H_FIN_2023A 05/01/2023 06:44:02 PM Committee Summary

Representatives Catlin and McLachlan, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 23-059. The bill allows Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to charge a fee of up to $2 on daily vehicle passes for access to state parks at the request of a local government. It also requires CPW to study local access to state parks.

Mrs. Gini Pingenot, representing Colorado Counties Inc., testified in support of the bill.

Commissioner Amy Mitchell, representing Park County, testified in support of the bill.

The bill sponsors made closing remarks.

Members of the committee discussed their positions on the bill.

Representatives Story and Titone, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 23-145. The bill creates the stegosaurus state fossil license plate.

Alexa Scofield, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Jeff Lamontagne, representing Friends of Dinosaur Ridge, testified in support of the bill.

The bills sponsors wrapped up their presentation of the bill and asked for a favorable recommendation.

Representatives Lindsay and Story, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 23-278. Under current law, certain capital construction projects must use an amount up to one percent of the state-funded portion of construction costs to acquire art as part of the Art in Public Places Program.

The bill sponsors made closing remarks.

Representatives McCormick and Parenti, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 23-212. The bill creates the U.S. Navy Seabees special license plate.

The sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

The bill sponsors wrapped up their presentation of the bill.

Representative Bird, co-prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 23-025. The bill creates the "In God We Trust" special license plate.  Written public testimony about the bill is included as Attachment B.

Mr. John Priecko, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Mrs Linda White, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Mrs. Holly Riecks, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Stephen Riecks, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Michael Neil, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mr. Gerry Owen, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Representative Bird made closing comments.

Members of the committee commented about their positions on the bill.

Representatives Snyder and Weinberg, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 23-259. The bill allows operators of casinos and others with a gaming license to extend credit to another person for gambling.

Mr. Sean Demeule, representing the Colorado Gaming Association, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Lacey Hays, representing the Colorado Charitbale Gaming Association, testified to amend the bill.

Mr. Richard Lemon, representing the Colorado Charitable Bingo Association, testified to amend the bill.

Mr. Corky Kyle, representing the Colorado Charitable Bingo Association, testified to amend the bill.

Peggy O'Keefe, representing the Colorado Gaming Commission, testified in support of the bill.

The panel of witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

The committee continued to question the witness panel.

The bills sponsors made closing remarks.

Members of the committee commented about their positions on the bill.

Representative Snyder, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 23-280. The bill creates an enterprise, two grant programs, and an income tax credit, among other changes, to address hazardous materials transportation and vehicle emissions.  Written public testimony about the bill is included as Attachment C.

Mr. Grier Bailey, representing the Colorado Fuel Marketers, testified in support of the bill.

Greg Fulton, representing the Colorado Motor Carriers Association, testified in support of the bill.

Omar Moreno, representing Hispanic Contractors of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. John Drafts, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Travis Madsen, representing the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, testified to amend the bill.

Angie Binder, representing the Colorado Petroleum Association, testified in opposition to the bill.

Jacob Belgrad, representing himself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Commissioner Randy Wheelock, representing Clear Creek County and Colorado Communities for Climate Action, testified to amend the bill.

Claire Carroll, representing the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments Water Quality/Quantity Committee, testified to amend the bill.

The committee took a brief recess.

The committee returned to order.

Mr. Todd Ohlheiser, representing the Colorado Ready Mixed Concrete Association and Colorado Stone, Sand and Gravel Association, testified in support of the bill.

Captain John Hahn, representing the Colorado State Patrol, was available to answer committee questions.

Esther van Mourik, representing the Department of Revenue, was available to answer committee questions.

Representative Snyder wrapped up his presentation of the bill and asked for a favorable amendment.

The committee took a brief recess.

The committee returned to order.

Representatives deGruy Kennedy and Snyder, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 23-271. The bill modifies the regulation of cannabinoids and compounds derived from hemp and marijuana, and requires the Department of Revenue to conduct a feasibility study. Written public testimony about the bill is included as Attachment I.  The bill sponsors distributed a fact sheet about the bill (Attachment J).

Director Mark Ferrandino, representing the Department of Revenue, testified in support of the bill.

Bia Campbell, representing VS Strategies, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Alan Lewis, representing Natural Grocers, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Robert Hoban, representing the Healthy Alternatives Coalition, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Thuy Vu, representing herself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mrs. Hunter Buffington, representing herself, testified to amend the bill.

Kara Miller, representing the Marijuana Industry Group, testified to amend the bill.

Dr. Lloyd Covens, representing himself, testified to amend the bill.

Ms. Veronica Carpio, representing GROW HEMP COLORADO, testified in opposition to the bill.

Dawn Reinfeld, representing Blue Rising, testified to amend the bill.

Ms. Paula Lyles, representing themself, testified to amend the bill.

Mr. Jared Stanley, representing Charlotte's Web, testified to amend the bill.

Mrs. Bonny-Jo Peterson, representing the Association of Western Hemp Professionals, testified to amend the bill.

Ms. Liz Zukowski, representing Native Roots Cannabis Co., testified to amend the bill.

Mr. Kyle Ray, representing Colorado Chromatography Labs, LLC, testified in support of the bill.

Darwin Millard, representing himself, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

Ms. Sasha Kalcheff-Korn, representing Realm of Caring, testified to amend the bill.

The bill sponsors made closing remarks and asked for a favorable recommendation.

The committee took a brief recess.

The committee returned to order.

Representatives deGruy Kennedy and Martinez, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 23-191. The bill updates transparency, rulemaking, and rate filing requirements for certain electric and gas utilities.

Mr. Greg Sopkin, representing Black Hills Energy, testified in opposition to the bill.

Mr. Bart Armstrong, representing Atmos Energy, testified in opposition to the bill.

Ted Leighty, representing the Colorado Association of Home Builders, testified in opposition to the bill.

Robert Kenney, representing Xcel Energy, testified to amend the bill.

The panel of witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Sara Blackhurst, representing Action 22, testified to amend the bill.

Diane Curlette, representing the Colorado Sierra Club, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Meera Fickling, representing Western Resource Advocates, testified in support of the bill.

The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.

The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.

The witness panel responded to questions from the committee.  Amendments L.016 (Attachment L), L.017 (Attachment M), and L.018 (Attachment N) were distributed and explained.  A request was made to sever L.016 between lines 6 and 7.  Severed section A is lines 1 through 6 and severed section B is lines 7 through

The bill sponsors wrapped up their presentation of the bill and asked for a favorable recommendation.

Members of the committee discussed their positions on the bill.