Colorado Bill Proposes Pausing Wolf Program to Fund Health Insurance Subsidies
The Colorado General Assembly is considering a bill to pause funding for the state's wolf reintroduction program managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). This funding suspension would redirect approximately $264,268 towards the health insurance accountability enterprise, aimed at subsidizing individual market health insurance purchases and other budgetary needs. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Dylan Roberts, a critic of the wolf program, highlights livestock losses attributed to the 25 wolves reintroduced, particularly in Roberts’ district, including cattle, calves, sheep, and working dogs. Bipartisan support for the bill is evident, with multiple co-sponsors from both parties in the Senate and House.
The bill proposes a prohibition on CPW’s use of general funds for acquiring or reintroducing gray wolves in the 2025-26 fiscal year, although funds can still be used for managing existing wolf-related conflicts and livestock depredation claims. Initially budgeted at $800,000 annually, the wolf program has instead cost Colorado taxpayers around $8 million over five years, with $3.5 million spent in the 2024-25 budget cycle alone. Depredation claims to farmers and ranchers have exceeded $600,000 in 2024 alone.
Health insurance premiums in Colorado are expected to rise sharply in 2026, with average increases of 28% statewide and 38% on the Western Slope, a region also significantly impacted by the wolf program's costs and effects. The proposed reallocation of funds seeks to address both fiscal pressures and insurance affordability challenges.
The wolf reintroduction program was originally approved by Colorado voters with limited placement west of the Continental Divide, but the impact on rural Western Slope communities has been more pronounced, sparking political and economic tensions. Concerns over budget deficits have fueled debates, with differing views on the roles of federal and state governance in current fiscal challenges.
Lawmakers supporting the bill advocate for a pause on new wolf introductions, emphasizing the need to manage existing wolves more efficiently and to prioritize budget stabilization and health insurance affordability. They underscore the program's strain on rural families, ranchers, and local government budgets amid broader state financial constraints.
Opposition is anticipated, as the bill does not yet have the backing of some influential lawmakers, including House Speaker Julie McCluskie. Budget cuts totaling approximately $800 million are under consideration for the 2025-26 fiscal year to address the state’s financial challenges, with potential utilization of the state’s general fund reserve as a temporary measure.
A related ballot measure intended to terminate the wolf program upon voter approval in 2026 faces funding difficulties but has signaled support from stakeholder groups critical of the reintroduction efforts. This legislative and public debate highlights tensions between ecological initiatives and economic priorities within Colorado.
The bill reflects ongoing efforts to balance wildlife management, fiscal responsibility, and insurance market stability amid complex regulatory and budgetary environments. The outcome could impact policy approaches to species reintroduction programs and health insurance subsidy allocations in Colorado and may serve as a case study in managing competing public policy priorities.