CF543AB4F730FDBF87258AC40072FFB1 Hearing Summary CLICS/CLICS2024A/commsumm.nsf PUBLICBILL SUMMARY For SB24-137SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCESDate Feb 15, 2024 Location SCR 352 SB24-137 - Committee Discussion Only 01:56:12 PM Senator Simpson, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 24-137. The bill amends the Colorado Potato Seed Act to require potato growers to submit any uncertified potato seed stock to the certifying authority, the Department of Agriculture (CDA), for testing prior to planting. The CDA must then approve the uncertified potato seed stock if it meets standards established by the Commissioner of Agriculture. A potato grower may plant any progeny from the uncertified potato seed in subsequent years if the potato seed is annually submitted, tested, and approved for planting. Senator Simpson responded to questions from the committee. 02:04:24 PM Riley Clayton, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Jed Ellithorpe, representing Ponderosa Partnership LLC, testified in opposition to the bill and responded to questions from the committee. 02:09:02 PM Dr. Andrew Houser, representing Colorado Potato Certification Service, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Mark Peterson, representing Colorado Potato Administrative Committee and Peterson Farms LLC, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Tyler Mitchell, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Wondirad Gebru, representing Colorado Department of Agriculture, Plant Industry Division, answered committee questions. The panelists continued to respond to questions from the committee. 02:30:39 PM Senator Simpson discussed the bill and asked that it be laid over for action at a future date.
