8E5585E45A192ABF87258C450063336B Hearing Summary

Representative Story, bill co-prime sponsor, introduced House Bill 25-1258. The bill requires the Parks and Wildlife Commission to apply the best available wildlife and ecological science to adopt rules concerning wildlife management. The bill also amends the legislative declaration for Colorado Parks and Wildlife to clarify that the state may authorize hunting, trapping, and fishing based on best available science to benefit wildlife, whole ecosystem health, and all Coloradans.



A handout was distributed to the committee (Attachment A).

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Ms. Patricia McLaughlin,
representing Colorado Sierra Club, testified in support of the bill. Brenda
Lee, representing The Colorado Bear Coalition, testified in support of
the bill. David Ruane, representing themself, testified in support of the
bill. Ms. Delia Malone, representing ColoradoWild, testified in support
of the bill. Dr. Michael Pardo, representing themself, testified in support
of the bill. Josh Rosenau, representing Mountain Lion Foundation, testified
in support of the bill.



The panel responded
to questions from the committee.

Commissioner Callie
Scritchfield, representing Rio Blanco County, testified in opposition to
the bill. Ms. Erin Karney, representing Colorado Cattlemen's Association,
testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Ivan James, representing Backcountry
Hunters and Anglers, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Patricia
Dorsey, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Commissioner
Perry Will, representing Garfield County Board of County Commissioners,
testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Liz Rose, representing Theodore
Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, testified in opposition to the bill.
Gaspar Perricone, representing Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Colorado
Wildlife Conservation Partnershp, testified in opposition to the bill.



The panel responded
to questions from the committee.

Dr. Melinda Marquis,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mrs. Debra Taylor,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Rhonda Dern,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Pam Milmoe, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Curtine Metcalf, representing
Cats Aren't Trophies, testified in support of the bill. Lyndsey Collins,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Maya Key, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill. Mrs. Julie Marshall, representing
Animal Wellness Action, testified in support of the bill.



The panel responded
to questions from the committee.

Mr. John Howard,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Justin
Nolan, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr.
Jerry Apker, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.
Tom Remington, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.
Tyler Garrett, representing Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, testified in
opposition to the bill. Mr. Travis Smith, representing themself, testified
in opposition to the bill. Ms. Brittany Dixon, representing Club 20 , testified
in opposition to the bill. Christopher Hoon, representing Delta Waterfowl,
testified in opposition to the bill.



The panel responded
to questions from the committee.

Jim McGannon, representing
themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Kyle Vistuba, representing
themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Sherman Kettner, representing
themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Grant Jerry, representing
themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Merrit Linke, representing
themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Adam Welbon, representing
themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



The panel of witnesses
answered questions from the committee.

Mrs. Alexis McLean,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Andree-Marie Koban,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Diane Younglund,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Julia Archer,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Jeffrey Hersch,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Cara Thorsen,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Delaney Rudy,
representing Western Watersheds Project, testified in support of the bill.
Justin Clark, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.



The panel responded
to questions from the committee.

Mr. Clifton Beasley,
representing National Wild Turkey Federation, testified in opposition to
the bill. Mr. Connor Blaxton, representing National Wild Turkey Federation,
testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Jeff Finn, representing themself,
testified in opposition to the bill. Richard Orf, representing Associated
Governments of Northwest Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill.
Mr. Ian Escalante, representing Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, testified in
opposition to the bill. Mr. Dustin Lovell, representing themself, testified
in opposition to the bill.  Joe Kelleghan, representing Colorado Farm
Bureau, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Jennifer Burbey, representing
Colorado Outfitters Association, testified in opposition to the bill.



The panel responded
to questions from the committee.

Dan Gates, representing Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management, testified in opposition to the bill and answered questions from the committee.

Mr. Roland Halpern, representing Colorado Voters for Animals, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Mark Surls, representing Project Coyote, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Reed Glenn, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Marije terEllen, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Cordelia Stone, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Additional written testimony can be found in Attachment B.

The bill sponsors provided closing comments on the bill.

Committee members gave closing comments on the bill.