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H_AWN_2023A 03/20/2023 01:38:21 PM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, WATER & NATURAL RESOURCES
Date 03/20/2023
Attendance
Dickson X
Holtorf X
Luck X
Lukens X
McLachlan X
Parenti X
Story X
Titone X
Velasco *
Vigil X
Winter T. X
Catlin X
McCormick X
Time 01:38:21 PM to 03:03:26 PM
Place HCR 0107
This Meeting was called to order by McCormick
This Report was prepared by Alexa Kelly
Hearing Items Action Taken
SB23-152 Referred to House Appropriations
HB23-1220 Referred to House Appropriations

SB23-152 - Referred to House Appropriations


01:39:14 PM  
Representative Holtorf,
bill co-prime sponsor, introduced Senate Bill 23-152.  The bill extends
the Custom Processing of Meat Animals Act until September 2032 and implements
the recommendations of the Department of Regulatory Agencies’ 2022 Sunset
Review. The bill repeals obsolete provisions, consolidates duplicative
language, requires any civil penalties be deposited into the General Fund,
and standardizes two conflicting sections to clarify that violations of
the act are a petty offense, in compliance with changes to sentencing provisions
made in 2021.
01:43:00 PM  
Representative Young,
bill co-prime sponsor, gave opening comments on the bill.
01:43:42 PM  
Bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.
01:45:16 PM  
Ms. Bev Zubke, representing
Colorado Department of Agriculture, testified in support of the bill.  




Mrs. Erin Meschke,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.  




Ms. Zubke answered
questions from the committee.  
02:02:13 PM  
Representative Holtorf and Representative Young gave closing comments on the bill.
02:03:02 PM  
Committee members made final comments on the bill.


02:09:02 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 23-152 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Holtorf
Seconded Catlin
Dickson Yes
Holtorf Yes
Luck Yes
Lukens Yes
McLachlan Yes
Parenti Yes
Story Yes
Titone Yes
Velasco Yes
Vigil Yes
Winter T. Yes
Catlin Yes
McCormick Yes
Final YES: 13   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB23-1220 - Referred to House Appropriations


02:09:05 PM  
The committee took a brief recess.
02:11:05 PM  
The committee came
back to order.
02:11:21 PM  
Representative Holtorf,
bill co-prime sponsor, introduced House Bill 23-1220.  The bill requires
the Colorado Water Center, located within Colorado State University, to
complete a study of the economic impact to the areas of Colorado, Kansas,
and Nebraska affected by the Republican River basin of Colorado not meeting
its obligation under the terms of the South Fork Focus Zone Resolution
to retire 25,000 acres of irrigated land in the zone. The center must update
the General Assembly on its progress in 2025, and deliver and post online
the final report of the findings and conclusions of the study by January
1, 2026. The bill repeals January 1, 2027.



Represenative Holtorf showed the committee a map of the wells in the Republican
River Water Conservation District, which can be viewed here:
https://republicanriver.com/map/.
02:18:46 PM  
Bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.
02:29:17 PM  
John Tracy, representing
Colorado Water Center, testified in support of the bill.  





Mr. Rod Lenz, representing Republican River Water Conservation District,
testified in support of the bill.  





Mr. Peter Ampe, representing Republican River Water Conservation District
and Colorado Water Congress, testified in support of the bill.  





Deb Daniel, representing Republican River Water Conservation District,
testified in support of the bill.  





Dr. Jordan Suter, representing themself, testified in a neutral position
on the bill.




The panelists responded to questions from the committee.
02:44:48 PM  
The panelists continued to respond to questions from the committee.
02:45:32 PM  
State Engineer Kevin
Rein, representing Division of Water Resources, Department of Natural Resources,
made comments on the bill.  





Mr. Austin Vincent, representing Colorado Farm Bureau, testified in support
of the bill.




Mr. Rein responded to questions from the committee.  

02:57:51 PM  
Representative Holtorf and Representative McCormick made final comments on the bill.
03:00:58 PM  
Committee members made final comments on the bill.


03:03:19 PM
Motion Refer House Bill 23-1220 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Holtorf
Seconded McCormick
Dickson Yes
Holtorf Yes
Luck Yes
Lukens Yes
McLachlan Yes
Parenti Yes
Story Yes
Titone Yes
Velasco Yes
Vigil Yes
Winter T. Yes
Catlin Yes
McCormick Yes
Final YES: 13   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


03:03:26 PM   The committee adjourned.