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H_AWN_2024A 04/22/2024 01:34:50 PM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, WATER & NATURAL RESOURCES
Date 04/22/2024
Attendance
Amabile X
Holtorf X
Lukens X
Lynch X
Martinez X
Marvin X
McLachlan X
Story X
Titone X
Velasco X
Winter T. X
Catlin X
McCormick X
Time 01:34:50 PM to 06:30:31 PM
Place HCR 0107
This Meeting was called to order by McCormick
This Report was prepared by Alexa Kelly
Hearing Items Action Taken
HB24-1458 Amended, referred to House Appropriations
SB24-197 Referred to the Committee of the Whole
SB24-171 Referred to House Appropriations
SB24-185 Referred to House Appropriations
SB24-126 Amended, referred to House Finance
SB24-037 Referred to House Appropriations
SB24-152 Amended, referred to House Finance

HB24-1458 - Amended, referred to House Appropriations


01:35:00 PM  
Majority Leader Duran
and Representative Armagost, bill co-prime sponsors, introduced House Bill
24-1458 and distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment A). The
bill creates the Division of Animal Welfare in the Colorado Department
of Agriculture (CDA), the head of which is the division director. The division
is a Type 2 entity. The State Bureau of Animal Protection (BAP) is moved
under the new division from the Animal Industry Division. The division
is tasked with promoting domestic animal welfare, including providing education
and outreach, creating voluntary programs, and awarding grants.
01:38:55 PM  
Ms. Linda Hart, representing
Colorado Federation of Dog Clubs & Owners, testified to amend the bill.
Mr. Scott Dorenkamp, representing Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association,
testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Bill Scebbi, representing Colorado
Horse Council, testified in a neutral position on the bill.



Mr. Scebbi responded to questions from the committee.
01:52:17 PM  
Mr. Jordan Beezley,
representing CDA, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Maggie Baldwin,
representing CDA, testified in support of the bill. The panelists responded
to questions from the committee.
01:58:15 PM  
The bill sponsors
discussed amendment L.002 (Attachment B) with the committee.


02:04:53 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.002
Moved Titone
Seconded Catlin
Amabile
Holtorf
Lukens
Lynch
Martinez
Marvin
McLachlan
Story
Titone
Velasco
Winter T.
Catlin
McCormick
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
02:04:54 PM  
The bill sponsors gave closing comments on the bill.
02:07:05 PM  
Committee members made closing comments on the bill.


02:14:17 PM
Motion Refer House Bill 24-1458, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Titone
Seconded Catlin
Amabile Yes
Holtorf Yes
Lukens Yes
Lynch Yes
Martinez Yes
Marvin Yes
McLachlan Yes
Story Yes
Titone Yes
Velasco Yes
Winter T. No
Catlin Yes
McCormick Yes
Final YES: 12   NO: 1   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB24-197 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole


02:14:23 PM  
Speaker McCluskie and Representative Catlin, bill co-prime sponsors, introduced Senate Bill 24-197. The bill implements several recommendations of the Colorado River Drought Task Force, created by Senate Bill 23-295.
02:25:51 PM  
Ms. Orla Bannan, representing Western Resource Advocates, testified in support of the bill. Daphne Gervais, representing Department of Natural Resources, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Aaron Citron, representing The Nature Conservancy, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Zane Kessler, representing Colorado River District, testified in support of the bill. Richard Belt, representing Xcel Energy, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Aaron Ladd, representing Tri-State Generation & Transmission, testified in support of the bill.
02:37:44 PM  
Mr. Josh Kuhn, representing
Conservation Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Eagle County Commissioner
Kathy Chandler-Henry, representing Northwest Colorado Council of Governments
Water Quality & Quantity Committee, testified in support of the bill.
02:43:31 PM  
The bill sponsors
gave closing comments on the bill.
02:46:12 PM  
Committee members gave closing comments on the bill.


02:47:10 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 24-197 to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Catlin
Seconded Titone
Amabile Yes
Holtorf Excused
Lukens Yes
Lynch Yes
Martinez Yes
Marvin Yes
McLachlan Yes
Story Excused
Titone Yes
Velasco Yes
Winter T. Excused
Catlin Yes
McCormick Yes
Final YES: 10   NO: 0   EXC: 3   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB24-171 - Referred to House Appropriations


02:47:16 PM  
Representative Mauro
and Representative McLachlan, bill co-prime sponsors, introduced Senate
Bill 24-171. The bill authorizes Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to reintroduce
the North American wolverine in Colorado. As long as the wolverine remains
on the list of threatened or endangered species under federal law, CPW
may not reintroduce the wolverine until the species is designated as a
nonessential experimental population by rule established by the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service. If CPW reintroduces the wolverine, it must create
rules for providing payment of fair compensation to owners of livestock
for losses caused by wolverines.
02:50:00 PM  
Ms. Brittany Dixon,
representing Club 20, testified in a neutral position on the bill.
02:50:21 PM  
Mr. Brendan Witt,
representing Western Resource Advocates, testified in support of the bill.
Dr. Stefan Ekernas, representing Denver Zoo, testified in support of the
bill. Piep Van Heuven, representing Colorado Ski Country USA, testified
in support of the bill. Mr. John Singletary, representing themself, testified
in support of the bill.  Routt County Comissioner Tim Corrigan, representing
Counties and Commissioners Acting Together, testified in support of the
bill.



Dr. Ekernas and Mr. Singletary responded to questions from the committee.
03:13:43 PM  
Ms. Jamie Caton,
representing Vail Resorts, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Michael
Saul, representing Defenders of Wildlife, testified in support of the bill.
Ms. Megan Mueller, representing Rocky Mountain Wild, testified in support
of the bill. Jake Ivan, representing CPW, testified in support of the bill.
Brian Dreher, representing CPW, testified in support of the bill.




The panelists
responded to questions from the committee.
03:28:17 PM  
The bill sponsors
discussed amendment L.005 (Attachment C).
03:34:47 PM  
The bill sponsors gave closing comments on the bill.
03:38:19 PM  
Committee members gave closing comments on the bill.


03:42:20 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 24-171 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved McLachlan
Seconded Amabile
Amabile Yes
Holtorf No
Lukens Yes
Lynch Yes
Martinez Yes
Marvin Yes
McLachlan Yes
Story Yes
Titone Yes
Velasco Yes
Winter T. No
Catlin Yes
McCormick Yes
Final YES: 11   NO: 2   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB24-185 - Referred to House Appropriations


03:42:26 PM  
Representative Amabile, bill sponsor, introduced Senate Bill 24-185. This bill requires an applicant for forced pooling to include an affidavit that declares ownership, or consent from ownership, of more than 45 percent of the mineral interests to be pooled. The affidavit must disclose if the applicant is relying on an unrecorded oil and gas lease, unrecorded memorandum of an oil gas lease, or unrecorded agreement. The bill also allows a mineral owner at least 60 days before the first noticed hearing date to file a protest of the application disputing the declaration in the affidavit.
03:48:04 PM  
The bill sponsor responded to questions from the committee.
03:48:15 PM  
Heather Stauffer, representing Colorado Municipal League, testified in support of the bill. Clear Creek County Commissioner George Marlin, representing Counties & Commissioners Acting Together, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Jean Lim, representing Counties & Commissioners Acting Together, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Phil Barber, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. David Hughes, representing Boulder County, testified in support of the bill. Mimi Larsen, representing Energy & Carbon Management Commission, Department of Natural Resources, testified in support of the bill.
04:03:30 PM  
Mr. Jeffrey Moore, representing City of Aurora, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Dale Rademacher, representing City of Longmont, testified in support of the bill. Torie Jarvis, representing Northwest Colorado Council of Governments Water Quality/Quantity Committee, testified in support of the bill.
04:08:38 PM  
The bill sponsor gave closing comments on the bill.


04:12:09 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 24-185 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Amabile
Seconded Titone
Amabile Yes
Holtorf No
Lukens Yes
Lynch No
Martinez Yes
Marvin Yes
McLachlan Yes
Story Yes
Titone Yes
Velasco Yes
Winter T. No
Catlin No
McCormick Yes
Final YES: 9   NO: 4   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB24-126 - Amended, referred to House Finance


04:12:14 PM  
Representative Lynch
and Representative Lukens, co-prime bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill
24-126. The bill extends the Conservation Easement Oversight Commission
and the program for certifying conservation easement holders indefinitely
and increases the maximum amount of conservation easement tax credits that
may be certified through 2031. The sponsors presented amendments L.017
and L.018 (Attachments D and E).
04:19:41 PM  
Erik Glenn, representing Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust, testified in support of the bill. Maggie Hanna, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Brien Webster, representing Conservation Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Erin Karney-Spaur, representing Colorado Cattlemen's Association, testified in support of the bill.
04:29:08 PM  
Mr. Jordan Beezley,
representing Colorado Department of Agriculture, testified in a neutral
position on the bill. Tim Brass, representing Department of Natural Resources,
testified in a neutral position on the bill. Mr. Mark Weston, representing
themself, testified to amend the bill. Jillane Hixson, representing themself,
testified to amend the bill.



Mr. Weston responded to questions from the committee.
04:40:20 PM  
Jed Franklin, Office of Legislative Legal Services, answered questions from committee members.
04:45:44 PM  
Mr. Aaron Welch,
representing Colorado Division of Conservation, Department of Regulatory
Agencies, answered committee questions.
04:53:08 PM  
Tyler Garrett, representing
Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, testified in support of the bill. Suzanne
Roller, representing Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, testified in support
of the bill. Mr. Brendan Witt, representing Western Resource Advocates,
testified in support of the bill. Gaspar Perricone, representing Colorado
Wildlife Conservation Project, testified in support of the bill.



The panelists responded to questions from the committee.  
04:53:09 PM  
Submitted written testimony can be found in Attachment F.


05:03:50 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.017
Moved Lukens
Seconded Lynch
Amabile
Holtorf
Lukens
Lynch
Martinez
Marvin
McLachlan
Story
Titone
Velasco
Winter T.
Catlin
McCormick
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection


05:04:07 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.018
Moved Lukens
Seconded Lynch
Amabile
Holtorf
Lukens
Lynch
Martinez
Marvin
McLachlan
Story
Titone
Velasco
Winter T.
Catlin
McCormick
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
05:04:24 PM  
The bill sponsors gave closing comments on the bill.
05:07:03 PM  
Committee members gave closing comments on the bill.


05:09:30 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 24-126, as amended, to the Committee on Finance.
Moved Lukens
Seconded Lynch
Amabile Yes
Holtorf Yes
Lukens Yes
Lynch Yes
Martinez Yes
Marvin Yes
McLachlan Yes
Story Yes
Titone Yes
Velasco Yes
Winter T. Yes
Catlin Yes
McCormick Yes
Final YES: 13   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB24-037 - Referred to House Appropriations


05:09:37 PM  
Representative Lynch
and Representative McCormick, bill co-prime sponsors, introduced Senate
Bill 24-037. The bill requires that the University of Colorado and Colorado
State University collaborate with the Colorado Department of Public Health
and Environment (CDPHE) to study the feasibility of substituting green
infrastructure, a planned and managed network of natural green spaces,
for traditional centralized wastewater and drinking water treatment mechanisms.
05:18:09 PM  
The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.
05:22:30 PM  
Dianna Orf, representing
Colorado Water Congress, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Evan Thomas,
representing University of Colorado, Boulder, testified in support of the
bill. Dr. Thomas responded to questions from the committee.




Submitted written
testimony can be found in Attachment G.
05:30:42 PM  
The bill sponsors gave closing comments on the bill.
05:36:06 PM  
Committee members gave closing comments on the bill.


05:37:17 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 24-037 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Lynch
Seconded McCormick
Amabile Yes
Holtorf No
Lukens Yes
Lynch Yes
Martinez Yes
Marvin Yes
McLachlan Yes
Story Yes
Titone Yes
Velasco Yes
Winter T. Yes
Catlin Yes
McCormick Yes
Final YES: 12   NO: 1   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB24-152 - Amended, referred to House Finance


05:37:25 PM  
Representative McCormick and Representative Soper, bill co-prime sponsors, introduced Senate Bill 24-152. For tax years 2026 through 2030, the bill creates a refundable state income tax credit for qualified food and beverage retailers who purchase agricultural commodities from Colorado-based agricultural producers practicing regenerative agriculture.
05:39:00 PM  
The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.
05:44:58 PM  
Mark Ruzzin, representing Boulder County, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Erin Meschke, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Cynthia Stewart, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mandy Magill, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

06:09:14 PM  
Tyler Garrett, representing Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, testified in support of the bill. Saguache County Commissioner Liza Marron, representing Counties & Commissioners Acting Together (CCAT), testified in support of the bill. Mr. Clay Tomcak, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

06:09:15 PM  
Submitted written testimony can be found in Attachment H.
06:17:12 PM  
The bill sponsors
discussed amendment L.004 (Attachment I) with the committee.


06:19:51 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.004
Moved McCormick
Seconded Catlin
Amabile
Holtorf
Lukens
Lynch
Martinez
Marvin
McLachlan
Story
Titone
Velasco
Winter T.
Catlin
McCormick
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
06:19:52 PM  
The bill sponsors gave closing comments on the bill.
06:22:35 PM  
Committee members gave closing comments on the bill.


06:30:21 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 24-152, as amended, to the Committee on Finance.
Moved McCormick
Seconded Titone
Amabile Yes
Holtorf No
Lukens Yes
Lynch Yes
Martinez Yes
Marvin Yes
McLachlan Yes
Story Yes
Titone Yes
Velasco Yes
Winter T. No
Catlin Yes
McCormick Yes
Final YES: 11   NO: 2   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


06:30:31 PM   The committee adjourned.






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