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Appropriations committee advances bill to shift $264,268 of wolf procurement funds to health insurance enterprise
Summary
House Appropriations moved Senate Bill 25B005 forward after sponsors and witnesses debated reallocating $264,268 originally appropriated for acquiring wolves to the state27s health insurance affordability enterprise; the measure preserves funding for wolf management and requires non-general-fund sources if further procurement occurs.
Representative Kari Lukens, co-prime sponsor, opened House Appropriations27 hearing on Senate Bill 25B005, saying, "This bill will save $264,000 in general fund dollars by reallocating funding originally allocated in the fiscal year 20252026 budget for procuring new wolves from Canada this coming winter to the health insurance affordability enterprise." The committee voted to send the bill to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation.
The bill would redirect $264,268 in general fund appropriations that had been set aside for capturing, transporting and releasing additional gray wolves, and apply that money to Colorado's Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise amid a special-session budget shortfall. Sponsors said the bill preserves existing funding for managing the current wolf population, conflict-mitigation programs and depredation compensation for livestock producers.
Why it matters: Sponsors framed the measure as a targeted, fiscally driven reallocation during a budget crisis while emphasizing compliance with voter-approved requirements for wolf restoration. Co-sponsor…
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