Dusty Johnson
- Republican
- Representative
- District 63
Primary
The division of water resources in the department of natural resources (division) is responsible for administering water rights and issuing water well permits, among other duties. Under current law, after having received a permit to appropriate designated groundwater or construct a well outside the boundaries of a designated groundwater basin, a permit holder is required to construct the well within one year after the date of issuance of the permit. If the well is not constructed within one year, the permit expires; except that the ground water commission (commission) in the division or the state engineer, as applicable, may grant a single one-year extension. The act extends the time frame for construction of a well to 2 years, eliminating the need for the commission or the state engineer to approve a one-year extension to the initial one-year construction time frame, except for permits issued for federally authorized water projects. The act also removes the requirement that the commission or state engineer must mail a certified letter to the permit holder before a permit can be formally expired. The act allows the commission or state engineer to reinstate an expired permit if the applicant for reinstatement of the permit can show that the well was completed in a timely manner and submits a $30 fee. Under current law, the division engineer of each water division is required to decennially present to the water court a list of water rights that meet the criteria for abandonment. The act splits this decennial abandonment process into 2 batches, grouped by water division and spaced 5 years apart, beginning with 2030 and 2035. The act maintains the requirement that the abandonment process be performed every 10 years in each water division. The act extends certain time frames relating to the well permitting process. Lastly, the act eliminates final permitting requirements for non-Denver Basin bedrock aquifer wells in the designated basins. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)
Governor Signed
Sent to the Governor
Signed by the President of the Senate
Signed by the Speaker of the House
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments
Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole
Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources Refer Unamended to Appropriations
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Agriculture & Natural Resources
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
House Committee of the Whole Amendment - Change from ----- to -----
House Second Reading Special Order - Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
House Committee of the Whole Amendment - Change from Passed to Lost
House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
House Committee on Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Refer Amended to Appropriations
Introduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources
| Bill Text Versions | Format |
|---|---|
| Signed Act (06/03/2025) | |
| Final Act (05/15/2025) | |
| Rerevised (04/14/2025) | |
| Revised (04/11/2025) | |
| Reengrossed (03/05/2025) | |
| Engrossed (03/04/2025) | |
| Introduced (01/08/2025) | |
| PA1 (01/29/2025) | |
| Committee Amendment |
| Document | Format |
|---|---|
| Fiscal Note SA1 (02/26/2025) | |
| Fiscal Note SA2 (04/08/2025) | |
| Fiscal Note FN1 (01/13/2025) | |
| Fiscal Note FN2 (07/03/2025) |
Data on Open States is updated periodically throughout the day from the official website of the Colorado General Assembly.
If you notice any inconsistencies with these official sources, feel free to file an issue.