to questions from the committee.

Tari King, representing
themself, answered committee questions. Mr. Wayne East, representing Colorado
Department of Agriculture, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Jordan
Beezley, representing Colorado Department of Agriculture, testified in
support of the bill. Mr. Doug Vilsack, representing Bureau of Land Management
- Colorado, testified in a neutral position on the bill.



The panel responded
to questions from the committee.



Additional written
testimony can be found in Attachment A.

The committee discussed the amendments.

Majority Leader Duran and Assistant Minority Leader Winter gave closing comments on the bill.

Committee members gave closing comments on the bill.