S_AGR_2023A 03/23/2023 01:35:43 PM Committee Summary

Senator Cutter, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 23-191 to the committee. The bill requires the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to commission a study on organic waste diversion.

Commissioner Richard
Cimino, representing Grand County, testified to amend the bill.  



Mr. Dan Matsch,
representing Colorado Composting Council and Eco-Cycle, testified in support
of the bill.  



Ean Tafoya, representing
GreenLatinos, testified in support of the bill.  



Meghan MacKillop,
representing Colorado Municipal League, testified in support of the bill.
 



The panelists
responded to questions from the committee.

Commissioner Sonja
Macys, representing Routt County and Colorado Communities for Climate Action,
testified in support of the bill.  



Commissioner Matt
Scherr, representing Colorado Communities for Climate Action and Eagle
County, testified in support of the bill.  



Amelia Kovacs,
representing Walking Mountains Science Center, testified in support of
the bill.  



Ms. Caroline Mitchell,
representing the City of Fort Collins, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Elizabeth Chapman, representing Recycle Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Senator Cutter wrapped up her presentation of the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.

Senator Roberts and Senator Simpson, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 23-177. The bill funds water projects in the Department of Natural Resources and directs transfers between cash funds for appropriation to water-related projects.

Ms. Lauren Ris, representing
Department of Natural Resources, Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB),
testified in support of the bill.



Mr. Jim Broderick,
representing Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, testified
in support of the bill.



Mr. Chris Woodka,
representing Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, testified
in support of the bill.



Ms. Ris responded
to questions from the committee.



Mr. Kirk Russell,
representing CWCB, responded to committee questions.

Mr. Richard Brown,
representing Colorado Water Congress, Pikes Peak Regional Water Authority,
Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District, and Pueblo Water, testified
in support of the bill.  



Ms. Dianne Criswell,
representing Special District Association of Colorado, testified in support
of the bill.  



Mr. Robert Sakata,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.  Mr. Sakata
responded to questions from the committee.

Senator Roberts presented amendment L.001 (Attachment A).

Senator Marchman and Senator R. Pelton, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 23-185. This bill continues the State Noxious Weed Advisory Committee in the Department of Agriculture, which is scheduled to repeal on September 1, 2023.

Mrs. Erin Meschke,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.  



Mr. Les Owen,
representing Colorado Department of Agriculture, testified in support of
the bill.  Mr. Owen responded to questions from the committee.

Senator Roberts and Senator R. Pelton, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 23-1094. The bill modifies the agricultural workforce development program to allow internships to last up to a year and extends the program repeal date by seven years.

Mr. Austin Vincent,
representing Colorado Farm Bureau, testified in support of the bill.  



Tyler Garrett,
representing Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, testified in support of the
bill.  



Mr. Tom Lipetzky,
representing Colorado Department of Agriculture, testified in support of
the bill.