S_AGR_2025A 01/15/2025 09:43:10 AM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
JOINT COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ON JOINT SENATE AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND HOUSE AGRICULTURE, WATER & NATURAL RESOURCES

Date

01/15/2025

Attendance
Catlin	*
Danielson	E
Hinrichsen	X
Johnson	X
Lindsay	X
Lukens	*
Marchman	*
Martinez	X
Mauro	X
Pelton B.	X
Pelton R.	X
Smith	X
Soper	X
Stewart K.	X
Story	X
Suckla	X
Velasco	*
Winter T.	X
McCormick	X
Roberts	X

Time

09:43:10 AM to 01:53:46 PM

Place

Old Supreme Court

This Meeting was called to order by

Roberts

This Report was prepared by

Alexa Kelly

Hearing Items	Action Taken
hJoint Budget Committee Briefing pursuant to Joint Rule 25(d)	Committee Discussion Only
hPresentation from the Office of the State Auditor	Committee Discussion Only
hProgress Report from the Colorado State University Water Center on the Republican River Groundwater Economic Impact Study pursuant to House Bill 23-1220	Committee Discussion Only
hSMART Act Presentation from the Colorado Department of Agriculture	Committee Discussion Only
hSMART Act Presentation from the Colorado Department of Natural Resources	Committee Discussion Only
hPublic Testimony	Committee Discussion Only

09:43:11 AM

Materials for this
hearing can be found here: https://leg.colorado.gov/content/hawn2025asmartact
and https://leg.colorado.gov/content/sagr2025asmartact-0.

Joint Budget Committee Briefing pursuant to Joint Rule 25(d) - Committee Discussion Only


	09:44:19 AM	Senator Kirkmeyer, Joint Budget Committee (JBC), opened the presentation. She discussed the budget deficit and the need for cuts to the General Fund. She told the committee about what to expect when it comes to supplemental bills coming from the JBC.
	09:48:35 AM	Senator Kirkmeyer discussed the Department of Agriculture (CDA) budget and its growth over the last several budget cycles. She told the committee about the breakdown of different funds and the funding requests coming from the department.
	09:55:47 AM	JBC members responded to questions from the committee.
	09:56:13 AM	Senator Kirkmeyer began an overview of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) budget and discussed the total requests, which are made up primarily of cash funds. She told the committee about the various requests coming from the department.
	10:10:18 AM	JBC members responded to questions from the committee.

Presentation from the Office of the State Auditor - Committee Discussion Only


	10:16:46 AM	Michelle Collin, Office of the State Auditor (OSA), opened the presentation.
	10:18:33 AM	Derek Johnson, OSA, discussed the performance audit of the Measurement Standards Program and recommendations for improvement.
	10:22:21 AM	OSA staff answered questions from the committee.
	10:23:01 AM	Mr. Johnson discussed the Annual Report: Status of Audit Recommendations Not Fully Implemented, as of June 30, 2024. He told the committee about the implementation of recommendations by the departments.
	10:25:52 AM	OSA staff answered questions from the committee.

Progress Report from the Colorado State University Water Center on the Republican River Groundwater Economic Impact Study pursuant to House Bill 23-1220 - Committee Discussion Only


	10:34:51 AM	Jordan Suter, Colorado State University, introduced his presentation. He gave a summary of agricultural production in the Republican River Basin region. He talked about what would happen if groundwater irrigation is curtailed and the discussions his team is having with the Republican River Water Conservation District. He told the committee about the next steps involved in completing the study.
	10:40:18 AM	Professor Suter responded to questions from the committee.

SMART Act Presentation from the Colorado Department of Agriculture - Committee Discussion Only


	10:45:03 AM	Commissioner Kate Greenberg, Commissioner of Agriculture, introduced the CDA presentation. She gave an overview of the organizational structure and highlighted successful programs in the department. She spoke about the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, the impacts of the disease on dairy cattle and poultry in Colorado, and the department's response to the outbreak. She told the committee about CDA's work in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
	10:58:05 AM	Hollis Glenn, Deputy Commissioner of Operations, CDA, gave an overview of the overall spending status of state and federal stimulus awards coming out of the department. He spoke about the Community Food Access Grant and leveraging federal stimulus funds.
	11:07:35 AM	Mr. Glenn continued by discussing the wildly important goals (WIGs) of the department, including expanding market access for agricultural businesses, developing agricultural leaders, advancing the Colorado Water Plan, and supporting ranchers through non-lethal predator conflict reduction. He told the committee about the department's strategic plan.
	11:19:44 AM	Jordan Beezley, Deputy Commissioner of External Affairs, CDA, spoke about the department's budget requests, JBC staff's budget balancing proposals, and the regulatory agenda.
	11:32:58 AM	Commissioner Greenberg gave closing comments on the presentation.
	11:33:59 AM	CDA staff responded to questions from the committee.
	11:48:01 AM	Staff continued to respond to questions.

SMART Act Presentation from the Colorado Department of Natural Resources - Committee Discussion Only


	11:58:06 AM	Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Department of Natural Resources (DNR), introduced his presentation. He discussed the organizational structure of the department and the work being done in the various divisions.
	12:16:19 PM	Director Gibss continued to tell the committee about the work being done in the divisions of DNR.
	12:26:15 PM	Director Gibbs discussed the department WIGs, including increasing the Keep Colorado Wild pass opt-in rates, balancing outdoor recreation and conservation, Water Plan Implementation, and the clean energy transition.
	12:27:47 PM	Director Gibbs told the committee about DNR's budget requests.
	12:35:57 PM	Director Gibbs spoke about the department's legislative priorities.
	12:39:32 PM	Director Gibbs discussed the department efforts on diversity, equity, and inclusion. He told the committee about the Outdoor Equity Grant Program and the Keep Colorado Wild pass funding. He updated the committee on the status of various programs in progress.
	12:49:12 PM	Director Gibbs gave an update on the wolf restoration.
	12:54:47 PM	Reid DeWalt, Deputy Director, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), introduced himself and made comments on the wolf reintroduction.
	12:59:09 PM	Director DeWalt responded to questions from the committee.
	01:08:32 PM	Questions continued.
	01:18:26 PM	Questions continued.
	01:28:52 PM	Questions continued.
	01:29:04 PM	Nate Pearson, DNR Assistant Director of Water Policy, responded to questions from the committee.
	01:34:48 PM	Amy Ostdiek, Colorado Water Conservation Board, Interstate, Federal, and Water Information Section Chief, responded to questions from the committee.
	01:37:16 PM	Jason Ullman, State Engineer and Division of Water Resources Director, answered questions from the committee.
	01:42:14 PM	Nick Massie, Interim Director, State Land Board, responded to questions from the committee.

Public Testimony - Committee Discussion Only

01:53:46 PM

The committee adjourned.