Skip to main content

PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For SB18-205

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, & ENERGY
Date Mar 22, 2018       Location SCR 357

SB18-205 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole - Consent Calendar


02:29:50 PM  
Senator Marble and Senator Coram, co-prime sponsors, discussed the provisions of Senate Bill 18-205 concerning industrial hemp designation as an agricultural product.  This bill adds unprocessed industrial hemp seeds to the definition of a commodity, and industrial hemp to the definition of farm products.  A commodity handler for unprocessed industrial hemp seeds will be subject to licensing under the Commodity Handler Act.  A person acting as a dealer, small-volume dealer, or agent for industrial hemp stocks, leaves, clones, and flowers will be subject to licensing under the Farm Products Act.  Under current law, industrial hemp registration fees are based on the size and use of the land area on which the industrial hemp operations are conducted.  This bill authorizes the Commissioner of Agriculture to set fees sufficient to cover the direct and indirect costs of the Industrial Hemp Program.
02:32:10 PM  
Tim Gordon, Colorado Hemp Industry Association, spoke in support of the bill and distributed a letter of support for the bill [Attachment D]..
02:34:31 PM  
Damion Farris, Colorado Cultivars, spoke in support of the bill.
02:36:05 PM  
Hunter Buffingtons, Colorado Hemp Industries Association, spoke in support of the bill and distributed his testimony to the committee [Attachment E].
02:38:12 PM  
Duane Sinning, Seed Cooridinator of the Hemp Program, Colorado Department of Agriculture, spoke in support of the bill.
02:39:06 PM  
Hollis Glenn, Director, Inspection & Consumer Services Division, Colorado Department of Agriculture, spoke in support of the bill.

02:43:43 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 18-205 to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.
Moved Marble
Seconded
Cooke Yes
Coram Yes
Donovan Excused
Fenberg Excused
Fields Yes
Garcia Yes
Kerr Yes
Marble Yes
Scott Yes
Baumgardner Yes
Sonnenberg Yes
Final YES: 9   NO: 0   EXC: 2   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS