Determination of Town Abandonment
| Type | Bill |
|---|---|
| Session | 2026 Regular Session |
| Subjects |
Concerning the abandonment of a town that has critical water infrastructure for the residents of the town, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
Bill Summary:
Under current law, a town must fail to hold any regular or special election or elect officers to maintain any town government for a period of at least 5 years before a county or a landowner in the town may apply to the secretary of state (secretary) to determine that the town is abandoned. The bill also allows a registered elector in the town to apply to the secretary to determine that a town is abandoned. In addition, the bill allows for a county, a landowner in the town, or a registered elector in the town to apply to the secretary to determine a town is abandoned when a town has no board of trustees or town clerk, when a town is unable to hold an election, and when a town owns or operates infrastructure critical for the treatment or delivery of water to residents.
The bill also authorizes the department of public health and environment to transfer up to $100,000 from the small communities water and wastewater grant fund to the department of public safety to cover the cost of operation and maintenance of a town's water system if an application for abandonment of the town has been filed with the secretary and the town has a water system that is failing or is likely to fail.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Prime Sponsors
Senator
Rod Pelton
Senator
Nick Hinrichsen
Representative
Ty Winter
Representative
Matthew Martinez
Committees
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Related Documents & Information
| Activity | Vote | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| J.001 | The motion passed without objection. | Vote summary |
| Refer Senate Bill 26-157, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. | The motion passed on a vote of 7-0. | Vote summary |
| Activity | Vote | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| Adopt amendment L.001 | The motion passed without objection. | Vote summary |
| Refer Senate Bill 26-157, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. | The motion passed on a vote of 7-0. | Vote summary |
| Date | Amendment Number | Committee/ Floor Hearing | Status | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/22/2026 | L.001 | SEN Local Government & Housing | Passed [*] |
| Date | Location | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 04/28/2026 | Senate | Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee |
| 04/28/2026 | Senate | Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended - Consent Calendar to Senate Committee of the Whole |
| 04/22/2026 | Senate | Senate Committee on Local Government & Housing Refer Amended to Appropriations |
| 04/08/2026 | Senate | Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government & Housing |
Prime Sponsor
Sponsor
Co-Sponsor