S_AGR_2024A 01/24/2024 10:30:30 AM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
JOINT COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ON JOINT SENATE AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND HOUSE AGRICULTURE, WATER & NATURAL RESOURCES

Date

01/24/2024

Attendance
Catlin	X
Danielson	X
Holtorf	E
Lindsay	X
Lukens	X
Marchman	X
Martinez	X
Marvin	X
McLachlan	X
Pelton B.	X
Pelton R.	X
Priola	X
Simpson	X
Soper	E
Story	X
Titone	X
Velasco	X
Winter T.	X
Roberts	X
McCormick	X

Time

10:30:30 AM to 02:09:46 PM

Place

Old State Library

This Meeting was called to order by

McCormick

This Report was prepared by

Alexa Kelly

Hearing Items	Action Taken
hPresentation from Joint Budget Committee pursuant to Joint Rule 25 (d)	Committee Discussion Only
hSMART Act Presentation from the Department of Natural Resources (excluding ECMC)	Committee Discussion Only
hSMART Act Presentation from the Department of Agriculture	Committee Discussion Only
hPublic Testimony	Committee Discussion Only

10:30:31 AM

Presentation and other SMART Act materials can be found in the following locations:
- https://leg.colorado.gov/content/hawn2024asmartact
- https://leg.colorado.gov/content/sagr2024asmartact

Presentation from Joint Budget Committee pursuant to Joint Rule 25 (d) - Committee Discussion Only


	10:33:01 AM	Representative Bird, Joint Budget Committee (JBC) Chair, introduced the presentation. Materials for this presentation can be found online here: https://leg.colorado.gov/content/budget/budget-documents.
	10:33:35 AM	Representative Taggart, JBC, gave an overview of the FY 2024-25 budget for the Department of Agriculture. He discussed the different budget requests from the department.
	10:39:38 AM	Members of the JBC responded to questions from the committee.
	10:45:42 AM	Representative Taggart gave an overview of the Department of Natural Resources FY 2024-25 budget requests.

SMART Act Presentation from the Department of Natural Resources (excluding ECMC) - Committee Discussion Only


	11:03:20 AM	Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), introduced his presentation. He discussed the department's organization and gave staffing updates. He gave an overview of the different divisions within the department, including the Division of Mining, Reclamation, and Safety, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Colorado Water Conservation Board, Division of Water Resources (the State Engineer's Office), State Land Board, and the Energy and Carbon Management Commission.
	11:20:43 AM	Director Gibbs discussed DNR's wildly important goals: sustainable funding for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, balancing outdoor recreation with conservation, and water plan implementation. He presented information about the department's use of federal stimulus funds and about DNR's FY 2024-25 budget request. Director Gibbs discussed the department's legislative agenda and gave an update on the revenue from Keep Colorado Wild pass sales.
	11:32:58 AM	Director Gibbs provided updates on a variety of programs, including the Native Pollinating Insects Health Study, Strategic Wildfire Action Plan, Colorado Produced Water Consortium, and Colorado Gray Wolf Restoration. He discussed the public's reaction to the wolf introduction, and told the committee they are seeking feedback on the reintroduction process.
	11:41:26 AM	Director Gibbs responded to questions from the committee.
	11:43:19 AM	Jeff Davis, Director, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, answered questions from the committee.
	11:45:52 AM	Reid DeWalt, Assistant Director for Aquatic, Terrestrial and Natural Resources, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, answered questions from the committee.
	11:50:59 AM	Mr. Davis, Director DeWalt, and Director Gibbs continued to answer questions from the committee regarding wolf restoration.
	11:59:37 AM	Mr. DeWalt displayed the department's wolf activity map, which can be found here: https://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/Wolves-Activity-Map.aspx. He discussed the map with the committee.
	12:17:22 PM	Panelists continued to answer questions from the committee.
	12:29:47 PM	Questions continued.
	12:36:33 PM	Questions continued.
	12:42:55 PM	Rebecca Mitchell, Colorado Commissioner, Upper Colorado River Commission, answered questions from the committee.
	12:51:46 PM	Kelly Romero-Heaney, Assistant Director for Water Policy, DNR, answered questions from the committee.
	12:54:11 PM	Commissioner Mitchell continued to answer questions on the Colorado River.
	01:01:25 PM	Director Gibbs clarified his answer to an earlier question regarding news outlet notifications.

SMART Act Presentation from the Department of Agriculture - Committee Discussion Only


	01:06:57 PM	Kate Greenberg, Commissioner of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture (CDA), introduced the presentation. She began with an overview of the mission, vision, and core values of the department, its organizational structure, and their community engagement. Commissioner Greenberg highlighted successes from 2023 for the department, including investment in local food systems, new wild horse working group, and state fair attendance.
	01:18:22 PM	Commissioner Greenberg discussed equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts in the department, including the implementation of a skills-based hiring approach, launching a "Voices in Agriculture" speaker series, and a loan program prioritizing new and beginning farmers.
	01:23:59 PM	Hollis Glenn, Deputy Commissioner of Operations, CDA, discussed the status of the department's American Rescue Plan Act spending. He spoke about the total stimulus funding impact of the investments across Colorado, including in community food access, climate pollution reduction, conservation technical assistance, and the Rural Energy for America Program Grant.
	01:30:37 PM	Mr. Glenn discussed the department's wildly important goals: advancing local food access, building the next generation, expanding water-resilient agriculture, and expanding animal health and welfare.
	01:34:29 PM	Jordan Beezley, CDA, discussed the department's FY 2024-25 budget requests and their legislative agenda.
	01:46:38 PM	Mr. Beezley told the committee about information requests and program reporting that the department currently does, including the Ag Workforce Services Online Portal, Soil Health Outreach, and a Pollinator Health Study.
	01:47:35 PM	Commissioner Greenberg made final comments on the presentation.
	01:49:39 PM	Commissioner Greenberg responded to questions from the committee.
	01:52:49 PM	Mr. Beezley responded to questions from the committee.
	02:01:23 PM	Commissioner Greenberg continued to respond to questions from the committee.
	02:01:46 PM	Mr. Beezley responded to additional questions from the committee.

Public Testimony - Committee Discussion Only


	02:04:23 PM	Mr. Clint Monk, representing themself, testified. Ms. Erin Meschke, representing themself, testified.

02:09:46 PM

The committee adjourned.

Presentation from Joint Budget Committee pursuant to Joint Rule 25 (d) - Committee Discussion Only

SMART Act Presentation from the Department of Natural Resources (excluding ECMC) - Committee Discussion Only

SMART Act Presentation from the Department of Agriculture - Committee Discussion Only

Public Testimony - Committee Discussion Only

Colorado General Assembly