Senate Ag committee confirms board nominees and forwards wildfire review committee bill to appropriations

The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Feb. 19 conducted three confirmation hearings and acted on one bill.

Confirmations

- Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO): Jackie Miller, GOCO executive director, introduced three nominees — Krithika Prashant (CD 5, Colorado Springs), Ray Schillerd (CD 8, Greeley), and Mara Brosi Wicher (CD 8, Thornton). Miller described GOCO’s constitutional mandate and recent investment levels (GOCO reported $61 million invested across 51 counties in 2025 and plans to invest $88 million in priority projects next year). Senator Hendrickson moved the appointments and the committee referred the nominees to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation; the confirmations were placed on the consent calendar.

- Colorado Agricultural Development Authority: Jordan Beasley (Deputy Commissioner, Colorado Department of Agriculture) introduced Hannah Wilkes for reappointment; Wilkes described decades of farm and board experience and noted the beginning‑farmer bond program has processed over 430 applications totaling more than $76 million. Senator Hendrickson moved Wilkes’ nomination to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation; the motion passed and the nomination was placed on the consent calendar.

- Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp Committee: Tim Mok (Deputy Director for Operations, Colorado Parks and Wildlife) described the Habitat Stamp program and its $10 stamp that funds wildlife habitat projects. The committee considered reappointments and one new appointee — David Gottenberg, Steven Woodis, and Travis Black — and forwarded the appointments to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation by unanimous vote; appointments were placed on the consent calendar.

SB89 — Wildfire Matters Review Committee

Sponsors Senator Cutter and Senator Bazley asked the committee to re‑establish the interim Wildfire Matters Review Committee to continue multi‑stakeholder wildfire prevention, mitigation and response work. After witness testimony emphasizing local wildfire experience and the utility of the interim committee, Senator Cutter offered a modest amendment (L001) to add “response” to the committee’s charge. The committee adopted the amendment by unanimous consent and later voted to send SB89 (as amended) to the Committee on Appropriations by a roll call of 5–2.

Why it matters

SB89 recreates a bipartisan, interim forum for wildfire policy and applied solutions, drawing praise from county and fire leaders who framed wildfire as a multi‑sector threat requiring ongoing legislative attention. The confirmations place numerous conservation, agricultural and habitat experts in positions to advise and steward grant funds and program investments.

Ending

The committee moved SB89 to Appropriations as amended and placed three sets of confirmations on the consent calendar for full‑Senate consideration.