H_FIN_2023A 03/27/2023 02:56:45 PM Committee Summary

Representative Bird, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 23-1112. Beginning in tax year 2024, the bill expands the state earned income tax credit and the child tax credit. She responded to questions from the committee.  Written testimony is included as Attachment A.

Ms. Milena Castaneda, representing the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, testified in support of the bill.

Matthew Server, representing the Colorado Catholic Conference, testified in support of the bill.

Jillian Fabricius, representing Illuminate Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Alison Friedman Phillips, representing The Women's Foundation of Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Michael Ruddock, representing the Adams County Health Department, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. George Davis, representing Clayton Community Ambassadors, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Ealasha Vaughner, representing Clayton Early Learning, testified in support of the bill.

Sarah Barnes, representing the Colorado Children's Campaign, testified in support of the bill.

The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Caroline Nutter, representing the Colorado Fiscal Institute, testified in support of the bill.

Joshua Mantell, representing The Bell Policy Center, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Sarah Robirds, representing the Colorado Parent Teacher Association, testified in support of the bill.

Effie Rorke, representing Feeding Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

The committee continued to discuss the bill with the witnesses.

Representative Bird provided a wrap up of her presentation and asked for a favorable recommendation.

Representatives Mabrey and Weissman, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 23-1229. The bill limits the total amount of finance charges on consumer credit transactions by requiring that a maximum finance charge include certain additional fees and charges specified in the bill. The sponsors distributed a fact sheet (Attachment B), amendment L.001 (Attachment C), and amendment L.002 (Attachment D).  Written testimony is included as Attachment E.

The sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Mr. Scott Wasserman, representing The Bell Policy Center, testified in support of the bill with the adoption of amendments L.001 and L.002.

Martha Fulford, representing the Department of Law, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Ms. Kirsten Schatz, representing Colorado Public Interest Research Group, testified in support of the bill.

Alison Morgan, representing the Colorado Bankers Association, testified to amend the bill.

Matt McCune, representing McCune Legal, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Jessica Whitney, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Karen Cody-Hopkins, representing the Cody-Hopkins Law Firm, testified in support of the bill.

The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Ellen Harnick, representing the Center for Responsible Lending, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Lauren Saunders, representing the National Consumer Law Center, testified in support of the bill.

Nina DiSalvo, representing Towards Justice, testified in support of the bill.

The sponsors made closing comments.

The committee took a recess.

The committee returned to order.

Representatives English and Ricks, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 23-1020. The bill expands eligibility criteria for social equity licensees, expands the categories of marijuana accelerator licenses for which social equity licensees may apply, and requires additional incentives for social equity licensees and accelerator-endorsed licensees. A fact sheet was distributed (Attachment F).

Mrs. Sarah Woodson, representing The Color of Cannabis, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Samantha Walsh, representing the Color of Cannabis; Simply Pure; and Black, Brown, and Red Badge, testified in support of the bill.

Mrs Sheila Urquhart-Moura, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Michael Diaz-Rivera, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.

The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Jordan Wellington, representing VS Strategies, testified in opposition to the bill.

Truman Bradley, representing Marijuana Industry Group, testified in opposition to the bill.

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

Jason Hopfer, representing Columbia Care/The Green Solution, testified in opposition to the bill.

The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Collins Thomas-Buckner, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Cherish St Denis, representing The Epic Remedy, testified in opposition to the bill.

Brittinie Sandoval, representing The Color of Cannabis, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Wanda James, representing Simply Pure, testified in support of the bill.

Mr. Jason Warf, representing Southern Colorado Cannabis Council, testified in support of the bill.

Jarell Wall, representing himself, testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Rachael Ardanuy, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Sophia Embry, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Desiree Duran, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.

Mrs. Melanie Rodgers, representing Expunge Colorado, testified in a neutral position on the bill.

A'Dazia Ferrell, representing Inner Journey Limited, testified in support of the bill.

Dan Pabon, representing Colorado Leads, testified to amend the bill.

The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Josh Pens, representing the Department of Revenue, Dominique Mendiola, representing the Department of Revenue Marijuana Enforcement Division, and Allison Robinette, representing the Department of Revenue Marijuana Enforcement Division, answered committee questions.

The committee continued to discuss the bill with the witnesses from the Department of Revenue.

Discussion continued.

Written testimony for HB 23-1020 is included as Attachment G.  The bill was laid over for action to Monday, April 3, 2023.