S_AGR_2023A 03/30/2023 01:52:00 PM Committee Summary

Scott Stoller, General Manager, Colorado State Fair, introduced himself and the State Fair Authority Board to the committee. He introduced board appointees in panels. Appointees Michael Cafasso, Michael Schliep, and Michelle "Rene" Brown introduced themselves. Appointees Nicole Weathers, Erin Michalski, Darius Allen, and Jeffrey Mandarich introduced themselves. Committee members commented on the appointments. Appointees Deb Suniga, Gail Klapper, Tom Kim, and Bill Hybl introduced themselves.

Senator Roberts and Senator Will, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 23-255 to the committee. The bill creates the Wolf Depredation Compensation Fund in the Department of Natural Resources to compensate landowners and agricultural producers for losses from wolf depredation. Committee members received a fact sheet on the bill (Attachment A).

Executive Director Dan Gibbs, representing Colorado Department of Natural Resources, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Colby Drechsel, representing Colorado Conservation Alliance, testified in support of the bill and provided a written copy of his testimony (Attachment B). Mrs. Jennifer Burbey, representing Colorado Outfitters Association, testified in support of the bill and provided a handout to committee members (Attachment C).

Bonnie Brown, representing Colorado Wool Growers Association, testified in support of the bill. Mrs. Ginny Harrington, representing Holy Cross Cattlemen's Association, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Rob Edward, representing Rocky Mountain Wolf Project, testified in support of the bill.

Travis Smith, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill.  



Callie Hendrickson,
representing White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts, testified
in support of the bill.  



Ms. Janie VanWinkle,
representing Colorado Cattlemen's Association, testified in support of
the bill.

Mr. Roland Halpern,
representing Colorado Voters for Animals, testified in support of the bill.
 



Mr. Gary Skiba,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Lenny Klinglesmith,
representing Rio Blanco County Stockgrowers and LK Ranch, testified in
support of the bill.  



Ms. Ellary TuckerWilliams,
representing Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, testified in support
of the bill.  



Gaspar Perricone,
representing Colorado Wildlife Conservation Project, testified in support
of the bill.

Matthew Collins,
representing Western Landowners Alliance, testified in support of the bill.
 



Mr. Taylor Rahmann,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.  



Mr. Carlyle Currier,
representing Colorado Farm Bureau, testified in support of the bill.

Mrs. Heather Riley,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.  



Renee Deal, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill.  



Commissioner Merrit
Linke, representing Grand County, Club 20, and the Associated Governments
of Northwest Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Dan Waldvogle,
representing Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, testified to amend the bill.
 



Aubyn Royall,
representing the Humane Society of the United States, testified in support
of the bill.

Senator Roberts presented amendment L.001 (Attachment D) and amendment L.002 (Attachment E).

Senators Will and Roberts wrapped up their presentation of the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.

Senator Will and Senator Roberts, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 23-256 to the committee. The bill limits when the Parks and Wildlife Commission may reintroduce wolves based on the outcome of the Endangered Species Act 10(j)(1) rule proposal and a National Environmental Policy Act analysis. Senator Roberts provided a packet of handouts to the committee (Attachment F).

Renee Deal, representing
themself, testified in support of the bill.  



Greg Peterson,
representing Gunnison County Stockgrowers' Association, testified in support
of the bill.  



Mrs. Jennifer
Burbey, representing Colorado Outfitters Association, testified in support
of the bill and provided a handout to the committee (Attachment G).  



Ms. Robbie LeValley,
representing Colorado Cattlemens Association and the Delta County Board
of Commissioners, testified in support of the bill.

Bonnie Brown, representing
Colorado Wool Growers Association, testified in support of the bill.  



Travis Smith,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.  



Mr. Lenny Klinglesmith,
representing Rio Blanco Stockgrowers and LK Ranch, testified in support
of the bill and responded to questions from the committee.



Callie Hendrickson,
representing White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts, testified
in support of the bill.

Executive Director
Dan Gibbs, representing Colorado Department of Natural Resources, testified
in opposition to the bill.



Rhonda Dern, representing
Colorado Wolf Alliance, testified in opposition to the bill.



Ms. Delia Malone,
representing Colorado Sierra Club, testified in opposition to the bill.




Mr. Donald Metzler,
representing Holy Cross Cattlemen's Association, testified in support of
the bill.

Director Gibbs responded to questions from the committee.

Committee discussion with Director Gibbs continued.

Mr. Gary Skiba, representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Skiba responded to questions from the committee.

Mr. Brackett Pollard,
representing Holy Cross Cattlemen's Association, testified in support of
the bill.  



Gaspar Perricone,
representing Colorado Wildlife Conservation Project, testified in support
of the bill.  



Ms. Janie VanWinkle,
representing Colorado Cattlemen's Association, testified in support of
the bill.  



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



Mr. Carlyle Currier,
representing Colorado Farm Bureau, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Ty Gates, representing
Rio Blanco County Board of County Commissioners, testified in support of
the bill.  



Mr. Larry Desjardin,
representing Keep Routt Wild, testified in support of the bill.



Mrs. Ginny Harrington,
representing Holy Cross Cattlemen's Association, testified in support of
the bill.  



Mrs. Susanne Roller,
representing Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, testified in support of the
bill.

Mr. Roland Halpern,
representing Colorado Voters for Animals, testified in opposition to the
bill.  



Ms. Kaitie Schneider,
representing Defenders of Wildlife, testified in opposition to the bill.
 



Patricia McLaughlan,
representing Colorado Sierra Club, testified in opposition to the bill.
 



Mr. Rainer Gerbatsch,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.

Jacqueline Russell,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.  



Mr. Thomas Delehanty,
representing Earthjustice, testified in opposition to the bill.  



Dr. Joanna Lambert,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.  



Mr. Thomas Zieber,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.  



Mr. Delehanty
responded to questions from the committee.

Kathleen Curry, representing
Gunnison County Stockgrowers Association, testified in support of the bill.
 



Mr. Taylor Rahmann,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.  



Ms. Curry and
Mr. Rahmann responded to questions from the committee.

The committee recessed.

The committee reconvened.

Ms.  Ellary
TuckerWilliams, representing Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, testified
in support of the bill.  



Mrs. Heather Riley,
representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Michael Saul,
representing Western Watersheds Project, testified in opposition to the
bill.  



Ms. Darlene Kobobel,
representing themself, testified in opposition to the bill.



Ms. Lindsay Larris,
representing WildEarth Guardians, testified in opposition to the bill.
 



Aubyn Royall,
representing The Humane Society of the United States, testified in opposition
to the bill.  



Ms. Larris and
Ms. Kobobel responded to questions from the committee.

Dianna Orf, representing
Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado and the Moffat County Board
of Commissioners, testified in support of the bill.



Mr. James Henderson,
representing Colorado Farm Bureau, testified in support of the bill.  



Commissioner Merrit
Linke, representing Grand County, Club 20, and the Associated Governments
of Northwest Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Commissioner Linke
responded to questions from the committee.

Senators Will and Roberts wrapped up their presentation of the bill.

Senator B. Pelton, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 23-204 to the committee. The bill corrects the end date for the property tax exemption for agricultural equipment used in a controlled environment agricultural facility.