Skip to main content

PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For SB20-135

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Date Feb 27, 2020       Location SCR 357

SB20-135 - Lay Over Amended


04:54:49 PM  

Senators Sonnenberg and Donovan introduced Senate Bill 20-135. The bill makes several changes to the Conservation Easement Tax Credit program including increasing the value of future conservation easement tax credits, refunding disallowed credits from tax years 2000 to 2013 and creating a process for abandoned easements. The bill sponsors distributed amendments L.003 and L.004 (Attachments C and D).

05:00:01 PM  
Josh Abram, Legislative Council Staff, answered questions regarding the fiscal impact of amendment L.003.
05:16:44 PM  

Erik Glenn, representing the conservation easement working group created by House Bill 19-1264, testified regarding the working group and its recommendations.

05:22:11 PM  

Alan Gentz, representing the conservation easement working group created by House Bill 19-1264, testified regarding the working group's activities and recommendations and distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment E).

05:28:21 PM  

The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

05:35:23 PM  
Bill Boortz, representing himself, spoke regarding his experience as a real estate appraiser who reviewed conservation easements.  He spoke in opposition to the bill as introduced and in support of the amendments.
05:39:41 PM  

Jody Barber, Conservation Tax Credit Transfer, testified regarding the bill. Mr. Boortz and Ms. Barber respond to questions from the committee.

05:50:57 PM  
Jillane Hixson, representing herself, testified in support of the bill and distributed a handout (Attachment F).
05:58:07 PM  
Emily Ibach, Colorado Farm Bureau, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Hixson further commented on the bill.

06:02:57 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.003
Moved Tate
Seconded
Hansen
Lundeen
Tate
Todd
Woodward
Lee
Gonzales
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection

06:03:46 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.004
Moved Tate
Seconded
Hansen
Lundeen
Tate
Todd
Woodward
Lee
Gonzales
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
06:04:31 PM  
Senators Sonnenberg and Donovan gave concluding remarks regarding the bill.
06:05:10 PM  
The committee took a recess.
06:12:07 PM  

The committee returned from recess.  Members of the committee commented on the bill.

06:31:37 PM  

Senator Gonzales laid the bill over for further action at a later date.