Senators Priola and Cutter, co-prime sponsors, introduced and explained House Bill 23-1242 Water Conservation in Oil & Gas Operations. The bill places new reporting requirements on oil and gas operators concerning water use and requires the Department of Natural Resources to adopt rules to reduce, reuse, and recycle water used in oil and gas operations. The bill creates the Colorado Produced Water Consortium to analyze and report on the recycling and reuse of water produced as a byproduct of oil and gas operations.

Ruth Hund, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Kevin Chan, representing Save the Aurora reservoir, testified in support of the bill. Patricia Garcia Nelson, representing GreenLatinos, testified in support of the bill. Irene Andres, representing Colorado Sierra Club, testified in support of the bill.

Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) Commissioner John Messner, representing COGCC, was available to answer committee questions.  Gregory Deranleau, representing the COGCC was available to answer committee questions.