S_AGR_2023A 02/15/2023 10:46:30 AM Committee Summary

Mr. Lucas Casias, representing Costilla County Noxious Weed Department, testified on the sunset review. Mr. Les Owen, representing Colorado Department of Agriculture, testified. Mrs. Patty York, representing Colorado Department of Agriculture, testified.

The chair announced that Senators Marchman and Pelton R. would be the co-prime sponsors of the sunset bill. All other senators on the committee asked to co-sponsor the bill.

Vivienne Belmont, COPRRR, DORA, introduced the sunset review of the Pesticide Applicators' Act. She responded to questions from the committee.

Dr. Louise Chawla, representing themself, testified on the sunset review. Kreg Vollmer, representing Western Sugar Cooperative, testified. Mitch Savage, representing Rocky Mountain Golf Course Superintendents Association, testified. Jason Schmidt, representing Weed Man Lawn Care and Colorado Arborists & Lawn Care Professionals, testified. Dr. Chawla and Mr. Schmidt responded to questions from the committee.

Ms. Lisa Blecker, representing themself, testified. Ms. Angela Medbery, representing Colorado Pesticide Network, testified and provided handouts to the committee (Attachment A). Mr. William LaPoint, representing SavATree and Colorado Arborists and Lawn Care Professionals, testified. Bob Mattive, representing Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, testified. Ms. Blecker and Mr. Mattive responded to questions from the committee.

Joyce Kennedy, representing People and Pollinators Action Network, testified. Dr. Rella Abernathy, representing City of Boulder, testified. Mr. Ryan Riley, representing Colorado Pest Control Association, testified. Mr. Brian Daugherty, representing Saela Pest Control, LLC, testified. Mr. Daugherty and Mr. Riley responded to questions from the committee.

Dr. Laurel Starr, representing City of Golden, testified. Mr. Lucas Casias, representing Costilla County Noxious Weed Department, testified. Paul Schlagel, representing Colorado Sugarbeet Growers, testified. Mr. Wondirad Gebru, representing Colorado Department of Agriculture, testified. Mr. Schlagel responded to questions from the committee.

Mr. Austin Vincent, representing Colorado Farm Bureau, testified. Mrs. Erin Meschke, representing themself, testified. Mr. Kelly Sloan, representing the Colorado Agricultural Aviation Association, testifed. Mr. Vincent responded to questions from the committee.

Dr. Kyra Naumoff Shields, representing themself, testified. Mr. Hardy Kern, representing American Bird Conservancy, testified. Rita Berberian, representing themself, testified. Mr. Bruce Talbott, representing Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, testified.

Dr. Rebecca Larson, representing Western Sugar Cooperative, testified. Mr. Al Gerace, representing Colorado Nursery and Greenhouse Association and GreenCo, testified. Mrs. Ingrid Moore, representing themself, testified. Kathleen Sands, representing Lyons Climate Action, testified. Mr. Richard Andrews, representing themself, testified.

Rebecca Curry, representing Earthjustice, testified. Mr. Thomas Halverstadt, representing Arbor Valley Wholesale Nursery, testified. Alan Lewis, representing Natural Grocers, testified. Mr. Joe Petrocco, representing Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, testified. Mr. Petrocco responded to questions from the committee.

Written testimony on the sunset review is provided as Attachment B. Committee members discussed amendments to the draft sunset bill. Jennifer Berman, Office of Legislative Legal Services, responded to questions from the committee.

The committee recessed.

The committee reconvened.

The chair announced that Senators Priola and Roberts would be the co-prime sponsors of the sunset bill. Senators Pelton R., Pelton B., Simpson, and Marchman asked to be added as co-sponsors. The committee allowed the drafter to make technical changes to the bill.