s_agr_2017a_2017-02-09t13:32:40z2 Hearing Summary

Date: 02/09/2017

Location: SCR 357

03:26 PM -- HB 17-1030



The committee came back to order. Senator Sonnenberg and Senator Baumgardner, Co-Prime Sponsors, described the provisions of House Bill 17-1030 concerning the 1921 irrigation district act and distributed Amendment L.002 (Attachment D). This bill, recommended by the Interim Water Resources Review Committee, addresses compensation for board members and election judges; clarifies the definition of agricultural land; allows an irrigation district to lease its surplus water for all beneficial uses; clarifies how irrigation district assessments are to be collected and held by district treasurers; eliminates the bonding requirement for district board members; and modernizes election procedures and procedures for selling surplus property. The bill also increases from $20,000 to $500,000, the amount of a contract or an eminent domain proceeding that requires voter ratification in a district election.



170209 AttachD.pdf



The following persons testified on the bill:



03:30 PM -- Tom Sauter, representing himself, spoke in opposition to the bill.



03:32 PM -- Andy Jones, Lost Creek Groundwater Management District, spoke in opposition to the bill and expressed concern about the transfer of agricultural water rights.



03:36 PM -- Mark Hermundstad, Overland Mesa Irrigation District, spoke in support of the bill.



03:38 PM -- Kent Holsinger, Henrylyn Irrigation District, spoke in support of the bill and responded to prior testimony on the bill.



03:41 PM -- Chris Treese, Colorado River Water Conservation District, spoke in support of the bill.



03:43 PM -- Max Schmidt, Orchard Mesa Irrigation District, spoke in support of the bill.



03:44 PM -- Dianna Orf, Colorado Water Congress, spoke in support of the bill.



03:45 PM -- Emily Ibach, Colorado Farm Bureau, spoke in support of the bill.



03:46 PM



The chair closed testimony on the bill, and Senator Sonnenberg closed his remarks.