H_AWN_2023A 04/13/2023 09:56:52 AM Committee Summary

Representative Snyder, bill co-prime sponsor, introduced and gave opening comments on House Bill 23-1273. The bill creates the Wildfire Resilient Homes Grant Program in the Department of Public Safety (CDPS). Homeowners may receive grants for retrofitting projects to make homes or structures more resilient to wildfires. The CDPS must submit an annual report on the program to the Wildfire Matters Review Committee.

Representative Joseph, bill co-prime sponsor, gave opening comments on the bill.

The bill sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Bill sponsors continued to respond to questions.

Ms. Jennah Kitchell,
representing CDPS, testified in support of the bill.  



Joel Malecka,
representing CDPS, was available to answer committee questions.  



Ms. Tawnya Somauroo,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.  



Mr. Roy Wright,
representing Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, testified
in support of the bill.  



Matt Benjamin,
representing Boulder City Council, testified in support of the bill.



Mr. Malecka and
Mr. Benjamin responded to questions from the committee.  

Submitted written testimony can be found in Attachment A.

Representative Snyder and Representative Joseph gave closing comments on the bill.

Committee members made final comments on the bill.

Representative Lindsay, bill co-prime sponsor, introduced and gave opening comments on Senate Bill 23-159. This bill continues the Colorado Food Systems Advisory Council in Colorado State University, which is scheduled to repeal on September 1, 2023. The council is continued through September 1, 2030.

Joan Brucha, representing
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, testified in support
of the bill.



Jordan Beezley,
representing Colorado Department of Agriculture, testified in support of
the bill.



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



Michele Meyer,
representing Community Agriculture Alliance, testified in support of the
bill.



Joel McClurg,
representing The Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger, testified in support
of the bill.



The committee
asked questions to the panel.

The bill sponsors responded to questions about the amendment.

Representative Lindsay and Representative Boeseneker gave closing comments on the bill.

Representative Lukens, bill co-prime sponsor, introduced and gave opening comments on Senate Bill 23-185. The bill continues the State Noxious Weed Advisory Committee in the Department of Agriculture, which is currently scheduled to repeal on September 1, 2023. The advisory committee is continued through September 1, 2034.

Representative Catlin, bill co-prime sponsor, gave opening comments on the bill.

Mrs. Erin Meschke, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. She responded to questions from the committee.

Mr. Les Owen, representing Colorado Department of Agriculture, testified in support of the bill. He responded to questions from the committee.

Representative Catlin and Representative Lukens gave final comments on the bill.

Representative McCormick, bill co-prime sponsor, introduced and gave opening comments on House Bill 23-1274. The bill authorizes the use of $5 million from the Species Conservation Trust Fund for specific programs submitted by the director of the Department of Natural Resources. The programs are designed to conserve native species that are threatened or endangered under state or federal law, or are likely to become candidate species as determined by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The funds authorized are available in FY 2023-24, and remain available for the designated purposes until they are fully spent.

Representative Catlin, bill co-prime sponsor, gave opening comments on the bill.

Daphne Gervais, representing
Colorado Department of Natural Resources, testified in support of the bill.
 



Aaron Citron,
representing The Nature Conservancy, testified in support of the bill.
 



Ms. Gervais and
 Mr. Harry Crockett, representing Colorado Parks and Wildlife, answered
questions from the committee.

Representative McCormick and Representative Catlin gave final comments on the bill.