H_FIN_2022A 04/28/2022 01:36:32 PM Committee Summary

Speaker Garnett, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 22-1402. The bill creates a grant program to promote responsible gaming and address problem gaming, modifies free bets for the purpose of calculating net sports betting proceeds, and makes a variety of other changes to the regulation of gaming and the state lottery. He responded to questions from the committee.

Mrs. Brianne Doura-Schawohl, representing the National Council on Problem Gambling, testified in a neutral position on the bill. Brian Jackson, representing the Environmental Defense Action Fund, testified in support of the bill. The witnesses responded to questions from the committee.

Mr. Josh Kuhn, representing Conservation Colorado, testified in support of the bill. Dan Hartman, representing the Department of Revenue Division of Gaming, was available to answer committee questions. Tom Seaver, representing the Colorado Lottery, was available to answer committee questions.

Speaker Garnett wrapped up his presentation of the bill and asked for a favorable recommendation.

Representatives McKean and Titone, co-sponsors, presented House Bill 22-1381. The bill creates the geothermal energy grant program in the Colorado Energy Office for single-structure geothermal grants, community district heating grants, and geothermal electricity generation grants. The sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Representative McKean distributed and explained amendment L.003 (Attachment A). Representative Titone also commented on the amendment.

The sponsors made closing remarks and asked for a favorable recommendation.

The committee took a brief recess.

The committee returned to order. Representatives McCormick and Will, co-sponsors, presented Senate Bill 22-166. The bill reauthorizes the voluntary contribution designation (income tax checkoff) benefitting the Colorado Nongame Conservation and Wildlife Restoration Fund and extends the voluntary contribution indefinitely. The sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

The sponsors made closing remarks.

The committee took a brief recess.

The committee returned to order. Representative McCluskie, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 22-1391. The bill modifies the ad valorem tax credit and creates a working group to develop an implementation plan for further changes to the severance tax. She distributed amendment L.002 (Attachment B) and responded to questions from the committee.

Senior Director Brendon Reese, representing the Colorado Department of Revenue, was available to answer committee questions.

Representatives McCluskie and Tipper, co-sponsors, presented House Bill 22-1400. The bill clarifies that higher education institutions that were previously qualified as state enterprises do not require voter approval in order to requalify as enterprises. The sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Mr. Mark Superka, representing the Colorado Community College System, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Laura Glatt, representing Colorado Mesa University, testified in support of the bill.

The sponsors wrapped up their presentation of the bill and asked for a favorable recommendation.

The committee took a brief recess.

The committee returned to order. Representative Van Winkle presented Senate Bill 22-178. This bill allows a medical marijuana cultivation facility licensee to transfer medical marijuana to a retail marijuana cultivation licensee and change the product designation from medical to retail marijuana, as long as the facilities share at least one controlling beneficial owner. He responded to questions from the committee.

Kyle Lambert, representing the Colorado Department of Revenue Marijuana Enforcement Division, was available to answer committee questions. Allison Robinette, representing the Colorado Department of Revenue Marijuana Enforcement Division, was available to answer committee questions.

Representative Benevidez continued to ask questions related to taxation of marijuana.

Kara Miller, representing Marijuana Industry Group, testified in support of the bill. Cherish St. Denis, representing Epic Remedy, testified in support of the bill. They responded to questions from the committee.

Amber Egbert, representing the Department of Revenue Division of Taxation, joined the committee to respond to questions from Representative Benevidez.

Representative Titone, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 22-1385. The bill authorizes the state to enter into one or more financed purchase or certificates of participation agreements for the Colorado Operations Resource Engine (CORE) Upgrade project. CORE is the state’s enterprise financial system. The bill permits certain legislative committees to request functionality of the Office of Information Technology, and requires the office to update the legislature on the progress of the project.

State Controller Bob Jaros, representing the Department of Personnel & Administration, testified in support of the bill.

Eric Rothaus, representing the Department of Treasury, was available to answer committee questions. Michael McReynolds, representing the Governor's Office of Information Technology, was available to answer committee questions.

Representatives Herod and Roberts, co-sponsors, presented House Bill 22-1406. The bill renews a temporary net taxable sales deduction for businesses operating in the food and drinking services sector, including hotel-operated food and drinking services. The sponsors responded to questions from the committee.

Nick Hoover, representing the Colorado Restaurant Association, testified in support of the bill. Stephanie Hicks, representing the Colorado Association of Viticulture and Enology, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Scott Engelman, representing Carl's Tavern and the Truffle Pig, testified in support of the bill. Tiffany Richards, representing Big Red F Restaurant Group, testified in support of the bill.

The sponsors made closing remarks.