The 2025 Colorado state legislative session, which adjourned in May, brought key victories for companion animals, animals used in laboratory research and testing, and threatened and endangered wildlife. As we celebrate this progress, we ask our readers in Colorado—did your lawmakers choose to support these protections for animals? And if not, what can we do to engage them in the future?
Following last year’s first-ever scorecard for the state, the 2025 Colorado Humane Scorecard is now available online. This year’s scores reflect strong overall support for animal protection initiatives, building on last year’s high-impact, bipartisan outcomes for animals. Nearly all Colorado state senators—29 in total—scored 75% or higher on the scorecard, with 22 senators receiving a perfect score of 100%. In addition, more than half the Colorado state representatives—38 members—received a perfect score.
One landmark victory this year was the signing of SB25-085, which requires research facilities that use dogs and cats in testing to take steps to place those animals for adoption, if at all possible, into permanent homes. Governor Jared Polis scheduled a signing ceremony for the bill, with Humane World Action Fund’s Colorado state director Aubyn Royall and all of the bill’s sponsors present, each acknowledged for their efforts.
The governor also signed bills into law to strengthen anti-wildlife-trafficking measures; crack down on bad dog breeders, by banning the sale of certain pets in public spaces; and expand options for pet owners in housing when it comes to insurance coverage.
We urge you to review the scorecard to learn which legislators voted in favor of animal protection measures, and which failed to do so. A big part of advancing our cause is holding lawmakers accountable for their actions. In doing so, we can make our voices louder, stronger, and more consistent than those of the puppy mill owners, trophy hunters, and other special interests that cause so much harm.
Using the Scorecard
The 2025 Colorado Humane Scorecard includes bills that were considered by the Colorado General Assembly. Here is a list of each bill, and guidance on how to read the scorecard.
- Health-Related Research Test Subjects (SB 25-085): A ✓ indicates a vote in favor of SB25-085. The act requires health-related research facilities that test on dogs and cats to offer those animals for adoption before euthanizing them. Those who have adopted former research dogs and cats can attest to the resilience and affection of these animals once they are given the chance to flourish in a home environment, after spending years in a laboratory. Sponsored by Sen. Cathy Kipp (D), Sen. John Carson (R), Rep. Manny Rutinel (D), and Rep. Amy Paschal (D).
- Prevention of Wildlife Trafficking (SB25-168): A ✓ indicates a vote in favor of SB25-168. The act increases penalties for existing prohibitions on possession, sale, and destruction of wildlife when the wildlife is a threatened, endangered, or CITES-listed species. It also prohibits certain conduct if the wildlife was the subject of upstream offenses under other laws. Like Colorado, states must enact strong laws against wildlife trafficking to help stop international criminal schemes. Sponsored by Sen. Scott Bright (R), Sen. Dylan Roberts (D), Rep. Ryan Armagost (R), and Rep. Cecilia Espenoza (D).
- Prohibiting Pet Animal Sales in Public Spaces (HB25-1180): A ✓ indicates a vote in favor of HB25-1180. The act prohibits the sale of certain pet animals in public spaces, including parking lots, with some exceptions. Pets sold in public spaces are often from large-scale, cruel, commercial sellers. Buyers often have no recourse or way of contacting the seller about the animal after the sale is made. Sponsored by Rep. Monica Duran (D), Rep. Ryan Armagost (R), Sen. Scott Bright (R), and Sen. Dylan Roberts (D).
- Pet Ownership Residential Housing Structures (HB25-1207): A ✓ indicates a vote in favor of HB25-1207. Colorado law prohibits insurers from refusing to provide coverage or raising premiums for homeowners insurance or dwelling fire insurance based on the breed of their dogs. This act now extends this to all residential structures used as a residence by owners or renters. Access to housing is becoming more challenging, and Coloradans should not have to consider surrendering their pet to find affordable housing. Sponsored by Rep. Javier Mabrey (D), Rep. Monica Duran (D), Sen. Faith Winter (D) and Sen. Tony Exum (D).
About our methodology
Humane World Action Fund acknowledges the limitations of judging legislators based on a few votes on animal issues, however important those issues may be. In some cases, legislators must miss votes for unavoidable reasons, such as a death in the family, serious illness, birth of a child or emergency in their district. Additionally, some bills may have good intentions but include problematic language or have unintended legal consequences.
There are many potential reasons a legislator votes a certain way—even more reason to engage with your elected officials directly and ask them their positions on various issues. In assessing the record of your representatives, and your strategy for engaging them in the future, do consider unrecorded matters such as committee participation and performance, House or Senate leadership posts, constituent engagement and responsiveness, and other animal protection bills not included in this scorecard.
The full 2025 Colorado Humane Scorecard, and scorecards from previous sessions, can be found online at humaneaction.org/state-scorecards.
Next year in Colorado, many General Assembly seats will be up for election, and candidates will come knocking as they ask for your vote. When they do, be sure to let them know how important animal protection is to you, and ask them what they will do to support it. We urge you to share the 2025 Colorado Humane Scorecard with other voters, and to rely on the information it provides as you prepare to enter the voting booth. By electing humane candidates to office, together we can ensure that animals have a voice at the Colorado State Capitol, and beyond.
