Colorado lowers legal threshold for bear-luring offenses and increases repeat-offense fines to $5,000

Original title: Negligently Luring Bears

Last action · May 27, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Meghan Lukens and 15 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

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What This Bill Does

Colorado law now makes it a crime to knowingly place food or edible waste in the open where it is reasonably probable to lure a wild bear, removing the requirement for a mandatory first-offense warning and raising third-offense fines to $5,000.

Why it matters

Residents living in bear country face stricter liability and higher financial penalties for leaving food or garbage exposed outdoors, shifting enforcement standards for wildlife interactions.

Background

Colorado frequently updates wildlife management statutes to address growing interactions between expanding human populations and local black bear habitats. context

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Colorado residents

Residents face a lower legal threshold of liability and higher financial penalties for leaving food or edible waste exposed outdoors.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I still get a warning for a first-time offense of leaving food out?

No. The new law repeals the requirement that a first offense be given a warning.

What is the penalty for a third or subsequent offense?

The fine is raised from $2,000 to $5,000.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

15 actions

May 27, 2026Office of the GovernorEnrolled
Governor Signed
May 19, 2026HouseFloor
Signed by the Speaker of the House
May 19, 2026SenateFloor
Signed by the President of the Senate
May 19, 2026Office of the GovernorEnrolled
Sent to the Governor
May 8, 2026SenateFloor
Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
May 7, 2026SenateFloor
Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments

Show 9 earlier actions

May 6, 2026Senate
Senate Second Reading Special Order - Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
May 5, 2026Senate
Senate Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
Apr 30, 2026SenateCommittee
Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
Apr 23, 2026SenateIntroduced
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Agriculture & Natural Resources
Apr 22, 2026HouseFloor
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
Apr 21, 2026House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor
Apr 15, 2026House
House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
Apr 13, 2026HouseCommittee
House Committee on Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
Mar 27, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources

Version history

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