Diana DeGette (D-CO)
Colorado Wilderness Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The bill, known as the Colorado Wilderness Act of 2026, designates specific lands in the State of Colorado as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System. It adds numerous areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Forest Service, and other agencies to the existing wilderness protections. The legislation establishes guidelines for administrative provisions, including livestock grazing, military helicopter overflights, and competitive running events. Furthermore, the bill outlines specific provisions regarding water rights, water resource facilities, and access routes within the newly designated wilderness areas.
Yes· 3 of 20
- Scored +8
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
Expands the National Wilderness Preservation System significantly across multiple federal land management areas in Colorado.
- Scored +7
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
Establishes clear administrative guidelines for new wilderness areas while accommodating pre-existing rights and military needs.
- Scored +6
Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change?
Designates numerous lands in Colorado as wilderness, preserving natural habitats and ecosystems.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 3(b) ensures that livestock grazing in the newly designated wilderness areas will continue to be administered in accordance with existing laws and guidelines, which provides stability for ranchers who rely on these public lands.
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Section 3(e) explicitly protects the ability to conduct military helicopter overflights, flight testing, and aerial navigation training exercises by the Colorado Army National Guard, supporting national defense and local military training needs.
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Section 3(f) allows the Secretary to continue authorizing competitive running events in the Redcloud Peak Wilderness Area and Handies Peak Wilderness Area, benefiting local organizers, participants, and the recreation economy.
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Section 4(c) ensures that individuals and entities with existing water resource facilities can maintain reasonable access, including motorized access where necessary, to use, operate, maintain, repair, and replace their facilities in accordance with state law.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 4(b)(3) prohibits the funding, assisting, authorizing, or issuing of licenses or permits for the development of any new water resource facility, including reservoirs, hydro projects, ditches, and pipelines, within the wilderness areas designated by section 2(b), which could restrict future water infrastructure development.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — Expands the National Wilderness Preservation System significantly across multiple federal land management areas in Colorado. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — Establishes clear administrative guidelines for new wilderness areas while accommodating pre-existing rights and military needs. Does this cut the pollution that drives climate change? — Designates numerous lands in Colorado as wilderness, preserving natural habitats and ecosystems. Does this invest in rural communities? — Protects traditional uses like livestock grazing and allows continued operation and access for existing water resource facilities.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would farmers be better off under this? — Ensures the continuation of livestock grazing and protects reasonable access to existing water resource facilities. Would children be better off under this? — Preserves natural wilderness areas for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Maintains access to public lands for outdoor recreation and local community enjoyment. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Protects local watersheds and public lands while accommodating established rural livelihoods like ranching. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Protects military helicopter overflights and training exercises for the Colorado Army National Guard. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Protects recreational opportunities such as hiking and competitive running events in scenic areas. Would business owners be better off under this? — Supports local recreation economies and protects existing water and grazing rights for commercial operators. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Maintains public access to natural areas for affordable outdoor recreation. Would retired people be better off under this? — Protects scenic and tranquil natural environments for recreation and leisure. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Protects scenic and natural resources for passive outdoor enjoyment. Would students be better off under this? — Preserves outdoor areas valuable for educational and environmental study. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Provides protected natural escape areas accessible from urban centers in Colorado.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — Increases federal wilderness designations while explicitly respecting state water law and wildlife jurisdiction. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Requires maps and boundary descriptions of designated wilderness areas to be made available for public inspection.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — Supports the outdoor recreation economy by maintaining areas for competitive running events and tourism. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Provides stability for ranchers by ensuring livestock grazing will continue to be administered in accordance with existing laws.
- 2/9/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Introduced in House