Committee advances technical fix to 2023 irrigation controller and check‑valve rules

The House Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources Committee advanced House Bill 26‑1034 on a unanimous voice and roll‑call showing after testimony from irrigation designers, manufacturers and distributors that said parts of 2023’s House Bill 23‑1161 would be impracticable to implement in many real‑world irrigation systems.

Representative Johnson, a sponsor, told the committee the proposal is a “targeted technical fix” meant to make the earlier law “workable, enforceable, and practical for Colorado” and said it is not a rollback of the state’s broader water‑efficiency goals. Johnson and other sponsors said HB 23‑1161 created a point‑of‑sale mandate for smart irrigation controllers and added check‑valve requirements that were not fully vetted with manufacturers, distributors or regulators, producing confusion, higher costs and gaps in product availability.

Supporters from the irrigation industry said the law’s combined requirements could leave the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment without a clear enforcement pathway and would uniquely burden Colorado. Amber Clark, an irrigation designer, told the committee that mandating a single hardware solution for all sites can undermine conservation because many projects require site‑specific approaches: "Mandating a single component everywhere is like prescribing the same medication to every patient." John McMahon, CEO of the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado, said his members support water efficiency but identified inventory, enforcement and local‑provider misalignment problems as implementation neared.

Manufacturers and distributors added specifics about product limitations. Ben Sachs of Hunter Industries said many smart controllers require internet connectivity and that battery‑operated controllers commonly used in parks, medians and phased construction are currently unable to meet WaterSense smart‑controller certification. Frank Turner of DBC Irrigation Supply told the committee that distributors plan inventory months to years in advance and that unclear or unattainable requirements make stocking and transition impractical.

During the amendment phase, Representative Johnson moved amendment L001, which he said was requested by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The amendment strikes lines 22–26 on page 3 of the bill to avoid unintended oversight or management consequences and to keep departmental authority clear. There were no objections and the amendment passed by voice.

Representative Lukens, a co‑prime sponsor, closed by saying the bill "repeals the irrigation control and check valve requirements" from the earlier law while preserving flexible, enforceable tools for water savings and asked for a yes vote. The committee then voted to refer the bill, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. A roll call produced a unanimous 13–0 referral.

Votes at a glance: The motion to adopt amendment L001 passed by voice (no objection). The motion to refer House Bill 26‑1034 to the Committee of the Whole passed on roll call, 13–0. The committee adjourned after the vote. The Committee of the Whole will consider the bill next.