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S_AGR_2022A 03/03/2022 01:34:27 PM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES
Date 03/03/2022
Attendance
Coram X
Fields X
Hinrichsen X
Simpson X
Sonnenberg X
Jaquez Lewis X
Donovan X
Time 01:34:27 PM to 11:07:18 PM
Place Old Supreme Court
This Meeting was called to order by Donovan
This Report was prepared by Julia Jackson
Hearing Items Action Taken
Conf 22-Agricultural Development Authority - Colorado Favorably Refer to Full Senate - Consent Calendar
SB22-114 Amended, referred to Senate Appropriations
SB22-131 Postponed Indefinitely

Conf 22-Agricultural Development Authority - Colorado - Favorably Refer to Full Senate - Consent Calendar


01:40:23 PM  

Jim Rubingh, Colorado Agricultural Development Authority (CADA), introduced the CADA board and appointee Hannah Wilks. Hannah Wilks, appointee, introduced herself to the committee and discussed her background and interest in serving on the board.  Mr. Rubingh provided the committee a pamphlet about CADA (Attachment A).



01:41:15 PM
Motion Refer the appointment of Hannah Wilks to the Conf 22-Agricultural Development Authority - Colorado to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar.
Moved Jaquez Lewis
Seconded
Coram Yes
Fields Yes
Hinrichsen Yes
Simpson Yes
Sonnenberg Yes
Jaquez Lewis Yes
Donovan Yes
Final YES: 7   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB22-114 - Amended, referred to Senate Appropriations


01:41:31 PM  
Senator Hisey, co-prime sponsor, presented
Senate Bill 22-114 and reminded the committee of its hearing on the bill
on February 17, 2022.
The
bill allows a board of county commissioners to apply to the State Engineer
to have certain ponds designated as fire suppression ponds.  Senator
Hisey
presented amendments L.003 and
L.004 (Attachments B and C).
01:44:30 PM  
The committee discussed the bill with Senator Hisey.


01:49:34 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.003
Moved Jaquez Lewis
Seconded
Coram
Fields
Hinrichsen
Simpson
Sonnenberg
Jaquez Lewis
Donovan
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection


01:49:58 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.004
Moved Jaquez Lewis
Seconded
Coram
Fields
Hinrichsen
Simpson
Sonnenberg
Jaquez Lewis
Donovan
YES: 0   NO: 0   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  Pass Without Objection
01:50:01 PM  
Senator Hisey provided final comments on the bill. Senator Story, co-prime sponsor, wrapped up her presentation of the bill.


01:53:39 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 22-114, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Jaquez Lewis
Seconded
Coram Yes
Fields Yes
Hinrichsen Yes
Simpson No
Sonnenberg Yes
Jaquez Lewis Yes
Donovan Yes
Final YES: 6   NO: 1   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS



SB22-131 - Postponed Indefinitely


01:59:56 PM  
Senator Jaquez Lewis and Senator Priola, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 22-131. The bill restricts the use of pesticides on the grounds of schools, preschool programs, child care centers, and children’s resident camps, and requires notifications when pesticides are applied. It requires the Department of Natural Resources to study pollinator decline in the state, and creates a pilot grant program in the Department of Agriculture to test noncoated seed-applied systemic insecticides on crops. The Commissioner of Agriculture is required to adopt rules to classify certain neonicotinoid and sulfoximine pesticides as restricted-use pesticides by March 1, 2023.

Senator Jaquez Lewis presented amendment L.003 (Attachment D), a strike-below amendment.

02:25:23 PM  
Committee members questioned the sponsors about the bill.
02:51:49 PM  
Heather Stauffer,
representing Colorado Municipal League, testified in support of the bill
and noted opposition to amendments that remove the language regarding local
preemption. Mr. Tim Plass, representing People and Pollinators Action Network,
testified in support of the bill. Mr. Don Cameron, representing Ward 3,
City of Golden Counciler, testified in support of the bill. Sarah Hoyle,
representing Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, testified in
support of the bill. Ms. Stauffer responded to questions from the committee.
02:59:05 PM  
Dr. Rella Abernathy,
representing City of Boulder, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Beren
Erkan, representing self, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Adrian
Carper, representing self, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Peter
Wadden, representing Town of Vail, Colorado, testified in support of the
bill. Dr. Carper and Mr. Wadden responded to questions from the committee.
03:22:23 PM  

Chris Wiseman, Pueblo County Commissioner, testified against the bill. Don Brown, former Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture, representing self, testified against the bill. Mitch Yergert, representing self, testified against the bill. The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

04:31:22 PM  

Bret Turner, representing self, testified in support of the bill. Mr. JaSon Auguste, representing FrontLine Farming, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Danny Katz, representing Colorado Public Interest Research Group, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Alan Lewis, representing Natural Grocers, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Lewis and Mr. Turner responded to questions from committee members.

04:57:29 PM  
Alice Horgan, representing
the Department of Natural Resources, testified in a neutral position on
the bill.  Mrs. Horgan responded to questions from the committee.
05:12:09 PM  
Wondirad Gabru and John Scott, representing Colorado Department of Agriculture, answered questions from the committee.
05:23:12 PM  
Questions continued.
05:24:48 PM  
Ms. Rita Berberian, representing self, testified in support of the bill. Anyll Markevich, representing self, testified in support of the bill. Tammie Stevens, representing self, testified in support of the bill. Dr. Alan Vajda, representing self, testified in a neutral position on the bill. The panelists responded to questions from the committee.
05:47:52 PM  
Mr. Andrew Hamrick, representing Colorado Apartment Association, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Robert Mari, representing Colorado Sugar Beet Growers Association, testified in opposition to the bill. Christopher Finarelli, representing The Household & Commercial Products Association, testified in opposition to the bill. The panelists responded to questions from the committee.
06:08:56 PM  
Dr. Sarah Evans, representing the Children's Environmental Health Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, New York, testified in support of the bill.
06:15:17 PM  

Kyra Naumoff Shields, representing Healthy Babies Bright Futures, Bright Cities Program, testified in opposition to the bill. Dr. Evans responded to questions from the committee.

06:19:06 PM  

Mr. Jules Van Thuyne, representing self, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Scott Schlagel, representing self, testified in opposition to the bill. Cate Schlagel, representing self, testified in opposition to the bill. Bruce Talbott, representing Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, testified in opposition to the bill. The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

06:43:16 PM  
Ms. SaraJo Light, representing the Sierra Club, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Rex Wilmouth, representing Environment Colorado, testified in support of the bill.
06:54:06 PM  
Eric Hinton, representing the Rocky Mountain Agribusiness Association, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Erik Frank, representing Colorado Sugarbeet Growers Association, testified in opposition to the bill. Chad Maranville, representing the Rocky Mountain Agribusiness Association, testified in opposition to the bill. The panelists responded to questions from the committee.
07:15:55 PM  
Questions continued.
07:16:03 PM  
Mrs. Ingrid Moore, representing self, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Jason Lewis, representing self, testified in support of the bill.
07:33:26 PM  
Mr. Mitch Savage, representing Rocky Mountain Golf Course Superintendents Association (RMGCSA), testified in opposition to the bill. Jeff Wichman, representing RMGCSA, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Kevin Kallas, representing RMGCSA and Saddle Rock Golf Course, testified to amend the bill. Mr. Paul Sibley, representing RMGCSA, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Stephen Sarro, representing RMGCSA, testified in opposition to the bill. The panelists responded to questions from the committee.
07:53:50 PM  
Mr. Roland Halpern, representing Colorado Voters For Animals, testified in support of the bill. Christal Markevich, representing self, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Jennifer Boulton, representing Audubon Rockies and Colorado Trout Unlimited, testified in support of the bill.
08:08:03 PM  

Mrs. Vicky Schlagel read the testimony of Kayla Schlagel, representing self, in opposition to the bill. Mr. Dan Waldvogle, representing Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, testified in opposition to the bill. Dallas Vaughn, representing Colorado Farm Bureau, testified in opposition of the bill. Mr. Leonard Felix, representing Colorado Agricultural Aviation Association, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Felix responded to questions from the committee.

08:27:06 PM  
Mr. Richard Andrews, representing self, testified to amend the bill.
08:39:11 PM  
Mr. Allen Stelwagon,
representing the Colorado Pest Control Association, testified in opposition
to the bill.  Mr. Jesse Jacobs, representing 4 Seasons Pest Management,
testified in opposition to the bill.  Mr. Ryan Riley, representing
Colorado Pest Control Association, testified in opposition to the bill.
 Roger Lauer, representing Orkin LLC, testified in opposition to the
bill. Mr. Kevin Lemasters, representing Colorado Pest Control Association,
testified in opposition to the bill.  The panelists responded to questions
from the committee.
09:18:46 PM  

Mr. Jerol Mariotti, representing Senske Services, testified in opposition to the bill. Jason Schmidt, representing Weed Man Lawn Care and Colorado Arborists & Lawn Care Professionals, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Kelly Gouge, representing SavATree, testified in opposition to the bill.

09:27:02 PM  
John Prather, representing self, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. George Rich, representing Senske Services, testified in a neutral position on the bill. Mike Verde, representing self, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Mark Linnebur, representing Colorado Association of Wheat Growers, testified in opposition to the bill. The panelists responded to questions from the committee.
09:44:50 PM  
Mr. Donald McBee, representing Prowers Conservation District, testified in opposition to the bill. Mr. Ryan Pessah, representing Western Wood Preservers Institute, testified in opposition to the bill. Ms. AJ Doran, representing self, testified in opposition to the bill. Tina Booton, representing Weld County Public Works Weed Division, testified in opposition to the bill.
09:58:56 PM  

Sue Anderson, representing People and Pollinators Action Network, testified in support of the bill.  Written testimony submitted about the bill can be found in Attachment E.

10:04:07 PM  
The committee took a recess.
10:45:15 PM  
The committee reconvened.


10:49:43 PM
Motion Adopt amendment L.003
Moved Jaquez Lewis
Seconded
Coram No
Fields Yes
Hinrichsen Yes
Simpson No
Sonnenberg No
Jaquez Lewis Yes
Donovan Yes
YES: 4   NO: 3   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS
10:49:45 PM  
Senator Jaquez Lewis and Senator Priola gave final comments on the bill.
10:52:41 PM  
Committee members made final comments on the bill.


11:06:17 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 22-131, as amended, to the Committee on Finance.
Moved Jaquez Lewis
Seconded
Coram No
Fields No
Hinrichsen No
Simpson No
Sonnenberg No
Jaquez Lewis Yes
Donovan No
YES: 1   NO: 6   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  FAIL


11:06:48 PM
Motion Postpone Senate Bill 22-131 indefinitely using a reversal of the previous roll call. There was no objection to the use of the reverse roll call, therefore, the bill was postponed indefinitely.
Moved Coram
Seconded
Coram Yes
Fields Yes
Hinrichsen Yes
Simpson Yes
Sonnenberg Yes
Jaquez Lewis No
Donovan Yes
Final YES: 6   NO: 1   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


11:07:18 PM   The committee adjourned.






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