Colorado ranchers who say they are losing cattle to thieves just got a faster alarm system from the state. On May 26, 2026, Gov. Jared Polis signed a new law that shortens the window for reporting stolen livestock and pushes brand inspectors to get those reports to police more quickly. Ranchers who helped write the measure argue that tightening the timeline gives investigators a better shot at recovering animals that go missing.
Filed as SB26-136, the legislation directs the Division of Brand Inspection in the Colorado Department of Agriculture to adopt procedures by Dec. 31, 2026, that ensure reports of stolen livestock reach all relevant law enforcement within 24 hours and that the public is notified about lost or stolen animals, according to the Colorado General Assembly. The bill sailed through the Senate and House with strong bipartisan margins, with Senators Rod Pelton and James Coleman and Representatives Regina English and Larry Don Suckla listed as prime sponsors.
Nicole and C.W. Mallery of Freedom Acres Ranch in eastern El Paso County helped develop the bill and testified during hearings. Nicole told CBS Colorado that slow reporting has already hit their bottom line: "Last year we had 15 cattle come up missing. This year already, we've had four." She and other supporters also pointed to rising beef prices and differences in enforcement across borders as reasons Colorado herds have become tempting targets for thieves.
What the law requires
SB26-136 requires the State Board of Stock Inspection Commissioners and the Division of Brand Inspection to take in reports of lost or stolen livestock and adopt rules that spell out how they coordinate with law enforcement and livestock owners, according to the Colorado General Assembly. The division must review and approve proposed rules before the board adopts them, and the measure allows the division to tailor procedures by region, as long as information is shared more quickly so investigations can start sooner.
Ranchers say faster action matters
Supporters told lawmakers that speed is everything when animals go missing, arguing that quicker notification gives investigators a crucial window to track down stolen cattle and can serve as a deterrent to would-be rustlers. "That time is going to be crucial in terms of potentially getting your cattle back," Nicole Mallery told CBS Colorado, and witnesses at committee hearings pushed for consistent statewide procedures so ranchers know exactly what to expect when they report a loss.
The law took effect as soon as the governor signed it, and the Division of Brand Inspection now faces a stretch of rulemaking and outreach work as it builds the faster reporting network supporters called for. Ranchers say they will be watching how quickly the division turns the bill’s deadlines into practical, on-the-ground steps that actually shrink the gap between filing a missing-animal report and launching an active investigation.
