Skip to main content
Colorado General AssemblyToggle Main Menu
Agency NameToggle Agency Menu

H_AGR_2018A 02/26/2018 01:30:51 PM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, & NATURAL RESOURCES
Date 02/26/2018
Attendance
Becker J. X
Buck X
Catlin X
Danielson X
Hansen X
Jackson *
Lewis X
McKean X
Roberts X
Saine X
Valdez X
Esgar X
Arndt X
Time 01:30:51 PM to 03:20:38 PM
Place HCR 0107
This Meeting was called to order by Arndt
This Report was prepared by Meghan MacKillop
Hearing Items Action Taken
HB18-1236 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole
HB18-1199 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole
HB18-1238 Referred to the Committee of the Whole
HB18-1235 Amended, referred to House Appropriations
HB18-1151 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole

HB18-1151 - Committee Discussion Only


01:31:21 PM  

Representative Arndt explained the procedures for remote testimony, as three witnesses plan to testify remotely from Oterro Junior College.

01:33:24 PM  

Representatives Catlin and Arndt, co-prime sponsors presented House Bill 18-1151, concerning the authorization of deficit irrigation pilot projects approved by the Colorado Water Conservation Board.  Current law allows the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) to approve up to 15 pilot projects for agricultural water leasing or fallowing projects.  The bill expands the types of projects that may be approved to include deficit irrigation projects, which use less than the optimal amount of water on a particular crop.  The bill also excludes from the determination of historical consumptive use decreases in use resulting from deficit irrigation projects to conserve or lease water.

01:38:58 PM  

The following persons testified remotely from Oterro Junior College:

01:39:49 PM  

Dave Donnell, representing himself, testified in a neutral position to the bill and explained his concerns.  Mr. Donnell responded to questions from the committee.

01:44:42 PM  

Dwight Proctor, representing himself, testified in a neutral position on the bill and discussed his concerns. Mr. Proctor responded to questions from the committee.

01:44:43 PM  

The following people testified in person on the bill:

01:47:33 PM  

Peter Nichols, Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District, testified in support of the bill and discussed the process by which pilot projects will be chosen, as stated in the bill.  Mr. Nichols responded to questions from the committee.

01:53:39 PM  

Emily Ibach, Colorado Farm Bureau, testified in opposition to the bill.  Ms. Ibach also stated that the Water Rights Association of the South Platte opposes the bill.

01:54:51 PM  

Phillip Chavez, Diamond A. Farms, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee.

02:01:03 PM  

Alexander Funk, National Young Farmers Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

02:02:14 PM  

Jay Winner, Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District, testified in support of the bill and discussed his experience with the Catlin Pilot Project.

02:04:10 PM  

Zane Kessler, Colorado River District, testified in support of the bill.

02:06:56 PM  

Representative Arndt explained an amendment being drafted and requested that the bill be laid over until the end of the committee's calendar.

02:09:06 PM  

Representative Esgar laid the bill over, as requested.

02:09:39 PM  

The committee recessed.



HB18-1236 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole


02:18:31 PM  
The committee came back to order.
02:19:09 PM  

Representatives McLachlan and Becker, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 18-1236, concerning the continuation of the Colorado Food Systems Advisory Council.  The introduced bill implements the recommendations of the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) in its Sunset Review and report on the Colorado Food Systems Advisory Council by extending the council indefinitely.  Representative Becker moved and distributed Amendment L.001, which strikes everything below the enacting clause [Attachment A].  The amendment would make changes to the council, including lowering the number of members on the council, changing the membership of the council, and making changes to the council's main objectives.

02:19:28 PM  

Wendy Peters Moschetti, Livewell Colorado, testified in support of the bill, as amended by Amendment L.001. Ms. Moschetti responded to questions regarding ways in which the council would respond to food waste.

02:20:37 PM  

Dr. Dawn Thilmany, Colorado Food Systems Advisory Council, testified in support of the bill and discussed the duties of the council.

02:24:46 PM  

Alexander Funk, National Young Farmers Coalition, testified in support of the bill.  He also distributed a letter in support of the bill from Mike Nolan, representing the Four Corners Ranchers Coalition [Attachment B].



02:27:16 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.001
Moved Becker J.
Seconded Esgar
Becker J.
Buck
Catlin
Danielson
Hansen
Jackson
Lewis
McKean
Roberts
Saine
Valdez
Esgar
Arndt
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
02:27:17 PM  

Representatives McLachlan and Becker made concluding comments regarding the bill.



02:29:06 PM
Motion Refer House Bill 18-1236, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Becker J.
Seconded Esgar
Becker J. Yes
Buck No
Catlin Yes
Danielson Yes
Hansen Yes
Jackson Yes
Lewis Yes
McKean Yes
Roberts Yes
Saine No
Valdez Yes
Esgar Yes
Arndt Yes
Final YES: 11   NO: 2   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB18-1199 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole


02:29:24 PM  

Representative Catlin presented House Bill 18-1199, concerning a process for the Ground Water Commission to use for approving aquifer storage-and-recovery plans and requiring that the commission promulgate rules governing its implementation.  The bill requires the Ground Water Commission to promulgate rules for applying for approval of aquifer storage-and-recovery plans.  The commission is required to publish a completed appliction and hold a hearing inf an objection is filed.  The commission is required to approve an aquifer storage-and-recovery plan if it meets both statutory and commission requirements.  Representative Catlin distributed Amendment L.001 [Attachment C].

02:35:00 PM  

Steve Sims, Colorado Water Congress and Aurora Water, testified in support of the bill and explained Amendment L.001.

02:38:22 PM  

Kathy Kitzman, City of Aurora, testified in support of the bill.

02:40:06 PM  

Pat Ratliff, South Metro Water Supply Authority, testified in support of the bill.



02:42:28 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.001
Moved Catlin
Seconded Esgar
Becker J. No
Buck No
Catlin Yes
Danielson Yes
Hansen Yes
Jackson Yes
Lewis No
McKean No
Roberts Yes
Saine No
Valdez Yes
Esgar Yes
Arndt Yes
YES: 8   NO: 5   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS
02:42:28 PM  

Representatives Catlin and McLachlan made concluding comments on the bill.

02:43:56 PM  

Committee discussion ensued regarding the bill.



02:45:42 PM
Motion Refer House Bill 18-1199, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Catlin
Seconded Danielson
Becker J. Yes
Buck No
Catlin Yes
Danielson Yes
Hansen Yes
Jackson Yes
Lewis No
McKean No
Roberts Yes
Saine No
Valdez Yes
Esgar Yes
Arndt Yes
Final YES: 9   NO: 4   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB18-1238 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole


02:45:59 PM  

Representatives Jackson and Catlin, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 18-1238, concerning the continuation of the Wildland-urban Interface Training Advisory Board.  The bill implements the recommendation of DORA to sunset the board.



02:48:58 PM
Motion Refer House Bill 18-1238 to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Saine
Seconded Buck
Becker J. Yes
Buck Yes
Catlin Yes
Danielson Yes
Hansen Yes
Jackson Yes
Lewis Yes
McKean Yes
Roberts Yes
Saine Yes
Valdez Yes
Esgar Excused
Arndt Yes
Final YES: 12   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB18-1235 - Amended, referred to House Appropriations


02:49:11 PM  

Representatives Hansen and McKean, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 18-1235, concerning the continuation of the regulation of custom meat processors.  The bill continues the regulation of custom meat processing in the Department of Agriculture, which is scheduled to repeal on July 1, 2018.  In addition the bill authorizes licensed poultry processors who process more than 1,000 but less than 20,000 birds per year, to sell poultry to retail food establishments and individuals.  Representative Hansen distributed Amendment L.001 [Attachment C], which changes the future sunset review date from September 1, 2031, to September 1, 2023.

02:54:51 PM  

Representative Lewis distributed a map of Colorado House District 64, which indicates the location of beef producers in the area [Attachment D]. Committee discussion ensued.

02:59:11 PM  

Hollis Glenn, Colorado Department of Agriculture, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Glenn responded to questions from the committee.

03:07:06 PM  

Alexander Funk, National Young Farmers Coalition, testified in support of the bill and distributed a letter in support of the bill from Dan Waldvogle of the National Young Farmers Coalition [Attachment E].

03:08:08 PM  

Alan Lewis, Natural Grocers, testified in support of the bill.

03:10:25 PM  

Bill Midcap, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, testified in support of the bill.

03:12:14 PM  

Karen Kalavity, representing herself, testified in a neutral position to the bill and discussed her concerns with the meat processing industry.



03:13:50 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.001
Moved McKean
Seconded Hansen
Becker J.
Buck
Catlin
Danielson
Hansen
Jackson
Lewis
McKean
Roberts
Saine
Valdez
Esgar Excused
Arndt
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection


03:14:47 PM
Motion Refer House Bill 18-1235, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Hansen
Seconded McKean
Becker J. Yes
Buck Yes
Catlin Yes
Danielson Yes
Hansen Yes
Jackson Yes
Lewis Yes
McKean Yes
Roberts Yes
Saine Yes
Valdez Yes
Esgar Yes
Arndt Yes
Final YES: 13   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



HB18-1151 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole


03:18:35 PM  

Representative Arndt distributed and explained Amendment L.004 [Attachment G] to House Bill 18-1151, which was laid over from earlier in the committee's calendar.  The amendment limits the requirements in the bill to Water Divisions 2 and 3 and the boundaries of the Upper Gunnison Water Conservancy District.



03:18:36 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.004
Moved Arndt
Seconded Catlin
Becker J. Yes
Buck Yes
Catlin Yes
Danielson Yes
Hansen Yes
Jackson Yes
Lewis No
McKean Excused
Roberts Yes
Saine Yes
Valdez Yes
Esgar Yes
Arndt Yes
YES: 11   NO: 1   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS
03:18:45 PM  

Representatives Arndt and Catlin made concluding comments regarding the bill.

03:19:31 PM  

Committee discussion ensued.



03:20:19 PM
Motion Refer House Bill 18-1151, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Catlin
Seconded Arndt
Becker J. No
Buck No
Catlin Yes
Danielson Yes
Hansen Yes
Jackson Yes
Lewis No
McKean Excused
Roberts Yes
Saine No
Valdez Yes
Esgar Yes
Arndt Yes
Final YES: 8   NO: 4   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


03:20:38 PM   Committee Adjourned






Colorado legislature email addresses ending in @state.co.us are no longer active. Please replace @state.co.us with @coleg.gov for Colorado legislature email addresses.  Details