House panel backs tax checkoff to fund Colorado Animal Protection Fund; moves bill to appropriations

House Bill 1299, which would create a voluntary state income-tax checkoff to fund the Colorado Animal Protection Fund, advanced from the House Finance Committee to appropriations on a favorable recommendation, 11-2.

The bill would add a dedicated option on Colorado tax returns that allows taxpayers to donate part of their refund to the Animal Protection Fund, a cash fund administered by the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA). The Department of Revenue would retain designated checkoff contributions and transfer them once a year to the CDA, and the bill would give the department continuous spending authority for the fund because the revenue is TABOR-exempt.

The measure’s sponsors and witnesses said the fund would be used for emergent housing, feed and veterinary care for livestock and companion animals affected by wildfires, storms, cruelty investigations or prolonged legal cases.

“House Bill 12 99 is incredibly important to address the urgent need for enhanced resources,” Majority Leader Duran told the committee. “Additional funding and flexibility for the Colorado Animal Protection Fund is essential to strengthening our capacity to care for the alarming number of animals affected by natural disasters, neglect, and cruelty.”

Jordan Beasley, deputy commissioner of external affairs at the Colorado Department of Agriculture, described how the tax checkoff would operate if the bill becomes law. “House Bill 12 99 creates a new voluntary tax checkoff,” Beasley said. He explained that up to 20 voluntary tax checkoffs are allowed under statute, that this checkoff would not displace existing checkoffs, and that the Department of Revenue would transfer collected contributions into the Animal Protection Fund annually for use on emergency animal care.

Witnesses who urged support included Joe Stafford, division director for animal welfare at the Colorado Department of Agriculture, who described operational pressure on the division: “We’ve seen about a 40% increase in the cases of animal neglect being reported to our division. And, over the last about 40 days, we’ve helped law enforcement remove more than 200 animals. … The bill is kind of an emergency stopgap measure.” Stafford gave a concrete cost example from a recent seizure: housing 106 animals while a court matter proceeded cost about $19,000.

Nonprofit advocates said the fund would supplement local and nonprofit capacity. Roland Halpern, executive director of Colorado Voters for Animals, said his group represents more than 45,000 supporters and pointed to a Colorado State University report recommending increased temporary housing and investigator capacity. Ali Michelson, representing Humane Colorado and the Animal Welfare Association of Colorado (AWAC), said her organizations assisted law enforcement on nearly 1,000 cases last year involving more than 3,000 animals and that added resources would reduce burden on local governments and shelters.

Committee members asked how oversight would work and whether donations would be tracked. Beasley and witnesses said the money would flow into a state cash fund administered by CDA and subject to legislative and executive oversight. Members also asked about the fund’s budget numbers; sponsors and witnesses confirmed that the bill’s fiscal detail included startup and operational items and that ongoing reporting to the legislature would show contributions and expenditures.

Representative Armacost moved the bill to the Appropriations Committee with a favorable recommendation; the committee approved the motion 11-2.

Supporters said the voluntary checkoff avoids new general-fund spending and gives Colorado residents an option to contribute directly to animal welfare in emergencies. Opponents on the committee numbered two in the final roll call; their statements were registered in the record but did not change the committee’s recommendation.

The bill will now be considered by the Appropriations Committee.