Skip to main content
Colorado General AssemblyToggle Main Menu
Agency NameToggle Agency Menu

75DBB6EADDA02AF4872589820075D041 Hearing Summary




PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For SB23-256

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES
Date Mar 30, 2023      
Location SCR 352



SB23-256 - Referred to Senate Appropriations

03:26:51 PM  
Senator Will and Senator Roberts, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 23-256 to the committee. The bill limits when the Parks and Wildlife Commission may reintroduce wolves based on the outcome of the Endangered Species Act 10(j)(1) rule proposal and a National Environmental Policy Act analysis. Senator Roberts provided a packet of handouts to the committee (Attachment F).
03:30:44 PM  
Renee Deal, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill.  




Greg Peterson,
representing Gunnison County Stockgrowers' Association, testified in support
of the bill.  




Mrs. Jennifer
Burbey, representing Colorado Outfitters Association, testified in support
of the bill and provided a handout to the committee (Attachment G).  




Ms. Robbie LeValley,
representing Colorado Cattlemens Association and the Delta County Board
of Commissioners, testified in support of the bill.
03:46:43 PM  
Bonnie Brown, representing
Colorado Wool Growers Association, testified in support of the bill.  




Travis Smith,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.  




Mr. Lenny Klinglesmith,
representing Rio Blanco Stockgrowers and LK Ranch, testified in support
of the bill and responded to questions from the committee.




Callie Hendrickson,
representing White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts, testified
in support of the bill.
03:59:25 PM  
Executive Director
Dan Gibbs, representing Colorado Department of Natural Resources, testified
in opposition to the bill.




Rhonda Dern, representing
Colorado Wolf Alliance, testified in opposition to the bill.




Ms. Delia Malone,
representing Colorado Sierra Club, testified in opposition to the bill.




Mr. Donald Metzler,
representing Holy Cross Cattlemen's Association, testified in support of
the bill.
04:12:24 PM  
Director Gibbs responded to questions from the committee.
04:31:37 PM  
Committee discussion with Director Gibbs continued.
04:45:54 PM  
Mr. Gary Skiba, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Skiba responded to questions from the committee.
04:48:21 PM  
Mr. Brackett Pollard,
representing Holy Cross Cattlemen's Association, testified in support of
the bill.  




Gaspar Perricone,
representing Colorado Wildlife Conservation Project, testified in support
of the bill.  




Ms. Janie VanWinkle,
representing Colorado Cattlemen's Association, testified in support of
the bill.  




Tyler Garrett,
representing Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, testified in support of the
bill.  




Mr. Carlyle Currier,
representing Colorado Farm Bureau, testified in support of the bill.
05:07:13 PM  
Mr. Ty Gates, representing
Rio Blanco County Board of County Commissioners, testified in support of
the bill.  




Mr. Larry Desjardin,
representing Keep Routt Wild, testified in support of the bill.




Mrs. Ginny Harrington,
representing Holy Cross Cattlemen's Association, testified in support of
the bill.  




Mrs. Susanne Roller,
representing Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, testified in support of the
bill.
05:17:48 PM  
Mr. Roland Halpern,
representing Colorado Voters for Animals, testified in opposition to the
bill.  




Ms. Kaitie Schneider,
representing Defenders of Wildlife, testified in opposition to the bill.
 




Patricia McLaughlan,
representing Colorado Sierra Club, testified in opposition to the bill.
 




Mr. Rainer Gerbatsch,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.
05:32:02 PM  
Jacqueline Russell,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.  




Mr. Thomas Delehanty,
representing Earthjustice, testified in opposition to the bill.  




Dr. Joanna Lambert,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.  




Mr. Thomas Zieber,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.  




Mr. Delehanty
responded to questions from the committee.
05:49:38 PM  
Kathleen Curry, representing
Gunnison County Stockgrowers Association, testified in support of the bill.
 




Mr. Taylor Rahmann,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.  




Ms. Curry and
Mr. Rahmann responded to questions from the committee.
05:58:14 PM  
The committee recessed.
06:16:30 PM  
The committee reconvened.
06:16:54 PM  
Ms.  Ellary
TuckerWilliams, representing Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, testified
in support of the bill.  




Mrs. Heather Riley,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.
06:22:39 PM  
Mr. Michael Saul,
representing Western Watersheds Project, testified in opposition to the
bill.  




Ms. Darlene Kobobel,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.




Ms. Lindsay Larris,
representing WildEarth Guardians, testified in opposition to the bill.
 




Aubyn Royall,
representing The Humane Society of the United States, testified in opposition
to the bill.  




Ms. Larris and
Ms. Kobobel responded to questions from the committee.
06:40:05 PM  
Dianna Orf, representing
Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado and the Moffat County Board
of Commissioners, testified in support of the bill.




Mr. James Henderson,
representing Colorado Farm Bureau, testified in support of the bill.  




Commissioner Merrit
Linke, representing Grand County, Club 20, and the Associated Governments
of Northwest Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Commissioner Linke
responded to questions from the committee.
06:52:35 PM  
Jery Payne, Office
of Legislative Legal Services, responded to questions from the committee.
 Additional written testimony on the bill is available as Attachment
H.
06:55:06 PM  
Senators Will and Roberts wrapped up their presentation of the bill.
07:06:43 PM  
Committee members
discussed the bill with the sponsors.


07:12:23 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 23-256 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Roberts
Seconded
Marchman No
Pelton B. Yes
Pelton R. Yes
Priola No
Simpson Yes
Hinrichsen Yes
Roberts Yes
Final YES: 5   NO: 2   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS