HB 22-1012: Healthy Forests and Vibrant Communities

• State Forest Service must develop a publicly accessible statewide carbon accounting framework by September 1, 2022, to track carbon stock and flux estimates by county, forest cover type, and wood products.

• State Forest Service shall create a forest carbon co-benefit framework linking 2020 Colorado Forest Action Plan goals to forest management and wildfire mitigation practices that improve carbon sequestration, and provide technical expertise to industry and landowners.

• Creates the Healthy Forests and Vibrant Communities Fund in the state treasury, continuously appropriated for specified purposes with no reversion to general fund at fiscal year-end.

• For fiscal year 2022-23, transfers $3 million from general fund to Healthy Forests and Vibrant Communities Fund, $2.2 million to Forest Restoration and Wildfire Risk Mitigation Grant Program, and $2 million to Wildfire Mitigation Capacity Development Fund, with these transfers repealing July 1, 2023.

• Appropriates $95,407 for the 2022-23 fiscal year to the Healthy Forests and Vibrant Communities Fund.