Committee votes to introduce bill to continue Colorado Forest Health Council after debate and failed 5-year sunset amendment

The House Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources Committee voted to introduce a draft bill to continue the Colorado Forest Health Council after receiving COPPER's Title 2 review and testimony from the Department of Natural Resources.

Brian Tobias, director of the Colorado Office of Policy Research and Regulatory Reform, summarized COPPER's recommendation to continue the council, saying the council's work addressing forest health and wildfire mitigation remains necessary given ongoing wildfire risk. "Our recommendation is to continue the council," he said.

Lisonbee Lerch, Assistant Director for Forest Health and Wildfire Mitigation at the Department of Natural Resources, told the committee the council completed the statutorily required 30-year vision for forest health and has developed tools such as a forest resilience planning guide. Lerch said the council had influenced recent legislation on workforce and internship programs and urged the committee to continue the council, adding, "The value of the council is unquestionable."

Minority Leader Winter moved a conceptual amendment to impose a five-year sunset so future legislatures could revisit the council; the chair and several members objected to voting on a conceptual (not drafted) amendment. The committee held a roll call on the conceptual amendment and it failed 4–9.

Representative Morrow then moved to introduce the draft bill to continue the council as written; Representative Smith seconded. Roll call recorded yes votes from a majority of members present and the motion to introduce the draft bill carried. Representative Lukens and Representative Morrow were assigned as sponsors; Representatives Lindsay, Goldstein and Smith were listed as co-sponsors. One recorded no vote on the introduction came from Representative Johnson.

Next steps: OLLS will prepare the draft bill for formal introduction and the measure will move through the standard legislative process for additional committee consideration and possible amendment.