Date: 02/11/2013

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB13-142

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Postpone Senate Bill 13-142 indefinitely. The moti
Refer Senate Bill 13-142 to the Committee of the W		TIE
FAIL



01:51 PM -- Senate Bill 13-142

Senator Renfroe, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 13-142. The bill would require the U.S. government to cede all agricultural public lands on or before December 31, 2014, and transfer title to the state. The lands would then be managed by the State Land Board in a manner that produces reasonable and consistent income over time. Senator Renfroe explained that Colorado and other western states are at a disadvantage because so much of their land is owned by the federal government. He added that this land is not taxed by the state, decreasing the tax revenue available for school funding. He provided history of federal land ownership in western states.


02:01 PM

Senator Renfroe noted that similar bills are being offered throughout the western U.S., and he described historical precedents where eastern and southern states reclaimed land from the federal government. He continued to discuss the historical context and benefits of the bill. He explained that a similar bill has been signed into law in Utah, and that the Arkansas legislature has passed a resolution supporting this effort.


02:09 PM

No witnesses signed up to testify on Senate Bill 13-142. Senator Harvey and Senator Renfroe discussed a 2004 resolution from the Colorado State Board of Education seeking compensation from the federal government for lost tax revenue related to federal lands. Senator Renfroe added that federal land ownership in Colorado is hindering oil and gas development, unlike in North Dakota, which has significantly less land owned by the U.S. government.


02:15 PM

Senator Jones and Senator Renfroe clarified the scope of the federal lands covered under the bill, which would primarily be under the current jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Senator Crowder, Senator Harvey, and Senator Renfroe discussed the benefits of state control over federal control of agricultural lands. Committee discussion continued regarding forest management in the state.
BILL:SB13-142
TIME: 02:23:17 PM
MOVED:Crowder
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 13-142 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion failed on a vote of 1-3.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Crowder
Yes
Harvey
No
Hudak
Excused
Jones
No
Giron
No
YES: 1 NO: 3 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: FAIL


BILL:SB13-142
TIME: 02:24:48 PM
MOVED:Jones
MOTION:Postpone Senate Bill 13-142 indefinitely. The motion failed on a 2-2 vote.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Crowder
No
Harvey
No
Hudak
Excused
Jones
Yes
Giron
Yes
YES: 2 NO: 2 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: TIE