Senate Bill 23-255 Summary

• Creates the Wolf Depredation Compensation Fund in the Colorado state treasury to provide fair compensation to livestock owners for losses caused by gray wolves, fulfilling a requirement of Proposition 114 (2020).

• Establishes funding of $175,000 for fiscal year 2023-24, increasing to $350,000 annually starting in fiscal year 2024-25, transferred from the general fund to the compensation fund.

• Requires gray wolf depredation to cause direct physical trauma resulting in death or injury to livestock or livestock guard animals, and claimants must be eligible under the gray wolf restoration and management plan.

• Mandates annual reports to the legislature beginning January 31, 2025, detailing compensation claims, approvals/denials, animals killed, wolf population data, and pack activity.

• Allows excess fund balances above specified thresholds to be spent on implementing the gray wolf restoration and management plan, with compensation payments treated as non-taxable reimbursement for damages.