The Cavalry Group - OPPOSE CO Senate Bill 25-168

OPPOSE DECEPTIVE COLORADO "Animal Trafficking" LEGISLATION -

Senate Bill 25-168

As of March 6, 2025, Colorado Senate Bill 25-168, titled "Prevention of Wildlife Trafficking," was amended and approved by the Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee. The bill has been referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED.

While the bill does not specify individual species, the inclusion of CITES Appendix I species means that a wide range of animals and plants are affected. Examples of such species include, but are not limited to:

Mammals:  

Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)

Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus)

Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei)

Birds:

Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus)

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus)

Reptiles:

Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)

Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)

Amphibians:

Golden Poison Frog (Phyllobates terribilis)

Plants:

Certain species of orchids and cacti

**For a comprehensive and up-to-date list of all species included in CITES Appendix I, please refer to the official CITES website or contact the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife, which is mandated to provide this information to the public. Click Here

The Cavalry Group finds the following concerns about this legislation creating circumstances where the interpretation of the law and the importance of balancing efforts to combat actual illegal wildlife trafficking could impede on the rights and interests of law-abiding animal owners and breeders in Colorado:

Colorado Senate Bill 25-168 impact on Law-Abiding Animal Owners and Breeders: The expanded definitions and increased penalties could inadvertently affect legitimate animal owners and breeders, especially if they unknowingly possess species newly classified under the expanded protections.
Colorado Senate Bill 25-168 ambiguity in Species Classification: Incorporating species from CITES Appendix I may lead to confusion among animal owners and breeders regarding which species are protected, increasing the risk of unintentional violations.
The stringent Penalties in Colorado Senate Bill 25-168: The escalation of certain violations to felonies with severe penalties could be viewed as disproportionate, particularly for first-time or unintentional offenses by otherwise law-abiding individuals.
License Suspension Authority in Colorado Senate Bill 25-168: Granting the Parks and Wildlife Commission the power to suspend licenses based on convictions may be seen as granting excessive authority without sufficient oversight, potentially leading to unjust outcomes for animal owners and breeders.
Colorado Senate Bill 25-168 Resource Allocation: The mandate for the Division of Parks and Wildlife to conduct extensive investigations and surveys could divert resources from other essential conservation and management activities, potentially impacting services beneficial to responsible animal owners and breeders.
Colorado Senate Bill 25-168 should be opposed because it expands wildlife trafficking laws in a way that could unfairly impact law-abiding animal owners, breeders, and businesses.
By incorporating species from CITES Appendix I and increasing penalties to felony charges, the bill risks punishing responsible individuals who may unknowingly possess or transfer newly restricted species.
The vague classification of protected wildlife, combined with excessive government oversight and license suspension authority, threatens legal businesses without clear due process protections. Instead of targeting true bad actors, SB 25-168 creates unnecessary regulatory burdens that could harm Colorado's responsible animal industry.

Please help us oppose this legislation by sending in your emails directly to each member of the Colorado Senate Appropriations Committee today!

judy.amabile.senate@coleg.gov

jeff.bridges.senate@coleg.gov

barbara.kirkmeyer.senate@coleg.gov

byron.pelton.senate@coleg.gov

chris.kolker.senate@coleg.gov

julie.gonzales.senate@coleg.gov

larry.liston.senate@coleg.gov

SAMPLE LETTER:

Subject: Opposition to Senate Bill 25-168 – Prevention of Wildlife Trafficking

Dear Chairwoman Amabile and Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee,

I am writing to express my strong opposition to Senate Bill 25-168, which expands Colorado’s wildlife trafficking laws to incorporate species listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). While I fully support reasonable efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking, this bill presents serious concerns for law-abiding animal owners, breeders, and businesses operating within Colorado.

SB 25-168 introduces unnecessary and overly broad regulations that could unintentionally criminalize responsible individuals who legally own, breed, or transport animals now classified under this expanded law. The bill:

Fails to clearly define how these new species classifications will be communicated to the public, creating potential legal jeopardy for responsible animal owners and businesses.

Imposes severe felony penalties, including license suspension, for infractions that may result from regulatory confusion rather than willful wrongdoing.

Grants excessive authority to the Parks and Wildlife Commission, allowing suspensions without adequate due process protections.

Diverts enforcement resources away from critical conservation efforts to instead target lawful breeders, exhibitors, and pet store owners.

If enacted, SB 25-168 could severely harm Colorado’s responsible animal enterprise industries, making it increasingly difficult for reputable breeders and business owners to operate without fear of legal repercussions. I urge this committee to reject SB 25-168 or, at minimum, amend it to ensure that it does not punish legitimate animal owners and businesses who operate in compliance with existing state and federal regulations.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I respectfully request that you vote against SB 25-168 and stand in defense of Colorado’s law-abiding animal owners and businesses.

Sincerely,

The Cavalry Group • P.O. Box 8 • Guthrie • OK • 73044 • Ph: 855-748-4210