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DENVER, CO – The House today passed bipartisan legislation to waive Colorado's state park entry fees for enrolled members of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe.
“Long before Colorado was a state, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe were stewards of the land now known as our state parks,” said Rep. Katie Stewart, D-Durango. “This bill ensures that enrolled members of the Colorado Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe can receive free entry to Colorado's state parks. From Mancos State Park in Southwest Colorado, to Golden Gate State Park in the foothills, this bill is the first step in an ongoing process by the state to honor the commitment and uphold the ancestral land reconnection for the oldest continuous residents of our state.”
HB25-1163 passed by a vote of 63-1 and is also sponsored by Representative Rick Taggart, R-Grand Junction. This bill would waive the entrance fee to all of Colorado’s state parks for enrolled members of the Colorado Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. There are 43 state parks in Colorado located in communities across the state.
This bill aims to formally recognize the profound cultural and spiritual connections
Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe members have the land. HB25-1163 will reduce barriers to accessing outdoor space while modifying governmental systems which have historically excluded Indigenous people.
The bill is supported by leaders of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Department of Natural Resources.