Committee hears concerns about constitutional right to buy and sell natural gas; opponents seek stronger Blue Book wording

Legislative Council staff presented Amendment 82, a proposed constitutional amendment to establish a right for consumers to purchase natural gas and for utilities and distributors to sell it for residential and business use. Samantha Falco, a legislative council analyst, explained that the measure could limit state and local ability to enact or enforce regulations and noted possible interactions with the Public Utilities Commission and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Resident and industry commenter Ryan Zorn questioned factual language in the draft, argued additions about local production and household conversion costs were missing and urged the Blue Book to better reflect those numbers. "Xcel estimates that average household conversion costs are 24,000. I can tell you from my research in my own home at 9,100 feet in Frasier, the cost to convert would be $86,000," Zorn said during public testimony, urging the committee to include clearer, balanceable facts about conversion costs and where local bans have been enacted.

Opposition witnesses, including Katie Farnon for the No on 82 campaign, asked the Blue Book to reflect their messaging that the amendment would lock protections for industry and could limit local authority and corporate accountability. Lawmakers debated a proposed amendment that would revise the opponent argument to mirror campaign language; the committee rejected that amendment on an 11–7 roll call. Staff said the Blue Book's summary paragraphs follow the measure text and avoid inserting language not contained in the measure itself.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about whether the measure would override local setbacks or other ordinances and whether the Blue Book should identify municipalities with local restrictions. The committee concluded the review of Amendment 82 after the amendment phase; staff will incorporate committee guidance into the final Blue Book ahead of printing deadlines.

The discussion highlighted three recurring concerns: (1) potential preemption of local regulations, (2) economic and consumer-cost claims (conversion costs), and (3) how the Blue Book should balance campaign messaging with strict fidelity to the measure text.