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H_AWN_2025A 02/03/2025 01:36:38 PM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, WATER & NATURAL RESOURCES
Date 02/03/2025
Attendance
Johnson X
Lindsay *
Lukens X
Martinez X
Smith *
Soper *
Stewart K. X
Story *
Suckla X
Velasco *
Winter T. X
Mauro X
McCormick X
Time 01:36:38 PM to 05:32:20 PM
Place HCR 0107
This Meeting was called to order by McCormick
This Report was prepared by Alexa Kelly
Hearing Items Action Taken
HB25-1009 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole
HB25-1053 Referred to the Committee of the Whole
HB25-1023 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole
HB25-1084 Referred to the Committee of the Whole

HB25-1009 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole

01:36:59 PM  
Representative Mauro,
co-prime sponsor, gave opening comments on House Bill 25-1009. The bill
allows a fire protection district to establish a program requiring the
removal of dead or dry plant material from private property that can burn
and contribute to a fire, including leaves, grass, shrubs, ground litter,
dead leaves, and fallen pine needles. The fire district’s program must
adopt policies consistent with the 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface
Code, or the standards and codes adopted by the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency
Code Board.
01:41:51 PM  
Representative Joseph,
co-prime sponsor, gave opening comments on the bill.
01:42:14 PM  
Rep. Mauro discussed forthcoming amendments, and responded to questions from the committee.
02:00:32 PM  
Mr. Mike Dell'Orfano,
representing South Metro Fire Rescue, testified in support of the bill.
Ken Watkins, representing Colorado State Fire Chiefs, testified in support
of the bill. Mr. Brad White, representing Colorado State Fire Chiefs, testified
in support of the bill. Ann Terry, representing Special District Association,
testified in support of the bill.



The panelists
responded to questions from the committee.
02:06:47 PM  
Tyler Garrett, representing
Rocky Mountain Farmers Union and Colorado Farm Bureau, testified to amend
the bill. Brian Tanner, representing Colorado Association of Realtors,
testified to amend the bill. Ms. Erin Meschke, representing themself, testified
to amend the bill.



The panelists
responded to questions from the committee.
02:22:55 PM  
Mike Salaz, representing
themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Eric Bodenstab, representing
themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Mike Rawluk, representing
themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



The panelists
responded to questions from the committee.
02:50:06 PM  
Christian Heyn, representing
Pueblo West Metro District, testified in support of the bill and responded
to committee questions.



Additional written
testimony can be found as Attachment A.
02:54:07 PM  
The committee discussed
amendment L.001 (Attachment B).


03:09:47 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.001
Moved Mauro
Seconded Winter T.
Johnson
Lindsay
Lukens
Martinez
Smith
Soper
Stewart K.
Story
Suckla
Velasco
Winter T.
Mauro
McCormick
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
03:11:04 PM  
The committee discussed
amendment L.002 (Attachment C).


03:15:08 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.002
Moved Mauro
Seconded McCormick
Johnson
Lindsay
Lukens
Martinez
Smith
Soper
Stewart K.
Story
Suckla
Velasco Excused
Winter T.
Mauro
McCormick
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
03:17:56 PM  
The committee discussed
amendment L.003 (Attachment D).
03:24:38 PM  
Jed Franklin, Office of Legislative Legal Services, answered questions from the committee.


03:28:32 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.003
Moved Mauro
Seconded McCormick
Johnson No
Lindsay Yes
Lukens Yes
Martinez Yes
Smith Yes
Soper Excused
Stewart K. Yes
Story No
Suckla Excused
Velasco Yes
Winter T. No
Mauro Yes
McCormick Yes
YES: 8   NO: 3   EXC: 2   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS
03:28:56 PM  
The committee discussed
amendment L.005 (Attachment E).


03:29:27 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.005
Moved Mauro
Seconded McCormick
Johnson
Lindsay
Lukens
Martinez
Smith
Soper Excused
Stewart K.
Story
Suckla Excused
Velasco
Winter T.
Mauro
McCormick
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 2   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
03:29:28 PM  
The bill sponsors provided closing comments on the bill.
03:32:05 PM  
Committee members made closing comments on the bill.


03:38:40 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 25-1009, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Mauro
Seconded McCormick
Johnson No
Lindsay Yes
Lukens Yes
Martinez Yes
Smith Yes
Soper No
Stewart K. Yes
Story Yes
Suckla No
Velasco Yes
Winter T. No
Mauro Yes
McCormick Yes
Final YES: 9   NO: 4   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB25-1053 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole
03:38:49 PM  
Representative Mauro
and Representative Weinberg, co-prime sponsors, gave opening comments on
House Bill 25-1053. For landowners who allow entry and exit access to their
property in connection with an emergency, the bill provides immunity from
civil liability for damage or injury to persons or property. Immunity is
not granted when damage or injury arises from gross negligence or willful
misconduct caused by the landowner.
03:44:22 PM  
The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.
03:48:03 PM  
Tim Miller, representing
Colorado Farm Bureau, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Katrina Stevens,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Jennifer Rich,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Brian Tanner,
representing Colorado Association of Realtors, testified in support of
the bill.



The panelists
responded to questions from the committee.
04:02:05 PM  
The bill sponsors
provided closing comments on the bill.
04:02:39 PM  
Committee members
gave closing comments on the bill.


04:03:52 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 25-1053 to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Mauro
Seconded Winter T.
Johnson Yes
Lindsay Yes
Lukens Yes
Martinez Yes
Smith Yes
Soper Excused
Stewart K. Yes
Story Yes
Suckla Yes
Velasco Yes
Winter T. Yes
Mauro Yes
McCormick Yes
Final YES: 12   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB25-1023 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole

04:04:01 PM  
Representative Martinez,
co-prime sponsor, gave opening comments on House Bill 25-1023. The bill
requires that persons constructing certain types of fences on Sangre De
Cristo land grant lands apply for approval from the local government with
jurisdiction over the fencing project. A local government may accept or
reject the application.



A handout was distributed to the committee (Attachment F).
04:10:17 PM  
Representative Bacon,
co-prime sponsor, gave opening comments on the bill.
04:10:46 PM  
Representative Martinez provided additional comments to the committee about the bill and discussed forthcoming amendments.
04:17:14 PM  
The committee members asked questions of the bill sponsor.
04:21:36 PM  
Attorney General
Phil Weiser, representing Department of Law, testified in support of the
bill. Mr. Joseph Quintana, representing themself, testified in support
of the bill. Mr. Frank Vigil, representing La Sierra Environmental Guardians,
testified in support of the bill.



The panelists
responded to questions from the committee.
04:44:39 PM  
Ms. Suzanne O'Niell,
representing Colorado Wildlife Federation, Inc., testified in support of
the bill. Cory Chick, representing Colorado Parks and Wildlife, testified
to amend the bill. Brien Webster, representing Conservation Colorado, testified
in support of the bill. Luke Hoffman, representing Colorado Parks and Wildlife,
was available to answer committee questions.




Additional written testimony can be found as Attachment G.
04:54:38 PM  
The committee discussed
amendment L.001 (Attachment H).


04:55:53 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.001
Moved Martinez
Seconded Soper
Johnson
Lindsay
Lukens
Martinez
Smith
Soper
Stewart K.
Story
Suckla
Velasco
Winter T.
Mauro
McCormick
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
04:55:54 PM  
The committee discussed
amendment L.002 (Attachment I).


04:57:35 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.002
Moved Martinez
Seconded Mauro
Johnson
Lindsay
Lukens
Martinez
Smith
Soper
Stewart K.
Story
Suckla
Velasco
Winter T.
Mauro
McCormick
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
04:57:37 PM  
The committee discussed
amendment L.003 (Attachment J).


04:58:46 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.003
Moved Martinez
Seconded Soper
Johnson
Lindsay
Lukens
Martinez
Smith
Soper
Stewart K.
Story
Suckla
Velasco
Winter T.
Mauro
McCormick
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
04:59:18 PM  
The committee discussed
amendment L.005 (Attachment K).


05:05:37 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.005
Moved Martinez
Seconded McCormick
Johnson Yes
Lindsay Yes
Lukens Excused
Martinez Yes
Smith Yes
Soper No
Stewart K. Yes
Story Yes
Suckla No
Velasco Yes
Winter T. No
Mauro Yes
McCormick Yes
YES: 9   NO: 3   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS
05:06:10 PM  
The bill sponsors provided closing comments on the bill.
05:12:52 PM  
Committee members gave closing comments on the bill.


05:21:54 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 25-1023, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Martinez
Seconded Mauro
Johnson No
Lindsay Yes
Lukens Yes
Martinez Yes
Smith Yes
Soper Yes
Stewart K. Yes
Story Yes
Suckla No
Velasco Yes
Winter T. Yes
Mauro Yes
McCormick Yes
Final YES: 11   NO: 2   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB25-1084 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole
05:22:00 PM  
Representative McCormick, bill sponsor, gave opening comments on House Bill 25-1084. The bill replaces existing gendered language with gender-neutral language in Title 35 (Agriculture) of the Colorado Revised Statutes. It also updates archaic language in the title.
05:25:06 PM  
The bill sponsor responded to committee questions.
05:26:24 PM  
Jordan Beezley, representing
Colorado Department of Agriculture, testified in support of the bill.




Additional written testimony can be found as Attachment L.  
05:30:17 PM  
The bill sponsor provided closing comments on the bill.


05:32:11 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 25-1084 to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved McCormick
Seconded Smith
Johnson No
Lindsay Yes
Lukens Excused
Martinez Yes
Smith Yes
Soper Yes
Stewart K. Yes
Story Yes
Suckla Yes
Velasco Yes
Winter T. Yes
Mauro Yes
McCormick Yes
Final YES: 11   NO: 1   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


05:32:20 PM   The committee adjourned.






The effective date for bills enacted without a safety clause is August 6, 2025, if the General Assembly adjourns sine die on May 7, 2025 (unless otherwise specified). Details

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