S_SA_2022A 04/19/2022 02:01:16 PM Committee Summary

Senator Jaquez Lewis and Senator Priola, bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 22-199. The bill directs the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to study and develop recommendations on how to address pollinator decline and increase pollinator health in the state. The DNR must submit a summary of the study and recommendations to the General Assembly and Governor by January 1, 2024.

The bill sponsors responded to committee questions.

Senator Coleman proceeded with witness testimony on the bill. Submitted testimony may be found in Attachment A.

Dr. David Inouye, representing self, testified in support of the bill. Theresa Beck, representing BeeChicas, testified in support of the bill. Ryan Bartlett, representing Colorado Native Bee, testified in support of the bill. Joyce Kennedy, representing People & Pollinators Action Network, testified in support of the bill. The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Beren Erkan, representing self, testified in support of the bill. Beth Conrey, representing self, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Adrian Carper, representing self, testified in support of the bill. Amy Lewis, representing WILD Foundation, testified in support of the bill. The witness panel responded to committee questions.

Dr. Julie Morris, representing self, testified in support of the bill. SaraJo Light, representing Sierra Club, testified in support of the bill.

Austin Vincent, representing Colorado Farm Bureau, testified to amend the bill. Alice Horgan, representing Department of Natural Resources, was available to answer committee questions.

Dr. Margaret Gaddis, representing Colorado Native Plant Society, testified in support of the bill.

Amendment L.001 was distributed (Attachment B).

The bill sponsors gave closing remarks.

Committee members commented on the bill.

Senator Pettersen and President Fenberg, bill sponsors, presented House Bill 22-1273. The bill prohibits any person from threatening, coercing, or intimidating an election official or making an official’s personal information public on the internet if publishing such information poses a threat, and requires the removal of an election worker’s information from the internet in such cases.

Senator Coleman proceeded with witness testimony on the bill.

Martha Tierney, representing America Votes and Colorado Democratic Party, testified in support of the bill. Todd Davidson, representing Colorado County Clerks and Denver Clerk and Recorder, testified in support of the bill. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Beall, representing Colorado Secretary of State's Office, testified in support of the bill. Derek Tisler, representing Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law, testified in support of the bill. The witness panel responded to committee questions.

President Fenberg responded to committee questions.

Heather Stauffer, representing Colorado Municipal League, testified in support of the bill. Cameron Hill, representing Colorado Common Cause, testified in support of the bill.

The bill sponsors gave closing remarks.

Senator Gardner, bill sponsor, presented Senate Joint Resolution 22-011. The resolution concerns the importance of preserving parents' rights to be involved in their child's education. The bill sponsor responded to committee questions. Committee discussion ensued.

Senator Coleman proceeded with witness testimony on the bill.

Dawn Fritz, representing Colorado Parent Teacher Association, testified in opposition to the bill.

The committee recessed.

Committee members commented on the bill.

The bill sponsor commented and gave closing remarks.