Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, & NATURAL RESOURCES

Date:02/04/2015
ATTENDANCE
Time:10:19 AM to 11:01 AM
Arndt
X
Becker J.
X
Place:HCR 0107
Brown
X
Buck
X
This Meeting was called to order by
Coram
X
Representative Vigil
Danielson
X
Dore
X
This Report was prepared by
Ginal
X
Meghan O'Connor
Lebsock
X
Mitsch Bush
X
Saine
X
Becker K.
X
Vigil
X
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Bills Addressed: Action Taken:
HB15-1008
SB15-010		Amended, Referred to Finance
Referred to the Committee of the Whole


10:21 AM -- HB 15-1008

Representative Hamner, sponsor, presented House Bill 15-1008, concerning the classification of agricultural land when the land is destroyed by a natural cause. The bill was recommended by the Interim Wildfire Matters Review Committee, which heard testimony during the interim from Esther van Mourik, Office of Legislative Legal Services (OLLS), concerning rule review of updated provisions in the Assessors' Reference Library Manuals produced by the Department of Local Affairs, Division of Property Taxation. OLLS found that the Property Tax Administrator does not have the authority to provide for continued agricultural classification of land after its productive capacity is destroyed in a natural disaster. The bill would provide that authority to the Property Tax Administrator. Representative Hamner distributed amendment L.001 (Attachment A) to the committee and responded to questions from the committee.

150204 AttachA.pdf150204 AttachA.pdf

The following persons testified about the bill:


10:26 AM -- JoAnn Groff, Property Tax Administrator, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Groff explained that provisions of the bill are consistent with residential property policies. She also explained that property with forest agricultural land would be exempt from the provisions of the bill and would instead enter into a forest management plan with state forester or a conservation plan. Ms. Groff responded to questions from the committee regarding the status of agricultural land and at what time the status of agricultural land can be changed. She noted that once agricultural production is removed from the property, the status should be changed in the following year. Ms. Groff informed the committee that residential property that is apart of the agricultural property would be considered to be apart of the agricultural land for the assessors' purposes. The committee discussed whether there should be more flexibility for agricultural land. Ms. van Mourik addressed the committee and explained that an amendment could be drafted to give the Property Tax Administrator the ability to extend the time period on a case-by-case basis.

10:40 AM -- Kyle Hooper, Department of Local Affairs, Division of Property Taxation, did not take a stance on the bill, but announced that he was available to answer any questions. The committee did not have any questions for Mr. Hooper.

10:41 AM -- Nick Colglazier, Colorado Farm Bureau, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Colglazier also expressed support for giving the assessor discretion in giving property owners more time to restore agricultural production.
BILL:HB15-1008
TIME: 10:43:43 AM
MOVED:Coram
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.001. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Lebsock
VOTE
Arndt
Becker J.
Brown
Buck
Coram
Danielson
Dore
Ginal
Lebsock
Mitsch Bush
Saine
Becker K.
Vigil
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:HB15-1008
TIME: 10:44:49 AM
MOVED:Becker K.
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1008, as amended, to the Committee on Finance. The motion passed on a vote of 13-0.
SECONDED:Brown
VOTE
Arndt
Yes
Becker J.
Yes
Brown
Yes
Buck
Yes
Coram
Yes
Danielson
Yes
Dore
Yes
Ginal
Yes
Lebsock
Yes
Mitsch Bush
Yes
Saine
Yes
Becker K.
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

10:45 AM -- SB 15-010

Representative Mitsch Bush, sponsor, presented Senate Bill 15-010. Representative Mitsch Bush distributed a handout giving background of the bill and a summary of the bill (Attachment B). The bill would repeal the requirement that the Division of Water Resources (DWR) use a difference groundwater modeling approach when calculating Dawson Aquifer augmentation amounts by July 1, 2015, and allows DWR to continue existing practices.

150204 AttachB.pdf150204 AttachB.pdf

10:48 AM -- Kevin Rein, Division of Water Resources, Deputy State Engineer, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Rein distributed a presentation giving background of the Dawson Aquifer and the reasoning behind repealing the modified groundwater modeling requirement (Attachment C). Mr. Rein explained why it is important to delay or permanently remove the requirement to develop a new model. Mr. Rein responded to questions from the committee concerning funds for developing the new model.

150204 AttachC.pdf150204 AttachC.pdf


10:59 AM -- Diana Orf, Colorado Water Congress, testified in support of the bill.

11:00 AM

Representative Mitsch Bush concluded her comments on the bill.
BILL:SB15-010
TIME: 11:01:15 AM
MOVED:Mitsch Bush
MOTION:Refer Senate Bill 15-010 to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 13-0.
SECONDED:Saine
VOTE
Arndt
Yes
Becker J.
Yes
Brown
Yes
Buck
Yes
Coram
Yes
Danielson
Yes
Dore
Yes
Ginal
Yes
Lebsock
Yes
Mitsch Bush
Yes
Saine
Yes
Becker K.
Yes
Vigil
Yes
Final YES: 13 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

11:01 AM

The committee adjourned.