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H_ALW_2022A 04/25/2022 02:24:55 PM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, & WATER
Date 04/25/2022
Attendance
Holtorf X
Lindsay X
Lontine X
Lynch X
McLachlan X
Roberts X
Titone X
Valdez D. *
Will *
Catlin *
McCormick X
Time 02:24:55 PM to 04:24:05 PM
Place HCR 0107
This Meeting was called to order by McCormick
This Report was prepared by Alexa Kelly
Hearing Items Action Taken
Update from Colorado State Forest Service Committee Discussion Only
SB22-169 Referred to the Committee of the Whole

Update from Colorado State Forest Service - Committee Discussion Only


02:25:03 PM  
Matt McCombs, Director
of Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) and the State Forester, introduced
the presentation.  The following handouts were distributed to the
committee:


- Five Year Strategic Plan, which can
be found here:
https://csfs.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/CSFS-StrategicPlan-2016-2020.pdf

- The Home Ignition Zone, which can be
found here:
https://csfs.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021_CSFS_HIZGuide_Web.pdf




He briefed the
committee on the 2021 Report on the Health on Colorado's Forests, which
can be found online here:
https://csfs.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2021_Forest_Health_Report.pdf
02:29:26 PM  
Director McCombs
discussed the activities of CSFS and the need to maintain forest health.
 He discussed the relationship between water resources and forest
health and how dry, warm weather has stressed forests in Colorado.

02:32:41 PM  
Director McCombs
spoke about investing in Colorado's forests, including the different grant
programs that are currently available and the current projects that the
grants are funding.
02:37:01 PM  
Frank Beum, Deputy Regional Director of
the Rocky Mountain Region of the US Forest Service (USFS) spoke about his
role, the role of the USFS in Colorado, and their main priorities.
02:44:47 PM  
Director Beum discussed
the potential for wildfire, wildfire assessments, and drought monitoring.
 He discussed the federal infrastructure bill, including how it addresses
wildfire risk reduction, the national forest system, state and private
forest industry, and research and development.  
02:47:19 PM  
Director Beum spoke about the next steps for his agency and the plan for long-term forest maintenance. He discussed the Colorado Front Range Project and high-risk firesheds.
02:49:12 PM  
Director Beum told the committee about disaster relief funding and recreation in the national forests in Colorado.
02:51:18 PM  
Molly Pitts, Executive Director of the Colorado
Timber Industry Association, spoke about her organization's role in Colorado.
She told the committee about the risks the forests are facing and the need
to invest in forest management.  She distributed a handout to the
committee (Attachment A).
02:52:48 PM  
Director Pitts thanked
the committee for investing in Colorado forests and helping to fund the
different grant programs.  She spoke about forest products and employing
individuals in the timber industry.
02:55:28 PM  

Lyle Laverty, Association of Consulting Foresters, spoke about his role and his experience in the forest industry. He discussed the impacts of the recent large fires in Colorado and how Colorado can work to recover.  He distributed a handout to the committee (Attachment B).

02:59:32 PM  
The presenters responded to questions from the committee members.
03:13:25 PM  
Questions continued.
03:25:11 PM  
Questions continued.



SB22-169 - Referred to the Committee of the Whole


03:41:39 PM  
Representative Hooton, bill co-prime sponsor, introduced SB22-169. Under current law, public records are subject to request under the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA). This bill amends CORA to exclude the portion of any public record that could reveal the location of animals and sensitive plant species or habitat.
03:44:47 PM  
Representative Will, bill co-prime sponsor, gave opening comments on the bill.
03:51:50 PM  
Representative Hooton gave additional comments on the bill.
03:55:46 PM  
Doug Vilsack, representing
the Department of Natural Resources, testified in support of the bill.
 


Mr. Jordan Beezley,
representing the Colorado Department of Agriculture, testified in support
of the bill.


Mr. Brad Klafehn,
representing himself, testified in a neutral position on the bill.  


Mr. Michael Denslow,
representing himself, testified to amend the bill.


Dr. Gabrielle
Katz, representing herself, testified to amend the bill.
04:15:58 PM  

Director Vilsack responded to questions from the committee.

Submitted written testimomy can be found in Attachment C.

04:19:16 PM  
Representative Hooton
and Representative Will gave final comments on the bill.
04:21:38 PM  
Committee members gave final comments on the bill.


04:23:48 PM
Motion Refer Senate Bill 22-169 to the Committee of the Whole.
Moved Will
Seconded Catlin
Holtorf Yes
Lindsay Yes
Lontine Yes
Lynch Yes
McLachlan Excused
Roberts Yes
Titone Yes
Valdez D. Yes
Will Yes
Catlin Yes
McCormick Yes
Final YES: 10   NO: 0   EXC: 1   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS


04:24:05 PM   The committee adjourned.






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