Traveling Animal Protection Act Environmental Education Program

0 HOUSE BILL 26-1133

BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Duran and Valdez, Camacho, Froelich, Goldstein, Lindsay, Nguyen, Rutinel; also SENATOR(S) Lindstedt, Amabile, Cutter, Wallace, Coleman.

CONCERNING

AN

ENVIRONMENTAL

EDUCATION

PROGRAM

THAT

IS

CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO THE "TRAVELING ANIMAL PROTECTION

Acr".

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 "Traveling Animal Protection Act", section 33-1-126, Colorado Revised Statutes, prohibits certain uses of specific animals but does not prohibit the use of livestock or equine in any way; and (b) Nothing in this act prohibits the transportation of livestock or equine within, into, or out of the state. SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 33-1-126, amend (2)(b )(II); and add (2)( c.5) as follows:

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.

33-1-126. Prohibiting certain animals in a traveling animal act - short title - definitions.

(2) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires: (b) "Environmental education program" means an animal exhibition that: (II) Is conducted by an individual A PROFESSIONAL qualified to impart such information; and (c.5) "PROFESSIONAL" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL ORAN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS OBTAINED A PROFESSIONAL ACCREDITATION OR CERTIFICATION FROM AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING: (I) THE ASSOCIATION OF Zoos AND AQUARIUMS;

(II) THE GLOBAL FEDERATION OF ANIMAL SANCTUARIES; OR (III) THE AMERICAN SANCTUARY ASSOCIATION.

SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August 12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13, 2026); except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless

approved by the people at the general election to be held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.

Julie McCluskie SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

James Rashad Coleman, Sr. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

Vanessa Reilly CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Esther van Mourik SECRETARY OF THE SENATE

APPROVED on Thursday April 23rd 2026 at 12:00pm (Date and Time)

Jared S. Polis GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO