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H_ENE_2025A 05/01/2025 03:16:47 PM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Date 05/01/2025
Attendance
Barron X
Brown *
DeGraaf *
Jackson X
Johnson X
Paschal X
Rutinel X
Smith X
Story X
Willford X
Woog X
Velasco X
Valdez X
Time 03:16:47 PM to 05:27:04 PM
Place Old State Library
This Meeting was called to order by Valdez
This Report was prepared by Samantha Falco
Hearing Items Action Taken
SB25-142 Referred to the Committee of the Whole
SB25-007 Referred to House Appropriations
SB25-299 Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole
Any bills referred to the House Energy and Environment committee may be heard at this time Committee Discussion Only

SB25-142 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole
03:17:02 PM  
Representative Velasco, prime sponsor, introduced and explained Senate Bill 25-142 Changes to Wildfire Resiliency Code Board. The bill gives governing bodies more time to implement local codes based on those developed by the Wildfire Resiliency Code Board.
03:19:05 PM  
Richard Orf, representing Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Lesley Dahlkemper, representing CCAT and Jefferson County, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Wendell Koontz, representing Delta County Commission, testified in support of the bill.
03:24:34 PM  
The sponsor gave closing comments.


03:25:50 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 25-142 to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Velasco
Seconded Willford
Barron No
Brown Excused
DeGraaf No
Jackson Excused
Johnson No
Paschal Yes
Rutinel Yes
Smith Yes
Story Yes
Willford Yes
Woog No
Velasco Yes
Valdez Yes
Final YES: 7   NO: 4   EXC: 2   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB25-007 - Referred to House Appropriations
03:26:05 PM  
The committee took a brief recess.
03:27:13 PM  
The committee came back to order.
03:27:25 PM  
Representatives Velasco
and Weinberg, co-prime sponsors, introduced and explained Senate Bill 25-007
Increase Prescribed Burns. The bill creates a new program and cash fund
in the Department of Public Safety (CDPS) to pay damage claims related
to prescribed burns. It also allows reciprocity eligibility for the certified
burner program in the CDPS.
03:30:18 PM  
The committee asked the sponsors questions on the bill.
03:36:02 PM  
Mr. Brendan Witt,
representing Western Resource Advocates, testified in support of the bill.
Mr. Vaughn Jones, representing The Division of Fire Prevention and Control,
testified in support of the bill. Aaron Citron, representing The Nature
Conservancy, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Jodie Hartman-Ball,
representing Clear Creek County, testified in support of the bill.  The
committee asked the panel of witnesses questions.
03:58:14 PM  
Erin O'Neill, representing Public Utilities Commission, was available to answer committee questions.
03:58:44 PM  
The sponsors gave closing comments on the bill.


04:03:56 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 25-007 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Velasco
Seconded Paschal
Barron No
Brown Yes
DeGraaf No
Jackson Yes
Johnson No
Paschal Yes
Rutinel Yes
Smith Yes
Story Yes
Willford Yes
Woog Yes
Velasco Yes
Valdez Yes
Final YES: 10   NO: 3   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB25-299 - Amended, referred to the Committee of the Whole

04:04:07 PM  
Representatives Brown
and Soper, co-prime sponsors, introduced and explained Senate Bill 25-299
Consumer Protection Residential Energy Systems. The bill establishes procedures
that solar sales companies must follow and establishes a deceptive trade
practice for violations.
04:09:09 PM  
The committee asked the sponsors questions.
04:23:03 PM  
KC Becker, representing
Colorado Solar and Storage Association, testified in support of the bill.
Jason Sharpe, representing Namaste Solar, testified in support of the bill.
Taylor Ward, representing Colorado Rural Electric Association, testified
in support of the bill. Will Gehl, representing Solar Energy Industries
Association, testified in support of the bill. Billy Clay, representing
Solar Power Pro’s, testified in support of the bill. Chauntille  Roberts,
representing Vote Solar, testified in support of the bill. Ean Tafoya,
representing GreenLatinos, testified in support of the bill.  The
committee asked the panel of witnesses questions.
04:54:18 PM  
Jeff Thormodsgaard,
representing Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC, testified in support of
the bill. Tanner Simeon-Cox, representing Solar United Neighbors Action
Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Paul Sherman, representing
Conservation Colorado, testified in support of the bill.  The committee
asked the panel of witnesses questions.



Additional written
testimony is included as Attachment A.
05:03:28 PM  
The sponsors introduced
amendment L.005 (Attachment B).


05:03:42 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.005
Moved Brown
Seconded Velasco
Barron
Brown
DeGraaf
Jackson
Johnson
Paschal
Rutinel
Smith
Story
Willford
Woog
Velasco
Valdez
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
05:04:51 PM  
The committee took a brief recess.
05:05:00 PM  
The committee came
back to order.
05:07:19 PM  
Chair Valdez introduced
and explained amendment L.008 (Attachment C). The sponsors commented on
amendment L.008. Chair Valdez asked the sponsors questions.
05:09:40 PM  
The committee commented on and had questions on amendment L.008.


05:13:31 PM
 Motion Adopt amendment L.008
Moved Valdez
Seconded Velasco
Barron Yes
Brown No
DeGraaf Yes
Jackson No
Johnson No
Paschal No
Rutinel No
Smith No
Story No
Willford No
Woog No
Velasco No
Valdez Yes
YES: 3   NO: 10   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  FAIL
05:13:42 PM  
The sponsors gave closing comments on the bill. The committee gave closing comments on the bill.


05:26:34 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 25-299, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Brown
Seconded Jackson
Barron No
Brown Yes
DeGraaf No
Jackson Yes
Johnson No
Paschal Yes
Rutinel Yes
Smith Yes
Story Yes
Willford Yes
Woog Yes
Velasco Yes
Valdez No
Final YES: 9   NO: 4   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



Any bills referred to the House Energy and Environment committee may be heard at this time - Committee Discussion Only


05:27:04 PM   The committee adjourned.






The effective date for bills enacted without a safety clause is August 6, 2025, if the General Assembly adjourns sine die on May 7, 2025 (unless otherwise specified). Details

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