SENATE BILL 25-053 - Concerning the Classification of Bison as Wildlife Unless Classified as Livestock - Making an Appropriation

Aug 22, 2026

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Senate Bill 25-053 addresses the classification of American bison in Colorado, establishing an approach that treats certain bison as wildlife rather than livestock. The legislative declaration links the species to Indigenous history, sacred ceremonial traditions, and ongoing reliance for survival, while describing federal policies that led to large-scale extermination and lasting harm to tribal communities. The act amends Colorado Revised Statutes on definitions, wildlife classification exclusions, and bison-related licensing and fees, and includes related statutory changes concerning illegal possession.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

Legislative declaration

Historical and cultural significance of bison

Policy background and effects on Indigenous communities

Statutory amendments and definitions

Definitions and wildlife rules

Licensing and fee changes

Related amendments on illegal possession

NOTE: This bill has been prepared for the signatures ofthe appropriate legislative officers and the Governor. To determine whether the Governor has signed the bill or taken other action on it, please consult the legislative status sheet, the legislative history, or the Session Laws. SENATE BILL 25-053 BY SENATOR(S) Danielson, Amabile, Ball, Bridges, Cutter, Exum, Gonzales J., Jodeh, Kipp, Kolker, Marchman, Michaelson Jenet, Sullivan, Wallace, Weissman, Winter F., Coleman; also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Joseph and Velasco, Duran, Brown, Jackson, Lindsay, Rutinel, Valdez. CONCERNING THE CLASSIFICATION OF BISON AS WILDLIFE UNLESS CLASSIFIED AS LIVESTOCK, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, MAKING AN APPROPRIATION. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly finds and declares that: (a) The history of the American bison is deeply intertwined with the history of indigenous peoples in North America. Once roaming the continent in vast herds numbering in the tens of millions, bison are a cornerstone of life for many American Indians and are revered as sacred relatives. Many American Indians and Tribal Nations continue to rely upon bison for survival, including for food, shelter, and clothing. Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material added to existing law; dashes through words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law and such material is not part of the act. (b) Among many tribal nations, the buffalo is regarded as a sacred relative. This relationship is deeply embedded in ceremonial traditions, including the Sundance, the Buffalo Ceremony, and the White-Buffalo Calf-Woman teachings. These ceremonies are not simply historical relics but are actively practiced today, reinforcing the spiritual, cultural, and communal well-being of native people. Additionally, many other tribes have traditional buffalo dances and other sacred rites honoring the buffalo's spiritual role. These ceremonies are vital to the continuation of traditional ways of life and connection to the natural world. (c) Recognizing the bison's critical role in the livelihood of indigenous peoples and in the campaign to continue European claim and control over lands inhabited by indigenous peoples, the United States government implemented a scorched-earth policy, granting military commanders the authority to decimate bison populations; (d) Over a span of 40 years, more than 30 million bison were killed. This mass extermination was not only wasteful and inhumane but also a calculated effort to undermine the cultural and physical survival of indigenous peoples. (e) Colonel Richard Irving Dodge infamously declared, "Kill every buffalo you can! Every buffalo dead is an Indian gone." The policy of killing bison had devastating impacts on American Indians and Tribal Nations and played a significant role in the federal government' s efforts to destroy tribal sovereignty. The resulting food and cultural scarcity played a significant role in the forced relocation of the plains peoples from Colorado in the late 1860s. It also contributed to the pressures restricting the Ute people to western Colorado. (f) By the time Colorado achieved statehood in 1876, hunting and habitat destruction caused bythe development offarms, cities, and railroads had reduced the bison population to only a few hundred south of the Platte river; (g) Colorado seeks to protect, serve, and honor the enduring bond between bison and American Indians and Tribal Nations by classifying certain bison as wildlife; and (h) This action represents a step toward making amends for the PAGE 2-SENATE BILL 25-053 attempted genocide of American Indians through the eradication of their food source, the bison. SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 33-1-102, amend (2) and (51); and add (2.6) as follows: 33-1-102. Definitions-rules. As used in this title 33, unless the context otherwise requires:

FAQs

What is Senate Bill 25-053 primarily trying to change about bison classification in Colorado?

It focuses on classifying certain bison as wildlife rather than livestock, unless they are classified as livestock, and it includes related statutory amendments to implement that approach.

Why does the bill include a long legislative declaration about bison history and Indigenous peoples?

The bill states that bison are deeply intertwined with Indigenous history and sacred traditions, and it describes how past U.S. policies and mass killing harmed Indigenous survival and sovereignty.

What types of statutory changes does the bill make?

It amends and adds provisions in Colorado Revised Statutes, including definitions and wildlife classification rules, and it sets bison license types and fee amounts.

Aug 22, 2026

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