Colorado directs severance tax transfers to conservation and general funds

The state treasurer may transfer up to $3 million annually from the severance tax perpetual base fund to the species conservation trust fund. The money goes to the species conservation trust fund for native species conservation activities. The transfer may not exceed $3 million in a year. The species conservation trust fund is subject to annual authorization by the General Assembly. The transfer is annual; the text gives no first transfer date.

The state treasurer transfers money from the severance tax operational fund to the general fund. The calculation compares projected total state severance tax receipts for the current fiscal year with current year appropriations for listed programs. The transfer is the lesser of $14.2 million or the amount reported by the executive director; the reported amount cannot be below zero. The executive director starts the calculation and report in April 2027 and repeats them every April. Transfers start June 30, 2027, and recur each June 30.

The 2026–27 cash fund appropriation for the natural resources department's species conservation trust fund office is reduced by $3 million, or to zero if the appropriation is smaller. The reduction applies to the cash fund appropriation from the severance tax operational fund for the Department of Natural Resources executive director's office to use for the species conservation trust fund. No reduction is required if the 2026–27 annual general appropriation act contains no such appropriation. This section takes effect only if that annual appropriation act becomes law. The reduction applies to the 2026–27 state fiscal year appropriation. This section takes effect on the later effective date of this act or that year's appropriation act.