Colorado State Forest Service Good Neighbor Authority Bill HB26-1205

Detected March 6th, 2026

Summary

Colorado Bill HB26-1205 proposes changes to state law to align with the federal expansion of good neighbor authority agreements. The bill specifies that the Colorado State Forest Service may enter into these agreements with federal agencies and requires demonstration projects to improve forest health and resilience.

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What changed

Colorado Bill HB26-1205, introduced for the 2026 Regular Session, seeks to amend state law to reflect recent federal expansions of 'good neighbor authority.' This authority allows states, counties, and tribal governments to enter into agreements with federal agencies for recreation and improvement services on federal lands. Specifically, the bill clarifies that the Colorado State Forest Service can enter into such agreements with the U.S. Departments of the Interior and Agriculture, and mandates the service to conduct or contract for demonstration projects utilizing this authority to enhance forest health, resilience, and outdoor recreation opportunities.

This legislation, if passed, will enable the Colorado State Forest Service to collaborate more broadly with federal land management agencies on projects aimed at improving forest conditions. While the bill itself does not impose immediate compliance deadlines on regulated entities, it outlines a framework for future intergovernmental cooperation on forest management. Compliance officers in relevant state agencies should monitor the bill's progress through the legislative process and be prepared to implement any new procedural requirements or project mandates that may arise from its enactment.

What to do next

Monitor the legislative progress of Colorado Bill HB26-1205.
Review potential procedural changes for intergovernmental agreements related to forest management upon bill enactment.

Source document (simplified)

HB26-1205

Colorado State Forest Service Good Neighbor Authority

| Type | Bill |
| --- | --- |
| Session | 2026 Regular Session |
| Subjects | Natural Resources & Environment State Government |
Concerning changes to state law to reflect the federal expansion of good neighbor authority agreements.

Recent Bill (PDF) Recent Fiscal Note (PDF) Bill Summary:

The bill changes state law to reflect changes to federal law that expand the authority of states, counties, and tribal governments to enter into good neighbor agreements with the federal government to carry out recreation and improvement services on land by:

Specifying that the Colorado state forest service may enter into good neighbor authority agreements with the United States department of the interior, the United States department of agriculture, or any agency of the United States department of the interior or United States department of agriculture; and
Clarifying that the Colorado state forest service is required to conduct, or contract with one or more entities to conduct, demonstration projects that utilize Colorado's good neighbor authority to implement forest management projects that improve forest health, resilience, or outdoor recreation opportunities. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)