Keep It Colorado

Today marks a major milestone for conservation in Colorado. HB26-1230, the bill to extend the conservation easement tax credit, has officially passed the Colorado Legislature with strong bipartisan support, including a 34-1 vote in the Senate on Third Reading. The bill now heads to Governor Jared Polis for consideration.

This victory would not have been possible without the leadership of bill sponsors Representative Matthew Martinez, Representative Elizabeth Velasco, Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer, and Senator Dylan Roberts, as well as the many advocates, landowners, land trusts, and partners who spoke up in support of conservation across the state.

At a time when Colorado lawmakers faced difficult budget decisions and a significant deficit, this effort demonstrated just how important the conservation easement tax credit is to protecting the places and resources Coloradans value most: working lands, clean water, wildlife habitat, recreation opportunities, and our agricultural heritage.

Thank you to everyone who sent letters, testified, hosted tours, made calls, coordinated with landowners, and helped tell the story of conservation in Colorado. This was truly a statewide effort.

Today is your last chance to join us!

Today is the final day to register for Keep It Colorado's Spring Summit. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with peers, share insights, and advance conservation efforts across Colorado.

Secure your spot before it's too late!

Register here: https://www.keepitco.org/coalition-industry-events/spring-summit-2026

We had a great time last week at Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Partners in the Outdoors Conference!

Keep It Colorado teamed up with the Colorado Natural Heritage Program to share how we can engage willing landowners in surveying Colorado's biodiversity. Private lands are essential to understanding the full picture of our state's ecosystems, and landowners play a key role in that effort.

It was inspiring to connect with so many partners who are working together to protect Colorado's lands, water, and wildlife. Thanks to everyone who attended and contributed to the conversation!

Good news for conservation in Colorado:

HB26-1230, which would extend the Conservation Easement Tax Credit, has unanimously passed House Appropriations.

The bill was originally scheduled for House floor debate yesterday afternoon, but has now been rescheduled for second reading on Monday.

We'll continue to share updates as the process moves forward. In the meantime, we're encouraged to see strong support for this important conservation tool.