Representative McCormick and Representative Soper, co-prime sponsors, introduced Senate Bill 26-064. The bill expands eligibility for loans from the Colorado Agricultural Future Loan Program in the Colorado Department of Agriculture.

A handout was distributed to the committee (Attachment B).

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Madeline Robertson, representing Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Evanne Caviness, representing Colorado Department of Agriculture, Conservation Services Division, testified in support of the bill. Emma Donahue, representing Colorado Municipal League, testified in support of the bill. Addie Candib, representing American Farmland Trust, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Ben Lenth, representing Colorado Open Lands, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Jordan Beezley, representing Colorado Department of Agriculture, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Brian Coppom, representing Colorado Department of Agriculture, answered committee questions. Mr. Beezley and Ms. Caviness responded to questions from the committee.

Questions for the panel continued.

The bill sponsors and committee members gave closing comments on the bill.

The committee came back to order.