State lawmakers and county and municipal officials join growing coalition of leaders supporting the statewide wildfire prevention and land and water conservation measure

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser today joined a growing list of state legislators, local elected officials and community leaders from across the state in endorsing Proposition 137, boosting support for the November ballot initiative to help protect drinking water, prevent severe wildfires, and conserve Colorado’s lands and forests.

“Colorado’s outdoors belong to us all, and we must take care of it for future generations,” Weiser said. “That’s why I support Proposition 137, which would dedicate a portion of sales taxes towards conserving our lands, protecting outdoor recreation opportunities, and wildfire resilience.”

“And given the state’s fiscal challenges, I am encouraged by the Prop. 137 proponents’ legislative intent and assurances to me that, in leaner budget years without TABOR refunds, this measure is not intended and will not reduce the General Fund,” Weiser added.
“That’s a responsible way to ensure these important priorities are supported while not reducing critical funds for K-12 schools and healthcare.”

Key leaders in the General Assembly are also leading the growing list of endorsements, including Senate President James Coleman; House Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker; State Senators Dylan Roberts, Jeff Bridges, and Lisa Cutter; and State Representatives Elizabeth Velasco and Meghan Lukens.

They join a broad coalition of local mayors, county commissioners, and municipal leaders from every corner of the state, as well as distinguished Colorado leaders, former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, former U.S. Senator Mark Udall, and former Governor Bill Ritter.

The landmark measure, appearing on this November’s ballot, provides a necessary and proactive solution to the growing threats of severe drought and catastrophic wildfire facing our state. Importantly, it does so without increasing taxes and allows state leaders to retain full discretion in times of budgetary crisis to meet the highest priority needs of Coloradans.

“Proposition 137 provides a smart, necessary solution to protect our drinking-water supplies and prevent devastating wildfires across Colorado,” said Senate President James Coleman of Denver. “Just as importantly, it provides legislative flexibility to protect core state services like education and healthcare during tight budget cycles.”

In years when the state has a budget surplus, Prop 137 would direct an estimated $175 million annually from existing state sales tax revenue generated by sporting goods and outdoor equipment sales to fund science-backed, proactive wildfire mitigation, watershed protection, and conservation efforts, all without raising taxes on Coloradans.

In years without a surplus, funding comes from the General Fund, while granting state lawmakers full discretion to adjust funding levels during economic downturns or state emergencies to meet essential public needs like healthcare and education. Designed with long-term fiscal responsibility in mind, every $1 invested in wildfire risk reduction today saves Colorado $6 in long-term wildfire damage and response costs.

Local and regional leaders backing Prop 137 span diverse communities across the Western Slope, Front Range, mountain towns, and southern Colorado, highlighting the measure’s statewide appeal and practical approach to resource stewardship.

Elected and community leaders supporting Prop 137 to date:

Phil Weiser, Colorado Attorney General
Ken Salazar, former Secretary of the Interior and former U.S. Senator
Mark Udall, former U.S. Senator
Bill Ritter, former Colorado Governor
James Coleman, President of the Colorado State Senate (SD 33)
Andy Boesenecker, Speaker Pro Tempore and State Representative (HD 53)
Jeff Bridges, State Senator (SD 26)
Lisa Cutter, State Senator (SD 20)
Dylan Roberts, State Senator (SD 8)
Meghan Lukens, State Representative (HD 26)
Elizabeth Velasco, State Representative (HD 57)
Alice Madden, former Colorado House Majority Leader
Michael Merrifield, former Manitou Springs City Councilman, State Representative and Senator
Perry Will, Garfield County Commissioner and former State Senator
Chaffee County Board of County Commissioners
Gunnison County Board of County Commissioners
Saguache County Board of County Commissioners’
San Miguel County Board of County Commissioners
Tom Boyd, Eagle County Commissioner
Anne Brown, San Miguel County Commissioner
Laura Puckett Daniels, Gunnison County Commissioner
Jonathan Houck, Gunnison County Commissioner
Gina Lucrezi, Chaffee County Commissioner
Eric Mamula, Summit County Commissioner
Marsha Porter-Norton, La Plata County Commissioner
Matt Salka, La Plata County Commissioner
Matt Scherr, Eagle County Commissioner
Jody Shadduck-McNally, Larimer County Commissioner
Kathy Chandler-Henry, former Eagle County Commissioner
Josie Heath, former Boulder County Commissioner
Elise Jones, former Boulder County Commissioner
Jim Starr, former Gunnison County Commissioner
Hannah Berman, Basalt Mayor Pro Tem
John Clark, Ridgway Mayor
Geoff Grimmer, Eagle Council Member
Michal Rosenoer, Buena Vista Trustee
Anna Stout, Grand Junction City Council Member, former Mayor
Suzanne Jones, former Boulder Mayor
Karla Baise, Poudre School District School Board Director
Doug Vilsack, former Director, Colorado State BLM, former Assistant Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources
Luis Benitez, former Director, Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office
Christine Arbogast, natural resources professional