As Coloradans, our identity is deeply connected to the beautiful landscapes that make our state unique. As a representative for the Western Slope, I feel an immense responsibility to protect and preserve the land that makes our community so special. 

Our environment is also the foundation of our economy, and balancing the responsible use of our bountiful natural resources with their conservation for future generations requires thoughtful management. I am proud to have built a strong record of doing both: strengthening our rural and recreation economies and advancing science-based wildlife management policies. 

Protecting Colorado Land, Water and Wildlife 

I am dedicated to finding practical ways to protect open space and ensure communities can continue to benefit from the outdoors and enjoy it for generations. That is why I sponsored a bipartisan law to expand the state’s conservation easement tax credit, which raised the annual cap from $45 million to $50 million. Conservation easements give families a voluntary way to protect wildlife habitat from development. This way, we ensure land stays productive while preserving open space for years to come. 

Conservation also means managing the inevitable interactions between growing communities and Colorado’s wildlife. As more people move to and visit our state, we need policies that help people and wildlife coexist.

I sponsored a new law to reduce human-bear conflict, which gives Colorado Parks and Wildlife more tools to address negligent behavior, such as leaving trash unsecured, that can lure bears into neighborhoods. Preventing these conflicts is another area where thoughtful intervention helps nature just as much as it helps people, especially in a year where we have seen unprecedented bear activity. 

Clean, abundant water is essential to healthy rivers and wildlife, as well as to farms, businesses, communities and the recreation economy. For both of those reasons, we banned the discharge of plastic pellets into Colorado’s waterways and land, helping prevent microplastic pollution from entering the environment.

We also put new water conservation measures in place recommended by the Colorado River Drought Task Force, giving Colorado more tools to stretch our limited water supplies as demand grows. 

Supporting Recreation, Tourism and Energy for a Thriving Economy 

Effective conservation and land management are essential to our rural and resort economies. Outdoor recreation generates $65.8 billion a year for Colorado, a metric that depends on healthy forests, clean rivers and thriving wildlife populations.

That is why I sponsored the Colorado Outdoor Opportunities Act, which directs Colorado Parks and Wildlife to coordinate land management for wildlife and recreation with local communities, tribes, landowners and partner agencies. The law helps manage growing demand on our public lands while protecting the wildlife and open spaces that make them worth visiting in the first place. 

Recreation should also be within reach for everyone. That is why I sponsored a law that makes hunting, fishing and park passes more affordable for seniors and veterans with disabilities. It lowers the eligibility age for senior fishing licenses, expands the disability discount available to veterans and keeps senior fishing licenses priced at just $8 a year, so more Coloradans can enjoy the outdoors. We can also develop 

reliable energy, support innovation and create jobs while being thoughtful about where and how that development occurs. In 2026, we made it easier for Coloradans to install portable solar panels at home, expanded opportunities for geothermal energy, and encouraged renewable energy projects on land already disturbed by mining or development rather than requiring new projects to use untouched open space. 

Looking Ahead 

Conservation and economic opportunity policies do not have to be competing goals. When we protect the land, water and wildlife that make Colorado unique, we are also protecting the farms, businesses, outdoor recreation and communities that depend on them. Good stewardship is about managing both our economy and our environment responsibly so Colorado can remain a great place to live, work and visit. It takes everyone in House District 26 to strike that balance, and I will keep listening as the work continues.

If you have thoughts on environmental policy or other issues you want addressed at the Capitol, reach me at meghan.lukens.house@coleg.gov. 

Rep. Meghan Lukens represents District 26, which includes Routt, Moffat, Rio Blanco and Eagle counties, in the Colorado House.