A new Colorado bill could change how the state battles deadly animal diseases. Lawmakers want to use an existing fund not just to pay farmers after disaster strikes, but to stop outbreaks before they start.
House Bill 25-1067 passed the Colorado House 58-1 and now heads to the Senate. If it becomes law, money from the Diseased Livestock Indemnity Fund could pay for testing, education, and prevention instead of only replacing dead animals.
Why the Change Matters Now
Colorado is facing its largest animal disease outbreak ever. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, better known as bird flu, has ripped through poultry farms and jumped into dairy cows. Since July 2024, the state has recorded more than 60 infected dairy herds and millions of commercial birds have been killed to stop the spread.
The virus does not just kill animals. It empties bank accounts and breaks hearts.
Mesa County rancher Janie VanWinkle raises cattle and knows the pain firsthand.
“We spend our lives caring for these animals,” she said. “When you lose a whole herd, you start over from zero. The emotional toll is huge, and the money is gone.”
Prevention Costs Less Than Recovery
Representative Karen McCormick, a veterinarian and the bill’s main sponsor, says catching diseases early saves everyone.
“Prevention and early detection are always cheaper than playing catch-up,” McCormick told reporters. “One bad outbreak can wipe out local food supplies and drive up prices for Colorado families.”
The current fund only pays owners after animals are destroyed. HB25-1067 would let the Department of Agriculture use the money for:
- On-farm testing kits and lab work
- Training programs for producers and vets
- Emergency response planning
- Public education campaigns
McCormick points out that quick testing stopped smaller outbreaks in other states. Colorado wants the same tools.
Real Threats Facing Colorado Herds Right Now
Bird flu is not the only worry.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture recently issued an urgent warning about New World Screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite that once devastated U.S. livestock before being eradicated in the 1960s. A single infected animal entering the country could restart the nightmare.
State Veterinarian Dr. Maggie Baldwin said the risk is real. Travelers or imported animals could bring screwworm back at any time.
Add chronic wasting disease in deer, bovine tuberculosis, and other threats, and Colorado producers feel under siege.
What Ranchers and Farmers Are Saying
Many producers support the bill strongly.
“It gives us a fighting chance,” said VanWinkle. “Right now we wait until animals are dying before the state can help. This lets us test and stop it early.”
The Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and Colorado Livestock Association both back the measure. They call it common-sense protection for rural jobs and the food supply.
Some worry about fund balances, but most agree the risk of doing nothing is higher.
Next Steps for the Bill
After sailing through the House with near-unanimous support, HB25-1067 now moves to the Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee.
If the Senate passes it unchanged, the bill heads to Governor Jared Polis’s desk. Most observers expect him to sign it quickly given the ongoing bird flu crisis.
The changes would take effect immediately upon signature.
Colorado families who buy milk, eggs, and beef at the grocery store may never notice the fund. But if the bill works, they will keep finding local products on the shelves at reasonable prices, and ranch families will keep their herds and their way of life.
That quiet victory would be the real payoff.
What do you think, Colorado? Should we invest in stopping diseases before they explode, or keep paying the bigger bill later? Drop your thoughts below and tag #ColoradoAg if you’re sharing on social media.
