Senate committee advances bill to strengthen penalties, funding and enforcement against wildlife trafficking

Senate Bill 168, a measure to expand criminal penalties, data collection and enforcement authority to combat illegal wildlife trafficking in Colorado, advanced out of the Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee on a unanimous vote after two sponsor amendments were adopted.

Sponsors said the bill is intended to give Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) new tools and funding to investigate and disrupt trafficking in native and nonnative species. "Wildlife trafficking is one of the most profitable natural resource crimes," sponsor Senator Bridal told the committee, citing international estimates and recent trafficking incidents involving reptiles, fish and bear gallbladders. Co‑prime sponsor Senator Roberts said current state penalties are inadequate and that SB168 would provide "better tools" to hold traffickers accountable.

CPW and allied law‑enforcement witnesses described recent trafficking investigations and resource limitations. Ty Petersburg, assistant director for field services and chief of law enforcement for CPW, called trafficking "a foundational crime" that can fund other criminal enterprises and described cases involving ornate box turtles and high‑value sales abroad. Jim Hawkins, assistant chief of law enforcement, said CPW has nine investigators assigned to investigations but is "stretched thin"; over the last 24 months CPW investigators encountered roughly six or seven significant trafficking cases, several still active.

Outside witnesses from conservation and law‑enforcement groups supported the bill. Sheriff Jamie Fitzsimons of Summit County said trafficking "is not merely an environmental issue" and argued it ties to organized crime; Dr. Brooke Talley, a turtle conservation specialist, described inhumane conditions trafficked turtles often endure and urged the committee to support enforcement and funding for conservation. The National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs and the Sierra Club also testified in favor.

Two sponsor amendments were adopted before the committee advanced the bill. Amendment L001 clarifies state statutory language so threatened or endangered species are identified pursuant to the language in section 33‑2‑105. Amendment L002 consolidates investigation and survey provisions, specifies that funding for the bill's research and enforcement work will come from the wildlife cash fund (explicitly not from hunting and fishing licensing revenue), replaces the bill’s safety clause with a petition clause, and shifts certain timing to a July 1, 2026 effective date to allow implementation planning.

During questioning, senators asked about the scope of trafficking in Colorado, risks from invasive or exotic species being brought into the state, and whether current federal and interstate tools are sufficient. Ally Henderson of the Center for Biological Diversity suggested clarifying that the bill not conflict with federal Endangered Species Act exemptions and recommended limiting some prohibitions to intrastate conduct for ESA‑listed species. CPW and the Attorney General’s representative said they would work on statutory language and were prepared to answer legal questions about federal preemption.

Senator Roberts moved SB168 as amended to the Appropriations Committee; Mr. Becker called the roll and the motion passed unanimously. The committee sponsors and witnesses said the measure would allow CPW to stand up additional investigative capacity and to collect data needed for conservation and enforcement work.

Next steps: SB168, as amended, moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee. The hearing record includes multiple proponent witnesses and a request from CPW for use of the wildlife cash fund to staff investigations and research.