S_AGR_2021A 04/29/2021 01:32:04 PM Committee Summary PUBLICSTAFF SUMMARY OF MEETINGSENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES Date 04/29/2021 Attendance Coram X Fields X Sonnenberg X Danielson X Donovan X Time 01:32:04 PM to 05:15:05 PM Place Old Supreme Court This Meeting was called to order by Donovan This Report was prepared by Vanessa Reilly Hearing Items Action Taken hSB21-235 Committee Discussion Only hHB21-1181 Committee Discussion Only hSB21-240 Referred to Senate Appropriations hHB21-1226 Referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar Conf 21-State Fair Authority Board Of Commissioners - Favorably Refer to Full Senate - Consent Calendar 01:32:22 PM The committee considered the appointments to the State Fair Authority Board of Commissioners, which include Erin Michalski and Nicole Weathers. Scott Stoller, Governor's Office, introduced the five appointees to the Board. The appointees appeared remotely and described their backgrounds and interest in serving on the Board. . 01:56:48 PM Motion Refer the appointment of Erin Michalski, Nicole Weathers to the Conf 21-State Fair Authority Board Of Commissioners to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. Moved Fields Seconded Coram Yes Fields Yes Sonnenberg Yes Danielson Yes Donovan Yes Final YES: 5 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS Conf 21-State Fair Authority Board Of Commissioners - Committee Discussion Only SB21-235 - Committee Discussion Only Attachment Tag File Name Attachment http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2021A/commsumm.nsf/0/D638D1746B32...$File/210429 AttachA.pdf?OpenElement 210429 AttachA.pdf Attachment http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2021A/commsumm.nsf/0/9416C65498EE...$File/210429 AttachB.pdf?OpenElement 210429 AttachB.pdf 01:59:40 PM Senator Jaquez Lewis, bill sponsor, presented Senate Bill 21-235. The bill transfers $3.0 million from the General Fund to the Agriculture Value-Added Cash Fund to support the Advancing Coloradoâs Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program. It also appropriates $2.0 million from the General Fund to the Conservation Services Division within the Department of Agriculture for voluntary soil health programs. 02:03:05 PM Les Owen, representing Colorado Department of Agriculture, testified in support of the bill. 02:26:11 PM Greg Vlaming, representing High Desert Conservation District, testified in support of the bill. Natalie Allio, representing Upper Arkansas Conservation District, testified in support of the bill. Simon Martinez, representing Ute Mountain Farm & Ranch Enterprise, testified in support of the bill. 02:36:15 PM Amendments L.001 and L.002 were distributed to the committee (Attachments A and B). 02:39:27 PM The chair laid the bill over for action at a later date. HB21-1181 - Committee Discussion Only Attachment Tag File Name Attachment http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2021A/commsumm.nsf/0/C2A0EAEF1EBE...$File/210429 AttachC.pdf?OpenElement 210429 AttachC.pdf Attachment http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2021A/commsumm.nsf/0/212522A34699...$File/210429 AttachD.pdf?OpenElement 210429 AttachD.pdf Attachment http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2021A/commsumm.nsf/0/F6BBA6913A2D...$File/210429 AttachE.pdf?OpenElement 210429 AttachE.pdf 02:40:56 PM Senator Simpson and Senator Winter, bill sponsors, presented House Bill 21-1181. The bill creates the Soil Health Program and the Soil Health Advisory Committee in the Department of Agriculture. Written testimony on the bill is included as Attachment C. 02:46:40 PM Richard Andrews, representing self, testified to amend the bill. State Conservationist Clint Evans, representing USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, testified in a neutral position on the bill. Mr. Evans responded to committee questions. JD Wright, representing Olney Boon Soil Conservation District and self, testified in opposition to the bill. 03:04:00 PM Dianna Orf, representing Colorado Water Congress, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Greg Vlaming, representing High Desert Conservation District, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Patrick O'Neill, representing Mosca-Hooper Conservation District, testified in support of the bill. The witness panel responded to committee questions. 03:18:48 PM Commissioner Terry Hofmeister, representing Colorado Counties, Inc., testified in support of the bill. Commissioner Kristine Borchers, representing Colorado Counties, Inc., testified in support of the bill. Commissioner Hilary Cooper, representing Colorado Counties, Inc. & CCAT, testified in support of the bill. 03:28:55 PM Joyce Kennedy, representing People & Pollinators Action Network, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Sheldon Rockey, representing self, testified in support of the bill. Sam Allen, representing self, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Megan Davey, representing National Young Farmers Coalition, testified in support of the bill. 03:42:06 PM Jordan Beezley, representing Colorado Department of Agriculture, was available to answer committee questions. Cindy Lair, representing Colorado Department of Agriculture, was available to answer committee questions. Committee discussion with the witness panel continued. 04:06:08 PM Amendments L.009 and L.010 were distributed (Attachments D and E). The committee discussed the amendments. 04:12:11 PM Motion Adopt amendment L.009 Moved Danielson Seconded Coram Fields Sonnenberg Danielson Donovan YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection 04:12:27 PM Motion Adopt amendment L.010 Moved Danielson Seconded Coram Fields Sonnenberg Danielson Donovan YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection 04:12:29 PM The chair laid the bill over for action at a later date. SB21-240 - Referred to Senate Appropriations Attachment Tag File Name Attachment http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2021A/commsumm.nsf/0/8924A4E24205...$File/210429 AttachF.pdf?OpenElement 210429 AttachF.pdf 04:13:18 PM Senator Simpson and Senator Danielson, bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 21-240. The bill transfers $15.0 million from the General Fund to the Colorado Water Conservation Board Construction Fund and appropriates the money for watershed restoration and flood mitigation grants. The bill sponsors responded to committee questions. 04:17:33 PM Mr. Edward Moyer, representing Grand County and Emergency Watershed Protection Program match funding, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Esther Vincent, representing Northern Water, testified to amend the bill. Mr. Sean Chambers, representing City of Greeley, testified to amend the bill. Mr. Matthew Zoccali, representing City of Fort Collins Utilities, Water Resources and Treatment, testified to amend the bill. 04:34:41 PM Heather Stauffer, representing Colorado Municipal League, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Josh Kuhn, representing Conservation Colorado, testified in support of the bill. The witness panel responded to committee questions. Mr. Kevin Houck, representing Colorado Water Conservation Board, was available to answer committee questions. 04:42:53 PM Ms. Rebecca Mitchell, representing Colorado Water Conservation Board, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Mitchell responded to committee questions. 04:52:09 PM Amendment L.002 was distributed to the committee (Attachment F). The committee discussed the amendment. 04:59:16 PM Motion Adopt amendment L.002 Moved Sonnenberg Seconded Coram Yes Fields Excused Sonnenberg Yes Danielson No Donovan No YES: 2 NO: 2 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL 04:59:18 PM The bill sponsors gave closing remarks on the bill. 05:00:37 PM Motion Refer Senate Bill 21-240 to the Committee on Appropriations. Moved Danielson Seconded Coram Yes Fields Excused Sonnenberg No Danielson Yes Donovan Yes Final YES: 3 NO: 1 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS HB21-1226 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar 05:00:48 PM Senator Coram and Senator Donovan, bill sponsors, presented House Bill 21-1226. The bill modifies operations of Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) in the Department of NaturalResources with regard to its duties to protect the stateâs waters from aquatic nuisance species. 05:03:29 PM Mr. Robert Walters, representing Colorado Parks and Wildlife, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Kelly Sloan, representing CO Seaplane Pilots Association, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Brandon Ransom, representing Denver Water, testified in support of the bill. 05:11:47 PM The bill sponsors gave closing remarks on the bill. 05:12:36 PM Motion Refer House Bill 21-1226 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. Moved Coram Seconded Coram Yes Fields Excused Sonnenberg Yes Danielson Yes Donovan Yes Final YES: 4 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS 05:15:05 PM The committee adjourned.