F05D29370B8BD6B887258B13007EA12A Hearing Summary

Speaker McCluskie and Representative Velasco, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 24-230. The bill creates new oil and gas production fees to be used to expand transit service, frequency, ridership, and fund passenger rail projects, and to fund wildlife and land remediation services. The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Angie Binder, representing Caerus Oil and Gas, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Jan Rose, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. Heidi Leathwood, representing 350 Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Kevin Cross, representing the Fort Collins Sustainability Group, testified in opposition to the bill. The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

The committee continued to discuss the bill with the witness panel.

Ms. Shoshana Lew, representing the Colorado Department of Transportation, testified in support of the bill. Heather Disney-Dugan, representing the Colorado Parks & Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources, testified in support of the bill. John Magnino, representing Conservation Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Richard Orf, representing the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, testified to amend the bill. Ms. Leslie Glustrom, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Nathaniel Miullo, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Commissioner Scott James, representing Weld County, testified to amend the bill. The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Matt Frommer, representing the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, testified in support of the bill. Tarn Udall, representing Western Resource Advocates, testified in support of the bill. Ann Rajewski, representing Colorado Association of Transit Agencies (CASTA), testified in support of the bill.  Additional written testimony is included as Attachment B.

The bill sponsors wrapped up their presentation of the bill and asked for a favorable recommendation.