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First Regular Session | 75th General Assembly
Colorado General Assembly

PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For SB25B-005

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS
Date Aug 21, 2025       Location Old Supreme Court

SB25B-005 - Amended, referred to Senate Appropriations
11:56:39 AM  
Senators Caitlin and Roberts, bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 25B-005. The bill reduces appropriations to the Department of Natural Resources for gray wolf reintroduction and transfers that amount to the Health Insurance Affordability Cash Fund. The committee asked questions to the sponsors.
12:22:36 PM  
Greg Peterson, representing Gunnison County Stock, testified in support of the bill. Tim Ritschard, representing Middle Park Stockgrowers, testified in support of the bill. Doug Bruchez, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Kathleen Curry, representing Gunnison County Stockgrowers Association, testified in support of the bill. Commissioner Callie Scritchfield, representing Rio Blanco County, testified in support of the bill. The committee asked questions to the panel.
12:34:01 PM  
Rainer Gerbatsch, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Delia Malone, representing the Colorado Sierra Club, testified in opposition to the bill. Rhonda Dern, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Debra Taylor, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.
12:47:37 PM  
Mark Surls, representing Project Coyote, testified in a neutral position on the bill. Roland Halpern, representing Colorado Voters for Animals, testified in a neutral position on the bill. Jen Clanahan, representing the Colorado Nature League, testified in a neutral position on the bill. Courtney Vail, representing the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project, testified in a neutral position on the bill.
12:58:55 PM  
Jeff Davis, representing Colorado Parks and Wildlife, testified to amend the bill. Rebecca Burkhalter, representing themself, testified to amend the bill. Samantha Miller, representing Center for Biological Diversity, testified to amend the bill. The committee asked questions to the panel.
01:12:09 PM  
John Swartout, representing the United Wolf Coalition, testified in support of the bill. Michael Cerveny, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Tom Harrington, representing Colorado Cattlemen's Association, testified in support of the bill. Richard Orf, representing the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, testified in support of the bill. The committee asked questions to the panel.
01:24:59 PM  
Michael Saul, representing Defenders of Wildlife, testified in opposition to the bill. Sarah McMerty, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Pam Milmoe, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ryan Sedgeley, representing the Endangered Species Coalition, testified in opposition to the bill.
01:35:46 PM  
Greg Lopez, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Robbie LeValley, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Bonnie Eddy, representing the Colorado Wool Growers Association, testified in support of the bill. The committee asked questions to the panel.
01:46:54 PM  
Karen Kalavity, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Dr. Melinda Marquis, representing the Colorado Wildlife Network, testified in opposition to the bill. Patricia McLaughlin, representing Sierra Club Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Gary Skiba, representing San Juan Citizens Alliance, testified in opposition to the bill. Dr. Laurie Rugenstein, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. The committee asked questions to the panel.
02:05:27 PM  
Renee Deal, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Barbara Flores, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. John Field, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ginny Harrington, representing Holy Cross Cattlemen's Association and livestock producer, testified in support of the bill. Lori Klinglesmith, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.
02:11:23 PM  
Matt Barnes, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Amanda Wight, representing Humane World for Animals, testified in opposition to the bill. Maya Key, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Ellen Kessler, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Karen Gerbatsch, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.
02:20:00 PM  
Liz Holland, representing Friends of Animals, testified in opposition to the bill. David Hand, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Dave Rusne, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Deanna Meyer, representing Prairie Protection Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Valerie Hunter-Goss, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Kent Abernethy, representing Headwaters Group/Colorado Chapter Sierra Club, testified in opposition to the bill. Michael Wenzl, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.
02:38:11 PM  
Sarah Platt, representing Action Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Written testimon can be found in Attachment B.
02:42:13 PM  
Senator Ball presented amendment L.003 (Attachment B).
02:42:32 PM  
The bill sponsors discussed the amendment.
02:46:02 PM  
The committee discussed the amendment.

02:49:46 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.003 (Attachment C).
Moved Ball
Seconded
Ball Yes
Pelton R. Yes
Zamora Wilson Yes
Sullivan No
Weissman Yes
YES: 4   NO: 1   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS
02:49:47 PM  
The bill sponsors and committee gave final remarks.

03:01:37 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 25B-005, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Ball
Seconded
Ball Yes
Pelton R. Yes
Zamora Wilson Yes
Sullivan No
Weissman Yes
Final YES: 4   NO: 1   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS