s_agr_2017a_2017-03-15t11:01:27z2 Hearing Summary
Date: 03/15/2017
Location: SCR 357
BILL SUMMARY for SB17-117
SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, & ENERGY
| Votes: View--> | Action Taken: |
| Adopt amendment L.001. The motion passed without o Refer Senate Bill 17-117, as amended, to the Commi |
Pass Without Objection PASS |
11:20 AM -- SB 17-117
Senator Coram, prime sponsor, described the provisions of Senate Bill 17-117 concerning water rights for industrial hemp production and distributed Amendment L.001 (Attachment C). The bill confirms that a person with an absolute or conditional water right decreed for agricultural use can use that water for the growth or cultivation of industrial hemp if the water right holder is registered with the Colorado Department of Agriculture to grow industrial hemp for commercial or research and development purposes. He also distributed a letter of support for Senate Bill 13-241 (authorizing the Colorado Department of Agriculture to regulate industrial hemp production) from the Delores Water Conservancy District (Attachment D) and a flyer entitled "the Last Act of Defiance (Attachment E).
170315 AttachC.pdf170315 AttachD.pdf170315 AttachE.pdf
The following persons testified on the bill:
11:32 AM -- Dianna Orf, Colorado Water Congress, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the conflict between federal and state law concerning marijuana production.
11:36 AM -- Garin Vorthman, Colorado Farm Bureau, spoke in opposition to the bill and distributed a Division 5 water court decision related to marijuana facility (Attachment F), an order from the Division of Water Resources concerning the administration of water rights decreed for irrigation (Attachment G), and a letter from Department of Interior to Bureau of Reclamation contractors concerning the of reclamation project water or federal facilities for hemp and marijuana cultivation (Attachment H). She also spoke in support of Amendment L.001.
170315 AttachF.pdf170315 AttachG.pdf170315 AttachH.pdf
11:39 AM -- Lee Miller, General Counsel, Southeastern Water Conservancy District, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the conflict between federal and state law concerning marijuana production. He also responded to questions from the committee about the allocation of water by the district and marijuana cultivation within the district.
11:56 AM -- Phillip Chavez, Diamond A Farms, spoke in support of the bill and explained that his farm produces alfalfa and hemp. He discussed challenges he has experienced obtaining water for hemp production. He also responded to questions from the committee about his farming practices.
12:02 PM
The chair closed testimony, and Senator Coram responded to questions from the committee about the bill.
| BILL: | SB17-117 | |
| TIME: | 12:06:01 PM | |
| MOVED: | Coram | |
| MOTION: | Adopt amendment L.001. The motion passed without objection. | |
| SECONDED: | ||
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VOTE
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Cooke
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Coram
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Donovan
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Fenberg
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Fields
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Garcia
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Jones
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Marble
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Scott
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Baumgardner
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Sonnenberg
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YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection
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| BILL: | SB17-117 | |
| TIME: | 12:06:34 PM | |
| MOVED: | Coram | |
| MOTION: | Refer Senate Bill 17-117, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 9-2. | |
| SECONDED: | ||
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VOTE
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Cooke
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Yes
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Coram
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Yes
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Donovan
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Yes
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Fenberg
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Yes
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Fields
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No
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Garcia
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No
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Jones
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Yes
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Marble
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Yes
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Scott
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Yes
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Baumgardner
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Yes
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Sonnenberg
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Yes
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Final YES: 9 NO: 2 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS
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12:07 PM
The committee adjourned.