H_RAA_2020A 03/09/2020 01:31:55 PM Committee Summary PUBLICSTAFF SUMMARY OF MEETINGHOUSE COMMITTEE ON RURAL AFFAIRS & AGRICULTURE Date 03/09/2020 Attendance Arndt X Buentello X Catlin X Holtorf X Pelton X Titone X Will * Woodrow X Young X Valdez D. X Roberts X Time 01:31:55 PM to 03:38:46 PM Place LSB A This Meeting was called to order by Representative Roberts This Report was prepared by Jimmy Reed Hearing Items Action Taken hSB20-003 Referred to House Finance hPresentation from the Colorado State Forest Service Committee Discussion Only hSB20-155 Referred to the Committee of the Whole hHB20-1327 Postponed Indefinitely X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call 01:34:32 PM Representative Roberts called the meeting to order. SB20-003 - Referred to House Finance Attachment Tag File Name Attachment http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2020A/commsumm.nsf/0/016737F4E113...$File/200309 AttachA.pdf?OpenElement 200309 AttachA.pdf Attachment http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2020A/commsumm.nsf/0/951D6BFE980A...$File/200309 AttachB.pdf?OpenElement 200309 AttachB.pdf 01:34:54 PM Representatives Will and Esgar, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 20-003 to the committee. The bill appropriates $6.0 million to the Department of Natural Resources to open a new state park at Fishers Peak and improve infrastructure and amenities at existing state parks. Representatives Esgar and Will responded to committee questions and distributed a handout (Attachment A). 01:40:58 PM Luis Lopez, Las Animas County Commissioner, read the testimony of Mayor Phil Rico of Trinidad in support of the bill (Attachment B). Mr. Lopez testified in support of the bill. Aaron Citron, representing The Nature Conservancy, testified in support of the bill. Tony Hass, Las Animas County Commissioner, testified in support of the bill. Steve Bonowski, representing the Colorado Mountain Club, testified in support of the bill. 01:53:10 PM The panel responded to committee questions. 01:54:17 PM Felix Lopez, Las Animas County Commissioner, testified in support of the bill. Doug Vilsack, representing the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, testified in support of the bill. Scott Segerstrom, representing the Colorado Youth Corps Association, testified in support of the bill. Beau Kiklis, representing Conservation Colorado, testified in support of the bill. 02:11:38 PM The panel responded to committee questions. 02:15:47 PM Rhiannon Scanlon, representing the Wilderness Society, testified in support of the bill. 02:18:04 PM Representatives Will and Esgar made concluding remarks. Committee members commented on the bill. 02:25:23 PM Motion Refer Senate Bill 20-003 to the Committee on Finance. Moved Will Seconded Valdez D. Arndt Yes Buentello Yes Catlin Yes Holtorf Yes Pelton Yes Titone Yes Will Yes Woodrow Yes Young Yes Valdez D. Yes Roberts Yes Final YES: 11 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS Presentation from the Colorado State Forest Service - Committee Discussion Only Attachment Tag File Name Attachment http://www2.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2020A/commsumm.nsf/0/78008071CDA9...$File/200309 AttachD.pdf?OpenElement 200309 AttachD.pdf 02:25:57 PM Mike Lester, Colorado State Forest Service, updated the committee on the health of Colorado's forests and distributed a handout (Attachment C). Mr. Lester discussed Colorado's recreation and tourism, forest health's impact on clean water and wildlife, forest management, wildfires and mitigation, insect and disease activity, funding, partnerships, and strategies for the future. Attachment C 02:40:28 PM Steve Lohr, U.S. Forest Service, distributed a handout (Attachment D) and updated the committee on the Rocky Mountain Region forest health, including the Rocky Mountain Restoration Initiative, wildfire activities, and timber harvesting. 02:53:14 PM Molly Pitts, Colorado Timber Association, updated the committee on forest issues, including wildfire threats, insects and disease, and current projects. SB20-155 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole 03:01:11 PM Representative Pelton, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 20-155 to the committee. The bill maintains the presumption of noninjury to other water rights for a water well that is located on land that is divided into multiple parcels. Representative Pelton responded to committee questions. 03:04:32 PM Representative Pelton made concluding remarks. 03:07:00 PM Motion Refer Senate Bill 20-155 to the Committee of the Whole. Moved Pelton Seconded Arndt Arndt Yes Buentello Yes Catlin Yes Holtorf Yes Pelton Yes Titone Yes Will Yes Woodrow Yes Young Yes Valdez D. Yes Roberts Excused Final YES: 10 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS HB20-1327 - Postponed Indefinitely 03:07:06 PM Representatives Valdez D. and Will, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 20-1327 to the committee. The bill prohibits state agencies from authorizing or assisting with projects that divert water from the Rio Grande basin unless it is demonstrated that the project will not cause adverse affects in the basin. Representatives Valdez D. and Will responded to committee questions. 03:14:58 PM Kevin Kinnear, representing Colorado Water Congress and Renewable Water Resources, testified in opposition to the bill. Chris Piper, representing Denver Water and Northern Water, testified in opposition to the bill. Zane Kessler, representing the Colorado River District, testified in opposition to the bill. The panel responded to committee questions. 03:31:24 PM Representatives Valdez D. and Will made concluding remarks. Committee members commented on the bill. 03:38:15 PM Motion Postpone House Bill 20-1327 indefinitely. Moved Valdez D. Seconded Pelton Arndt Yes Buentello Yes Catlin Yes Holtorf Yes Pelton Yes Titone Excused Will Yes Woodrow Yes Young Yes Valdez D. No Roberts Yes Final YES: 9 NO: 1 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS 03:38:46 PM The committee adjourned.
