On Tuesday, April 16, 2019, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed
Senate Bill 19-181 (SB19-181) into law.
SB19-181 was a controversial bill as it made its way through the
Colorado Legislature, and it is now a controversial piece of
legislation. Indeed, SB19-181 passed the Colorado Legislature
strictly along party lines, and it has now pitted some local
Colorado communities against the oil and gas industry.
What makes the new legislation so controversial is that it gives
local Colorado governments express land use authority to regulate
the siting of oil and gas locations and to regulate land use and
surface impacts of oil and gas activities. This authority includes,
specifically (and among other things), the ability to inspect oil
and gas facilities, impose fines for leaks and spills, and impose
fees on owners and operators to cover the costs of permitting,
monitoring and inspection. These new authorities given to local
Colorado governments represents a substantial
