H_AWN_2023A 03/06/2023 01:35:22 PM Committee Summary PUBLICSTAFF SUMMARY OF MEETINGHOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, WATER & NATURAL RESOURCES Date 03/06/2023 Attendance Holtorf X Lindsay X Luck * Lukens X Martinez X McLachlan X Parenti X Story X Titone E Velasco X Winter T. X Catlin X McCormick X Time 01:35:22 PM to 02:57:21 PM Place HCR 0107 This Meeting was called to order by McCormick This Report was prepared by Alexa Kelly Hearing Items Action Taken hPresentation on the Colorado Water Plan Committee Discussion Only hHB23-1179 Referred to the Committee of the Whole hSB23-050 Referred to the Committee of the Whole Presentation on the Colorado Water Plan - Committee Discussion Only Attachment Tag File Name Attachment A http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2023A/commsumm.nsf/0/C2F4D19FDB59...$File/Attachment A - Legislative Water Plan Update (Ris, Sands) 3-6-23.pdf?OpenElement Attachment A - Legislative Water Plan Update (Ris, Sands) 3-6-23.pdf 01:35:38 PM Lauren Ris, Deputy Director, and Russ Sands, Water Supply Planning Section Chief, from Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) introduced themselves and their presentation (Attachment A). 01:38:33 PM Deputy Director Ris discussed the past changes made to the Colorado Water Plan and the steps taken by CWCB to create the latest update. The updated plan can be found online here: https://cwcb.colorado.gov/colorado-water-plan. 01:41:52 PM Mr. Sands discussed the four key values, the purpose, and the vision of the plan. He spoke about the different partnerships and the partner actions listed in the plan. 01:44:57 PM Mr. Sands spoke about the interconnected action areas in the plan, including vibrant communities, robust agriculture, thriving watersheds, and resilient planning. 01:47:56 PM Mr. Sands told the committee about the water needs across the state and different industries, the potential for water conservation, and investing in future water planning. 01:49:50 PM Mr. Sands discussed what is currently being done to implement the Water Plan, including turf replacement program setup, wildfire ready watersheds, and grant making. 01:54:13 PM Deputy Director Ris and Mr. Sands answered questions about similar types of water plans in other states, federal involvement, and urban water conservation. 01:59:36 PM Deputy Director Ris answered questions about the turf replacement program and how federal conservation demands affect the implementation of the Water Plan. 02:05:19 PM Mr. Sands spoke about how the Water Plan encourages investment in a variety of strategies to be resilient to future water planning. 02:07:23 PM Mr. Sands answered questions about grant funding for salinity control in the Water Plan and how the plan provides tools for water conservation. HB23-1179 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole Attachment Tag File Name Attachment B http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2023A/commsumm.nsf/0/C4AA3F613F5A...$File/Attachment B - HB1179 Handout.pdf?OpenElement Attachment B - HB1179 Handout.pdf 02:09:56 PM Representative Mauro, bill co-prime sponsor, introduced House Bill 23-1179. Under current law, certain cash funds may not have more than 16.5 percent of uncommitted funds remaining in the fund at the end of each state fiscal year based on the amount spent in the fiscal year. The bill exempts the Agricultural Products Inspection Cash Fund in the Department of Agriculture from this limit and creates a limit of 50 percent of uncommitted funds based on the amount spent during the fiscal year. A handout was distributed to committee members (Attachment B). 02:11:48 PM Mr. Jim Ehrlich, representing Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Brian Pauley, representing Colorado Department of Agriculture - Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Service, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Roger Mix, representing Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, testified in support of the bill. 02:19:56 PM Mr. Pauley responded to questions from the committee. 02:23:34 PM Representative Mauro and Representative Winter made final comments on the bill. 02:24:49 PM Committee members made final comments on the bill. 02:26:06 PM Motion Refer House Bill 23-1179 to the Committee of the Whole. Moved Winter T. Seconded Holtorf Holtorf Yes Lindsay Yes Luck No Lukens Yes Martinez Yes McLachlan Yes Parenti Yes Story Excused Titone Excused Velasco Yes Winter T. Yes Catlin Yes McCormick Yes Final YES: 10 NO: 1 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS SB23-050 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole 02:26:13 PM Representative Holtorf, bill co-prime sponsor, introduced Senate Bill 23-050. The bill expands eligibility criteria for the existing Colorado Agricultural Future Loan Program. The program, currently scheduled to repeal January 2, 2025, is continued indefinitely. 02:29:03 PM Representative McCormick, bill co-prime sponsor, gave opening comments on the bill. 02:29:47 PM Bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee. 02:31:59 PM Mr. Brian Coppom, representing Colorado Department of Agriculture, testified in support of the bill. Tyler Garrett, representing Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, testified in support of the bill. Richard Orf, representing Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Austin Vincent, representing Colorado Farm Bureau, testified in support of the bill. 02:40:14 PM Mr. Coppom answered questions from committee members. 02:43:09 PM Mr. Garrett replied to questions from the committee. 02:51:11 PM Mr. Coppom continued to answer questions from the committee. 02:51:31 PM Representative Holtorf and Representative McCormick gave final comments on the bill. 02:53:34 PM Committee members made final comments on the bill. 02:57:01 PM Motion Refer Senate Bill 23-050 to the Committee of the Whole. Moved McCormick Seconded Holtorf Holtorf Yes Lindsay Yes Luck No Lukens Yes Martinez Yes McLachlan Yes Parenti Yes Story Yes Titone Excused Velasco Yes Winter T. Yes Catlin Yes McCormick Yes Final YES: 11 NO: 1 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS 02:57:21 PM The committee adjourned.