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H_AWN_2025A 03/03/2025 01:35:55 PM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, WATER & NATURAL RESOURCES
Date 03/03/2025
Attendance
Johnson X
Lindsay X
Lukens *
Martinez X
Smith X
Soper X
Stewart K. X
Story X
Suckla *
Velasco *
Winter T. X
Mauro X
McCormick X
Time 01:35:55 PM to 03:58:01 PM
Place HCR 0107
This Meeting was called to order by McCormick
This Report was prepared by Alexa Kelly
Hearing Items Action Taken
HB25-1190 Postponed Indefinitely
HB25-1203 Referred to the Committee of the Whole
SB25-039 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole

HB25-1190 - Postponed Indefinitely
01:36:07 PM  
Representative Gonzalez, bill sponsor, introduced House Bill 25-1190. Under current law, the Colorado Cottage Foods Act allows for the sale and consumption of homemade food, such as pickled vegetables, jams, and baked goods, but excludes foods requiring refrigeration. The bill expands the act to include foods that require refrigeration.
01:39:58 PM  
The bill sponsor responded to questions from the committee.
01:44:58 PM  
Allie Morgan, representing
Colorado Association of Local Public Health Officials (CALPHO), testified
in opposition to the bill. Mr. Mike Solter, representing City and County
of Broomfield Public Health and Environment, testified in opposition to
the bill. Dylan Garrison, representing Arapahoe County Public Health, testified
in opposition to the bill.



The panelists
responded to questions from the committee.
02:01:50 PM  
Mr. Angel Merlos,
representing The LIBRE Initiative Colorado , testified in support of the
bill. J Burow, representing Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, testified in
support of the bill. Ms. Nancy Rodriguez, representing themself, testified
in support of the bill. Ms. Milagros Chavez, representing themself, testified
in support of the bill. Ms. Ellen Hamlett, representing Institute for Justice,
testified in support of the bill. Mr. Frank Lehnerz, representing themself,
testified in support of the bill.
02:24:44 PM  
Mr. Alejandro Flores-Munoz,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Natalie Menten,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Hannah Goodman,
representing The Libertarian Party of Colorado, testified in support of
the bill. Ms. Erin Meschke, representing themself, testified in support
of the bill.  Sandra Vara, representing themself, testified in support
of the bill.



Additional written
testimony can be found in Attachment A.  
02:41:53 PM  
The committee discussed the amendments with the bill sponsor.


02:43:04 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.001 (Attachment B)
Moved Mauro
Seconded Winter T.
Johnson
Lindsay
Lukens Excused
Martinez
Smith
Soper
Stewart K.
Story
Suckla Excused
Velasco Excused
Winter T.
Mauro
McCormick
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 3   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection


02:44:21 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment C)
Moved Mauro
Seconded Winter T.
Johnson
Lindsay
Lukens Excused
Martinez
Smith
Soper
Stewart K.
Story
Suckla Excused
Velasco Excused
Winter T.
Mauro
McCormick
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 3   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
02:46:41 PM  
The bill sponsor gave closing comments on the bill.
02:47:04 PM  
Committee members gave closing comments on the bill.


02:54:32 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 25-1190, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Mauro
Seconded Winter T.
Johnson Yes
Lindsay No
Lukens No
Martinez Yes
Smith No
Soper Yes
Stewart K. No
Story No
Suckla Yes
Velasco Yes
Winter T. Yes
Mauro No
McCormick No
YES: 6   NO: 7   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  FAIL


02:55:03 PM
 Motion Postpone House Bill 25-1190 indefinitely using a reversal of the previous roll call. There was no objection to the use of the reverse roll call, therefore, the bill was postponed indefinitely.
Moved Mauro
Seconded McCormick
Johnson No
Lindsay Yes
Lukens Yes
Martinez No
Smith Yes
Soper No
Stewart K. Yes
Story Yes
Suckla No
Velasco No
Winter T. No
Mauro Yes
McCormick Yes
Final YES: 7   NO: 6   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB25-1203 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole
02:55:11 PM  
The committee took
a brief recess.
02:56:25 PM  
Assistant Minority
Leader Winter, bill co-prime sponsor, introduced House Bill 25-1203. The
bill prohibits food that is cell-cultivated, or contains cell-cultivated
meat, from being branded as a meat product and requires it to be clearly
labeled as cell-cultivated meat. The Colorado Department of Public Health
and Environment (CDPHE) must inspect an inventory of food offered for sale
at a processing plant and may issue a stop order if the department has
reasonable cause to believe that the plant is in violation of the labeling
requirements of the bill. If a violation is found, CDPHE may issue an embargo
order, requiring the plant to dispose of any cell-cultivated meat. CDPHE,
the Attorney General, or the local district attorney may petition the district
court to enforce a stop or embargo order.
03:03:31 PM  
Representative McCormick,
bill co-prime sponsor, gave opening comments on the bill.



A handout was
distributed to the committee (Attachment D).
03:05:07 PM  
The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.
03:05:53 PM  
Tyler Garrett, representing
Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Marsha
Holton, representing Colorado Independent CattleGrowers Association, testified
in support of the bill. Connie Hass, representing Colorado Farm Bureau,
testified in support of the bill. Ms. Erin  Karney, representing Colorado
Cattlemen's Association, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Erin Meschke,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Laura Bledsoc,
representing Colorado Independent CattleGrowers Association, testified
in support of the bill. Harold Unwin, representing Colorado Independent
CattleGrowers Association, testified in support of the bill. Josh Langworthy,
representing Colorado Land Water and Food Alliance, testified in support
of the bill.



The panel responded
to questions from the committee.      
03:05:54 PM  
Additional written
testimony can be found in Attachment E.
03:39:54 PM  
The bill sponsors
and committee members gave closing comments on the bill.


03:43:44 PM
 Motion Refer House Bill 25-1203 to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Winter T.
Seconded McCormick
Johnson Yes
Lindsay Yes
Lukens Yes
Martinez Yes
Smith Yes
Soper Yes
Stewart K. Yes
Story Excused
Suckla Yes
Velasco Yes
Winter T. Yes
Mauro Yes
McCormick Yes
Final YES: 12   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB25-039 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole
03:43:51 PM  
The committee took
a brief recess.
03:44:25 PM  
Representatives Martinez
and Johnson, bill co-prime sponsors, introduced Senate Bill 25-039. Under
current law, the owners of certain buildings are required to submit annual
reports on energy benchmarking data to the Colorado Energy Office under
the Building Performance Program. Buildings used for agricultural purposes
are exempt from the reporting requirements. The bill clarifies which agricultural
buildings qualify for the exemption.  
03:47:21 PM  
Lindsay Ellis, representing
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, testified to amend
the bill. Brock Herzberg, representing Colorado Dairy Farmers, testified
in support of the bill. Loren Ahonen, representing Colorado Energy Office,
was available to answer committee questions.



The panelists
responded to questions from the committee.


03:54:59 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.004 (Attachment F)
Moved Martinez
Seconded Johnson
Johnson
Lindsay
Lukens
Martinez
Smith
Soper
Stewart K.
Story Excused
Suckla
Velasco
Winter T.
Mauro
McCormick
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
03:55:38 PM  
The bill sponsors
and committee members gave closing comments on the bill.


03:57:50 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 25-039, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Martinez
Seconded Johnson
Johnson Yes
Lindsay Yes
Lukens Yes
Martinez Yes
Smith Yes
Soper Yes
Stewart K. Yes
Story Excused
Suckla Yes
Velasco Yes
Winter T. Yes
Mauro Yes
McCormick Yes
Final YES: 12   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


03:58:01 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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