H_FIN_2025A 03/20/2025 12:00:05 PM Committee Summary

Representatives Lukens
and Soper, co-prime sponsors, returned to the committee to present amendment
L.005 (Attachment A) to House Bill 25-1080.  The
bill permits counties, special districts, and school districts to provide
property tax relief to qualified businesses and creates a sales tax refund
for communication service providers
and was originally heard on March 3, 2025.



The sponsors explained
the amendment and fiscal note memorandum.

The bill sponsors made closing remarks and asked for a favorable recommendation.

The bill sponsors responded to committee questions.

Mr. Keith Erffmeyer, representing the Colorado Assessors Association, testified in support of the bill. Brenda Dones, representing the Colorado Assessors Association, testified in support of the bill. Elizabeth Haskell, representing the Colorado Municipal League, testified to amend the bill. Kristi Pollard, representing the Metro District Education Coalition, testified to amend the bill.

The bill sponsors made closing remarks.

The committee took a brief recess.

The committee returned to order. Representatives Armagost and Lindsey, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 25-1194. The bill creates protections for victims of economic abuse, including prohibiting the collection of debt from victims unless a court determines the debt was not the result of economic abuse. The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Shukria Maktabi, representing Legislative Council Staff, came to the table to respond to questions about the fiscal note.

Mrs. Soledad Diaz, representing Violence Free Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Rejeania Downing, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Courtney Sutton, representing the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, testified in support of the bill. Ariane Frosh, representing the Colorado Poverty Law Project, testified in support of the bill. Aimee Jensen, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. The witnesses responded to committee questions.

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

Representatives Brown and Smith, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 1096. The bill requires certain local governments to use automated permitting software for residential solar energy systems. The sponsors responded to committee questions.

Dianna Orf, representing the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Glen Morgan, representing Summit County & CCAT, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Jody Shadduck McNally, representing Larimer County & CCAT, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. Sonja Macys, representing Routt County & CCAT, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Leland Keller, representing the City of Fort Collins, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ms. Laura Hartman, representing Colorado Communities for Climate Action, testified in opposition to the bill. George Marlin, representing CCAT, testified in opposition to the bill. Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann, representing Boulder County, testified in opposition to the bill. The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Commissioner Elsa Tharp, representing Lake County, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Thomas Blevins, representing the City of Aurora, testified in opposition to the bill. Commissioner Kathy Henson, representing Adams County, testified in opposition to the bill. Carolyn Elam, representing the City of Boulder, testified to amend the bill. Brita Van Horn, representing Colorado Counties, Inc., testified in opposition to the bill. The witnesses responded to committee questions.

Heidi Leathwood, representing 350 Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Danny Katz, representing the Colorado Public Interest Research Group, testified in support of the bill. Matthew McAllister, representing the SolarAPP Foundation, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Bryan Bomer, representing Department of Permitting Services, Montgomery County Maryland, testified in a neutral position on the bill. Mr. Christopher Campbell, representing Atlasta Solar Center, testified in support of the bill. The committee asked questions to the panel.

Steffanie Garlock Jacobson, representing herself, testified in support of the bill. Ben Davis, representing Permit Power, testified in support of the bill. Ean Tafoya, representing GreenLatinos, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Micah Parkin, representing 350 Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Matthew Gose, representing 350 Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Commissioner Amy Mitchell, representing Colorado Counties, Inc., testified in opposition to the bill.

Paul Sherman, representing
Conservation Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Garrett Royer,
representing the Sierra Club of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.
Mr. Steven Kuschner, representing himself, testified in support of the
bill. Mr. Rob Robinson, representing himself, testified in support of the
bill. Dr. Ryan DeCrescent , representing himself, testified in support
of the bill.  



Written testimony
is included as Attachment E.

Members of the committee commented about their positions on the bill.