Bipartisan Roberts Bill to Boost Water Conservation Funding Passes Senate

Roberts: “This bill will give Colorado voters an opportunity to join in the fight and allow sports betting revenue to fund critical water projects that will benefit communities across our state.”

DENVER, CO – Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, that would refer a ballot measure to Colorado voters to allow the state to keep and spend additional sports betting tax revenue on water conservation projects cleared the Senate today.

“Water is Colorado’s most precious natural resource, because it powers everything we do, from agriculture to our outdoor recreation economy, which is why I am fighting tooth and nail to secure our state’s water future,” Roberts said. “This bill will give Colorado voters an opportunity to join in the fight and allow sports betting revenue to fund critical water projects that will benefit communities across our state. I am proud to be working on this bipartisan legislation that will help protect our precious water resources and our Colorado way of life.”

HB24-1436, cosponsored by Senator Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, would refer a ballot measure to Colorado voters to allow revenue above the $29 million cap on sports betting revenue established in 2019 by Proposition DD to be transferred to the Water Plan Implementation Cash Fund. This cash fund supports water projects across the state, including water storage and supply, agricultural projects, and watershed health and recreation projects.

The bill will now move back to the House for concurrence of amendments. Track its progress HERE.