Date: 02/18/2015

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB15-1008

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment A). The motion p
Refer House Bill 15-1008, as amended, to the Commi		Pass Without Objection
PASS



01:32 PM

Representative Court, chair, called the meeting to order.


01:33 PM -- HB15-1008

Representative Hamner, sponsor, introduced House Bill 15-1008. The bill, recommended by the Wildfire Matters Review Committee, provides that agricultural land destroyed by a natural cause on or after January 1, 2012, will retain its agricultural classification for a rehabilitation period consisting of the year of destruction and the next four property tax years. Representative Hamner stated the intent of the bill is to protect agricultural land owners after natural disasters. Committee discussion ensued regarding the impact of the bill on school financing.

01:38 PM -- Ms. JoAnn Groff, Property Tax Administrator for the Colorado Department of Local Affairs Division of Property Taxation (department), testified in support of the bill. She discussed that, on recommendation from the Office of Legislative Legal Services, the department determined that it did not have regulatory authority under Colorado law to allow agricultural land to retain its classification after a natural disaster. She stated the bill gives that authority to the department and clarifies earlier actions undertaken by the department. Responding to a question from the committee, Ms. Groff noted that if the land owner decides to no longer use the land for an agricultural purpose during the rehabilitation period, the land loses its agricultural classification.

01:41 PM -- Mr. Kyle Hooper, representing the Colorado Department of Local Affairs Division of Property Taxation, testified in support of the bill. He stated that this is a good bill for the state due to the recent natural disasters.

01:44 PM -- Mr. Nicholas Colglazier, Director of Public Policy, representing the Colorado Farm Bureau, testified in support of the bill. He stated this bill provides great benefits for our farmers and ranchers due to Colorado's recent natural disasters.
BILL:HB15-1008
TIME: 01:46:55 PM
MOVED:Court
MOTION:Adopt amendment L.002 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.

15HouseFin0218AttachA.pdf15HouseFin0218AttachA.pdf
SECONDED:Pabon
VOTE
Becker K.
Conti
Garnett
Kagan
Pabon
Priola
Roupe
Excused
Van Winkle
Excused
Wilson
Foote
Court
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 3 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:HB15-1008
TIME: 01:47:56 PM
MOVED:Court
MOTION:Refer House Bill 15-1008, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 9-0.
SECONDED:Kagan
VOTE
Becker K.
Yes
Conti
Yes
Garnett
Yes
Kagan
Yes
Pabon
Yes
Priola
Yes
Roupe
Excused
Van Winkle
Excused
Wilson
Yes
Foote
Yes
Court
Yes
Final YES: 9 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS