DENVER ~ Denver - Governor Jared Polis has taken action to address the outbreak of the invasive Mountain Pine Beetle by signing the first bills of the 2026 Colorado Legislative Session into law. These bills were signed administratively, with the first one focusing on supporting the Palisade Insectary's crucial work on biological controls.

The bill, known as HB26-1150 and sponsored by Representative Emily Sirota and Senator Jeff Bridges, will provide funding to the Palisade Insectary in order to combat the impact of the Mountain Pine Beetle and protect Colorado's forests from wildfires. This comes after Governor Polis recently announced appointments to the Pine Beetle Task Force, which will coordinate a government response to this outbreak. The task force held its first meeting this week.

During a press conference, Governor Polis expressed his pride in Colorado's strong agricultural sector and stated that he was honored to sign this bill as it directs funding towards protecting Colorado's forests. He also highlighted the importance of using biocontrol methods, such as predatory insects that are natural enemies of the Mountain Pine Beetle, in order to reduce pesticide use.

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Dr. Dan Bean, Director of the Palisade Insectary, also spoke at the press conference and emphasized that biocontrol will be just one aspect of a larger effort to mitigate the impacts of this beetle on front range forests.

In addition to HB26-1150, Governor Polis also signed three other bills into law administratively: HB26-1151 sponsored by Representative Emily Sirota and Senator Jeff Bridges which focuses on Department of Corrections Supplemental; HB26-1155 sponsored by Representative Emily Sirota and Senator Jeff Bridges which addresses Department of Health Care Policy & Financing Supplemental; and HB26-1177 sponsored by Representatives Kyle Brown and Rick Taggart, and Senators Judy Amabile and Barbara Kirkmeyer which aims to end nursing provider wage enhancement payments. This final bill is a bipartisan effort.

Governor Polis' swift action in signing these bills into law demonstrates his commitment to addressing the Mountain Pine Beetle outbreak and protecting Colorado's forests. With the support of the Palisade Insectary and the newly formed Pine Beetle Task Force, it is hoped that this invasive species can be effectively controlled and the state's natural resources can be preserved for future generations.

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