Conference committee adopts report on Colorado Forest Health Council sunset bill, clarifies local soil conservation boards' role

A conference committee considering House Bill 11 84 adopted its first report after the committee’s bill drafter said the bill’s language needed to refer to local soil conservation district boards rather than the state board. The committee voted 5–0, with one member excused.

The chair opened the session and asked Miss Kelly to call the roll. After roll call, the chair turned the floor over to the committee’s bill drafter, Mr. Payne, who said there had been “a slight miscommunication” in the draft and that the language as written allowed for two possible meetings. “There’s the local boards and there’s the state board,” Mr. Payne said, adding that the sponsors intended to make local boards representative in the language.

Following Mr. Payne’s explanation, the vice chair moved to adopt the first report of the first conference committee on House Bill 11 84. The motion was seconded by Rep. Morrow. The chair asked for questions or comments; none were offered.

Miss Kelly called a roll-call vote. Bazely voted “Aye,” Johnson “Yes,” Morrow “Yes,” Cutter “Yes,” and the chair recorded her vote as “Yes.” Marchman was excused. The chair announced, “That passes 5 to 0 with 1 excused.”

The conference committee was then adjourned. The chair thanked members for their service on the committee.

What this means: the committee adopted a conference report that includes a drafting change to ensure the bill’s provisions reference local soil conservation district boards rather than the state board. The committee’s action was procedural (adoption of a conference committee report); no further debate or amendments were recorded in the transcript.