Senate reallocates park funds for wolf reintroduction to health insurance affordability enterprise; bill passes 32-3

The Colorado Senate passed Senate Bill 005 to reallocate $264,000 (as discussed on the floor) from the Division of Parks and Wildlife appropriation for gray wolf reintroduction and move the funds to the Colorado Health Insurance Affordability Enterprise. The bill passed on third reading with a vote of 32 ayes and 3 noes.

Sponsors Senator Roberts and Senator Catlin urged passage. Senator Catlin said the measure "does a part of what we set out to do" and asked members to vote yes. Senator Sullivan said she would vote no on principle; she described the bill as a choice between pausing the wolf program and moving the $264,000 to rural health affordability efforts, and said the governor’s office identified alternative funding so the pause would not occur.

Floor discussion included concerns about program costs and local impacts. Senator Zamora Wilson said the program had been forecast at roughly $800,000 but had exceeded that by more than 400 percent (she raised the overrun as a floor concern). Senator Sullivan said she heard testimony from more than 52 Coloradans during the committee hearing and opposed the final measure on principle. Senator Kirkmeyer thanked sponsors and indicated support; Senator Cap said the bill accomplished the goal of preventing general fund money from purchasing the wolves and expressed hope outside donations would reveal program interest.

Senator Wallace, Senator Cutter and Senator Sullivan were recorded as no votes on final passage. The bill passed 32-3 and cosponsors were read on the floor after adoption.