H_AWN_2024A 04/22/2024 01:34:50 PM Committee Summary PUBLICSTAFF SUMMARY OF MEETINGHOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, WATER & NATURAL RESOURCES Date 04/22/2024 Attendance Amabile X Holtorf X Lukens X Lynch X Martinez X Marvin X McLachlan X Story X Titone X Velasco X Winter T. X Catlin X McCormick X Time 01:34:50 PM to 06:30:31 PM Place HCR 0107 This Meeting was called to order by McCormick This Report was prepared by Alexa Kelly Hearing Items Action Taken hHB24-1458 Amended, referred to House Appropriations hSB24-197 Referred to the Committee of the Whole hSB24-171 Referred to House Appropriations hSB24-185 Referred to House Appropriations hSB24-126 Amended, referred to House Finance hSB24-037 Referred to House Appropriations hSB24-152 Amended, referred to House Finance HB24-1458 - Amended, referred to House Appropriations Attachment Tag File Name Attachment A http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2024A/commsumm.nsf/0/0ACDAAC549D6...$File/Attachment A - HB1458 Sponsor Handout.pdf?OpenElement Attachment A - HB1458 Sponsor Handout.pdf Attachment B http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2024A/commsumm.nsf/0/533C411913B8...$File/Attachment B - HB1458_L.002.pdf?OpenElement Attachment B - HB1458_L.002.pdf 01:35:00 PM Majority Leader Duran and Representative Armagost, bill co-prime sponsors, introduced House Bill 24-1458 and distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment A). The bill creates the Division of Animal Welfare in the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA), the head of which is the division director. The division is a Type 2 entity. The State Bureau of Animal Protection (BAP) is moved under the new division from the Animal Industry Division. The division is tasked with promoting domestic animal welfare, including providing education and outreach, creating voluntary programs, and awarding grants. 01:38:55 PM Ms. Linda Hart, representing Colorado Federation of Dog Clubs & Owners, testified to amend the bill. Mr. Scott Dorenkamp, representing Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Bill Scebbi, representing Colorado Horse Council, testified in a neutral position on the bill. Mr. Scebbi responded to questions from the committee. 01:52:17 PM Mr. Jordan Beezley, representing CDA, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Maggie Baldwin, representing CDA, testified in support of the bill. The panelists responded to questions from the committee. 01:58:15 PM The bill sponsors discussed amendment L.002 (Attachment B) with the committee. 02:04:53 PM Motion Adopt amendment L.002 Moved Titone Seconded Catlin Amabile Holtorf Lukens Lynch Martinez Marvin McLachlan Story Titone Velasco Winter T. Catlin McCormick YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection 02:04:54 PM The bill sponsors gave closing comments on the bill. 02:07:05 PM Committee members made closing comments on the bill. 02:14:17 PM Motion Refer House Bill 24-1458, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. Moved Titone Seconded Catlin Amabile Yes Holtorf Yes Lukens Yes Lynch Yes Martinez Yes Marvin Yes McLachlan Yes Story Yes Titone Yes Velasco Yes Winter T. No Catlin Yes McCormick Yes Final YES: 12 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS SB24-197 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole 02:14:23 PM Speaker McCluskie and Representative Catlin, bill co-prime sponsors, introduced Senate Bill 24-197. The bill implements several recommendations of the Colorado River Drought Task Force, created by Senate Bill 23-295. 02:25:51 PM Ms. Orla Bannan, representing Western Resource Advocates, testified in support of the bill. Daphne Gervais, representing Department of Natural Resources, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Aaron Citron, representing The Nature Conservancy, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Zane Kessler, representing Colorado River District, testified in support of the bill. Richard Belt, representing Xcel Energy, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Aaron Ladd, representing Tri-State Generation & Transmission, testified in support of the bill. 02:37:44 PM Mr. Josh Kuhn, representing Conservation Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Eagle County Commissioner Kathy Chandler-Henry, representing Northwest Colorado Council of Governments Water Quality & Quantity Committee, testified in support of the bill. 02:43:31 PM The bill sponsors gave closing comments on the bill. 02:46:12 PM Committee members gave closing comments on the bill. 02:47:10 PM Motion Refer Senate Bill 24-197 to the Committee of the Whole. Moved Catlin Seconded Titone Amabile Yes Holtorf Excused Lukens Yes Lynch Yes Martinez Yes Marvin Yes McLachlan Yes Story Excused Titone Yes Velasco Yes Winter T. Excused Catlin Yes McCormick Yes Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 3 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS SB24-171 - Referred to House Appropriations Attachment Tag File Name Attachment C http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2024A/commsumm.nsf/0/710E0DE249B6...$File/Attachment C - SB171_L.005.pdf?OpenElement Attachment C - SB171_L.005.pdf 02:47:16 PM Representative Mauro and Representative McLachlan, bill co-prime sponsors, introduced Senate Bill 24-171. The bill authorizes Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to reintroduce the North American wolverine in Colorado. As long as the wolverine remains on the list of threatened or endangered species under federal law, CPW may not reintroduce the wolverine until the species is designated as a nonessential experimental population by rule established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. If CPW reintroduces the wolverine, it must create rules for providing payment of fair compensation to owners of livestock for losses caused by wolverines. 02:50:00 PM Ms. Brittany Dixon, representing Club 20, testified in a neutral position on the bill. 02:50:21 PM Mr. Brendan Witt, representing Western Resource Advocates, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Stefan Ekernas, representing Denver Zoo, testified in support of the bill. Piep Van Heuven, representing Colorado Ski Country USA, testified in support of the bill. Mr. John Singletary, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Routt County Comissioner Tim Corrigan, representing Counties and Commissioners Acting Together, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Ekernas and Mr. Singletary responded to questions from the committee. 03:13:43 PM Ms. Jamie Caton, representing Vail Resorts, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Michael Saul, representing Defenders of Wildlife, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Megan Mueller, representing Rocky Mountain Wild, testified in support of the bill. Jake Ivan, representing CPW, testified in support of the bill. Brian Dreher, representing CPW, testified in support of the bill. The panelists responded to questions from the committee. 03:28:17 PM The bill sponsors discussed amendment L.005 (Attachment C). 03:34:47 PM The bill sponsors gave closing comments on the bill. 03:38:19 PM Committee members gave closing comments on the bill. 03:42:20 PM Motion Refer Senate Bill 24-171 to the Committee on Appropriations. Moved McLachlan Seconded Amabile Amabile Yes Holtorf No Lukens Yes Lynch Yes Martinez Yes Marvin Yes McLachlan Yes Story Yes Titone Yes Velasco Yes Winter T. No Catlin Yes McCormick Yes Final YES: 11 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS SB24-185 - Referred to House Appropriations 03:42:26 PM Representative Amabile, bill sponsor, introduced Senate Bill 24-185. This bill requires an applicant for forced pooling to include an affidavit that declares ownership, or consent from ownership, of more than 45 percent of the mineral interests to be pooled. The affidavit must disclose if the applicant is relying on an unrecorded oil and gas lease, unrecorded memorandum of an oil gas lease, or unrecorded agreement. The bill also allows a mineral owner at least 60 days before the first noticed hearing date to file a protest of the application disputing the declaration in the affidavit. 03:48:04 PM The bill sponsor responded to questions from the committee. 03:48:15 PM Heather Stauffer, representing Colorado Municipal League, testified in support of the bill. Clear Creek County Commissioner George Marlin, representing Counties & Commissioners Acting Together, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Jean Lim, representing Counties & Commissioners Acting Together, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Phil Barber, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. David Hughes, representing Boulder County, testified in support of the bill. Mimi Larsen, representing Energy & Carbon Management Commission, Department of Natural Resources, testified in support of the bill. 04:03:30 PM Mr. Jeffrey Moore, representing City of Aurora, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Dale Rademacher, representing City of Longmont, testified in support of the bill. Torie Jarvis, representing Northwest Colorado Council of Governments Water Quality/Quantity Committee, testified in support of the bill. 04:08:38 PM The bill sponsor gave closing comments on the bill. 04:12:09 PM Motion Refer Senate Bill 24-185 to the Committee on Appropriations. Moved Amabile Seconded Titone Amabile Yes Holtorf No Lukens Yes Lynch No Martinez Yes Marvin Yes McLachlan Yes Story Yes Titone Yes Velasco Yes Winter T. No Catlin No McCormick Yes Final YES: 9 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS SB24-126 - Amended, referred to House Finance Attachment Tag File Name Attachment D http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2024A/commsumm.nsf/0/6FDEF4EF51D3...$File/Attachment D - SB126_L.017.pdf?OpenElement Attachment D - SB126_L.017.pdf Attachment E http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2024A/commsumm.nsf/0/779A341649F5...$File/Attachment E - SB126_L.018.pdf?OpenElement Attachment E - SB126_L.018.pdf Attachment F http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2024A/commsumm.nsf/0/124014D83F75...$File/Attachment F - Mark Weston Written Testimony 0.22.2024 House Ag.pdf?OpenElement Attachment F - Mark Weston Written Testimony 0.22.2024 House Ag.pdf 04:12:14 PM Representative Lynch and Representative Lukens, co-prime bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 24-126. The bill extends the Conservation Easement Oversight Commission and the program for certifying conservation easement holders indefinitely and increases the maximum amount of conservation easement tax credits that may be certified through 2031. The sponsors presented amendments L.017 and L.018 (Attachments D and E). 04:19:41 PM Erik Glenn, representing Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust, testified in support of the bill. Maggie Hanna, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Brien Webster, representing Conservation Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Erin Karney-Spaur, representing Colorado Cattlemen's Association, testified in support of the bill. 04:29:08 PM Mr. Jordan Beezley, representing Colorado Department of Agriculture, testified in a neutral position on the bill. Tim Brass, representing Department of Natural Resources, testified in a neutral position on the bill. Mr. Mark Weston, representing themself, testified to amend the bill. Jillane Hixson, representing themself, testified to amend the bill. Mr. Weston responded to questions from the committee. 04:40:20 PM Jed Franklin, Office of Legislative Legal Services, answered questions from committee members. 04:45:44 PM Mr. Aaron Welch, representing Colorado Division of Conservation, Department of Regulatory Agencies, answered committee questions. 04:53:08 PM Tyler Garrett, representing Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, testified in support of the bill. Suzanne Roller, representing Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Brendan Witt, representing Western Resource Advocates, testified in support of the bill. Gaspar Perricone, representing Colorado Wildlife Conservation Project, testified in support of the bill. The panelists responded to questions from the committee. 04:53:09 PM Submitted written testimony can be found in Attachment F. 05:03:50 PM Motion Adopt amendment L.017 Moved Lukens Seconded Lynch Amabile Holtorf Lukens Lynch Martinez Marvin McLachlan Story Titone Velasco Winter T. Catlin McCormick YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection 05:04:07 PM Motion Adopt amendment L.018 Moved Lukens Seconded Lynch Amabile Holtorf Lukens Lynch Martinez Marvin McLachlan Story Titone Velasco Winter T. Catlin McCormick YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection 05:04:24 PM The bill sponsors gave closing comments on the bill. 05:07:03 PM Committee members gave closing comments on the bill. 05:09:30 PM Motion Refer Senate Bill 24-126, as amended, to the Committee on Finance. Moved Lukens Seconded Lynch Amabile Yes Holtorf Yes Lukens Yes Lynch Yes Martinez Yes Marvin Yes McLachlan Yes Story Yes Titone Yes Velasco Yes Winter T. Yes Catlin Yes McCormick Yes Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS SB24-037 - Referred to House Appropriations Attachment Tag File Name Attachment G http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2024A/commsumm.nsf/0/54811C212413...$File/Attachment G - WRA Testimony SB24-037 Study Green Infrastructure House Ag 21Apr2024.docx?OpenElement Attachment G - WRA Testimony SB24-037 Study Green Infrastructure House Ag 21Apr2024.docx 05:09:37 PM Representative Lynch and Representative McCormick, bill co-prime sponsors, introduced Senate Bill 24-037. The bill requires that the University of Colorado and Colorado State University collaborate with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to study the feasibility of substituting green infrastructure, a planned and managed network of natural green spaces, for traditional centralized wastewater and drinking water treatment mechanisms. 05:18:09 PM The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee. 05:22:30 PM Dianna Orf, representing Colorado Water Congress, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Evan Thomas, representing University of Colorado, Boulder, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Thomas responded to questions from the committee. Submitted written testimony can be found in Attachment G. 05:30:42 PM The bill sponsors gave closing comments on the bill. 05:36:06 PM Committee members gave closing comments on the bill. 05:37:17 PM Motion Refer Senate Bill 24-037 to the Committee on Appropriations. Moved Lynch Seconded McCormick Amabile Yes Holtorf No Lukens Yes Lynch Yes Martinez Yes Marvin Yes McLachlan Yes Story Yes Titone Yes Velasco Yes Winter T. Yes Catlin Yes McCormick Yes Final YES: 12 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS SB24-152 - Amended, referred to House Finance Attachment Tag File Name Attachment H http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2024A/commsumm.nsf/0/4C56EF34AA98...$File/Attachment H - SB24-152 Regenerative Agriculture Tax Credit Written Testimony.pdf?OpenElement Attachment H - SB24-152 Regenerative Agriculture Tax Credit Written Testimony.pdf Attachment I http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2024A/commsumm.nsf/0/1DBBCF5A0623...$File/Attachment I - SB152_L.004.pdf?OpenElement Attachment I - SB152_L.004.pdf 05:37:25 PM Representative McCormick and Representative Soper, bill co-prime sponsors, introduced Senate Bill 24-152. For tax years 2026 through 2030, the bill creates a refundable state income tax credit for qualified food and beverage retailers who purchase agricultural commodities from Colorado-based agricultural producers practicing regenerative agriculture. 05:39:00 PM The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee. 05:44:58 PM Mark Ruzzin, representing Boulder County, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Erin Meschke, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Cynthia Stewart, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Mandy Magill, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. The panelists responded to questions from the committee. 06:09:14 PM Tyler Garrett, representing Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, testified in support of the bill. Saguache County Commissioner Liza Marron, representing Counties & Commissioners Acting Together (CCAT), testified in support of the bill. Mr. Clay Tomcak, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. The panelists responded to questions from the committee. 06:09:15 PM Submitted written testimony can be found in Attachment H. 06:17:12 PM The bill sponsors discussed amendment L.004 (Attachment I) with the committee. 06:19:51 PM Motion Adopt amendment L.004 Moved McCormick Seconded Catlin Amabile Holtorf Lukens Lynch Martinez Marvin McLachlan Story Titone Velasco Winter T. Catlin McCormick YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection 06:19:52 PM The bill sponsors gave closing comments on the bill. 06:22:35 PM Committee members gave closing comments on the bill. 06:30:21 PM Motion Refer Senate Bill 24-152, as amended, to the Committee on Finance. Moved McCormick Seconded Titone Amabile Yes Holtorf No Lukens Yes Lynch Yes Martinez Yes Marvin Yes McLachlan Yes Story Yes Titone Yes Velasco Yes Winter T. No Catlin Yes McCormick Yes Final YES: 11 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS 06:30:31 PM The committee adjourned.