H_ALW_2022A 04/25/2022 02:24:55 PM Committee Summary PUBLICSTAFF SUMMARY OF MEETINGHOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, & WATER Date 04/25/2022 Attendance Holtorf X Lindsay X Lontine X Lynch X McLachlan X Roberts X Titone X Valdez D. * Will * Catlin * McCormick X Time 02:24:55 PM to 04:24:05 PM Place HCR 0107 This Meeting was called to order by McCormick This Report was prepared by Alexa Kelly Hearing Items Action Taken hUpdate from Colorado State Forest Service Committee Discussion Only hSB22-169 Referred to the Committee of the Whole Update from Colorado State Forest Service - Committee Discussion Only Attachment Tag File Name Attachment http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2022A/commsumm.nsf/0/37C4D24DD9B9...$File/Attachment A - USFS Summary.pdf?OpenElement Attachment A - USFS Summary.pdf Attachment http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2022A/commsumm.nsf/0/4FEAA72F4228...$File/Attachment B - Lyle Laverty Statement.pdf?OpenElement Attachment B - Lyle Laverty Statement.pdf 02:25:03 PM Matt McCombs, Director of Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) and the State Forester, introduced the presentation. The following handouts were distributed to the committee: - Five Year Strategic Plan, which can be found here: https://csfs.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/CSFS-StrategicPlan-2016-2020.pdf - The Home Ignition Zone, which can be found here: https://csfs.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021_CSFS_HIZGuide_Web.pdf He briefed the committee on the 2021 Report on the Health on Colorado's Forests, which can be found online here: https://csfs.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2021_Forest_Health_Report.pdf 02:29:26 PM Director McCombs discussed the activities of CSFS and the need to maintain forest health. He discussed the relationship between water resources and forest health and how dry, warm weather has stressed forests in Colorado. 02:32:41 PM Director McCombs spoke about investing in Colorado's forests, including the different grant programs that are currently available and the current projects that the grants are funding. 02:37:01 PM Frank Beum, Deputy Regional Director of the Rocky Mountain Region of the US Forest Service (USFS) spoke about his role, the role of the USFS in Colorado, and their main priorities. 02:44:47 PM Director Beum discussed the potential for wildfire, wildfire assessments, and drought monitoring. He discussed the federal infrastructure bill, including how it addresses wildfire risk reduction, the national forest system, state and private forest industry, and research and development. 02:47:19 PM Director Beum spoke about the next steps for his agency and the plan for long-term forest maintenance. He discussed the Colorado Front Range Project and high-risk firesheds. 02:49:12 PM Director Beum told the committee about disaster relief funding and recreation in the national forests in Colorado. 02:51:18 PM Molly Pitts, Executive Director of the Colorado Timber Industry Association, spoke about her organization's role in Colorado. She told the committee about the risks the forests are facing and the need to invest in forest management. She distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment A). 02:52:48 PM Director Pitts thanked the committee for investing in Colorado forests and helping to fund the different grant programs. She spoke about forest products and employing individuals in the timber industry. 02:55:28 PM Lyle Laverty, Association of Consulting Foresters, spoke about his role and his experience in the forest industry. He discussed the impacts of the recent large fires in Colorado and how Colorado can work to recover. He distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment B). 02:59:32 PM The presenters responded to questions from the committee members. 03:13:25 PM Questions continued. 03:25:11 PM Questions continued. SB22-169 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole Attachment Tag File Name Attachment http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2022A/commsumm.nsf/0/CD631FA061C0...$File/Attachment C - SB22-069 Testimony.pdf?OpenElement Attachment C - SB22-069 Testimony.pdf 03:41:39 PM Representative Hooton, bill co-prime sponsor, introduced SB22-169. Under current law, public records are subject to request under the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA). This bill amends CORA to exclude the portion of any public record that could reveal the location of animals and sensitive plant species or habitat. 03:44:47 PM Representative Will, bill co-prime sponsor, gave opening comments on the bill. 03:51:50 PM Representative Hooton gave additional comments on the bill. 03:55:46 PM Doug Vilsack, representing the Department of Natural Resources, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Jordan Beezley, representing the Colorado Department of Agriculture, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Brad Klafehn, representing himself, testified in a neutral position on the bill. Mr. Michael Denslow, representing himself, testified to amend the bill. Dr. Gabrielle Katz, representing herself, testified to amend the bill. 04:15:58 PM Director Vilsack responded to questions from the committee. Submitted written testimomy can be found in Attachment C. 04:19:16 PM Representative Hooton and Representative Will gave final comments on the bill. 04:21:38 PM Committee members gave final comments on the bill. 04:23:48 PM Motion Refer Senate Bill 22-169 to the Committee of the Whole. Moved Will Seconded Catlin Holtorf Yes Lindsay Yes Lontine Yes Lynch Yes McLachlan Excused Roberts Yes Titone Yes Valdez D. Yes Will Yes Catlin Yes McCormick Yes Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS 04:24:05 PM The committee adjourned.
