Sen. Marc Catlin

The bill authorizes a person to apply to the ground water commission (commission) for approval of an aquifer storage-and-recovery plan and requires the commission to promulgate rules governing the application process and the requirements that an aquifer storage-and-recovery plan must meet to be approved. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

The broadband deployment board in the department of regulatory agencies (board) implements and administers a grant program regarding the deployment of broadband service in unserved areas of the state. Upon a telecommunications provider's application for funding of a proposed project to provide access to a broadband network in an unserved area of the state, the board must allow an incumbent telecommunications provider in the unserved area the right of first refusal with regard to implementing a broadband deployment project for the unserved area. The board is required to develop criteria regarding an incumbent telecommunications provider's exercise of its right to develop a broadband project in an unserved area upon another telecommunications provider having submitted to the board a proposed project for the unserved area. The bill requires that the board's criteria include requirements that an incumbent telecommunications provider exercising its right to implement a broadband deployment project for the unserved area agree to provide demonstrated downstream and upstream speeds equal to or faster than the speeds indicated in the applicant's proposed project and at a cost per household that is equal to or less than the cost per household indicated in the applicant's proposed project. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

Current law allows the Colorado water conservation board to approve up to 15 pilot projects for agricultural water leasing or fallowing projects. The bill expands the types of projects that may be approved to include deficit irrigation projects, which use less than the optimal amount of water on a particular crop, but limits these projects to water divisions 2 and 3 and within the boundaries of the upper Gunnison water conservancy district. The bill also excludes from the determination of historical consumptive use decreases in use resulting from deficit irrigation projects to conserve or lease water. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

The bill prohibits a carrier that offers or issues a health benefit plan that covers pharmaceutical services, including prescription drug coverage, or a pharmacy benefit management firm managing those benefits for a carrier, from: Limiting or restricting a covered person's ability to select a pharmacy or pharmacist of the covered person's choice if certain conditions are met; Imposing a copayment, fee, or other cost-sharing requirement for selecting a pharmacy of the covered person's choosing; Imposing other conditions on a covered person, pharmacist, or pharmacy that limit or restrict a covered person's ability to use a pharmacy of the covered person's choosing; or Denying a pharmacy or pharmacist the right to participate in any of its pharmacy network contracts in this state or as a contracting provider in this state if the pharmacy or pharmacist has a valid license in Colorado and the pharmacy or pharmacist agrees to specified conditions.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) , Read More

Current law includes a separate crime for cruelty to a service animal or a certified police working dog. The bill adds a definition for 'certified police working horse' to statute and adds certified police working horses to the crime of cruelty to a service animal or a certified police working dog. A person who, in good faith, reports an incident of cruelty to a certified police working horse is granted the same immunity from civil liability that persons have when reporting, in good faith, cruelty to a service animal or a certified police working dog. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More

The bill expands Colorado's safe haven laws to include staff members of community clinic emergency centers as persons allowed to take temporary physical custody of infants 72 hours old or younger when the infant is voluntarily surrendered by its parent or parents. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.) Read More

Current law exempts 'agricultural and livestock products' from the levy and collection of property tax and defines 'agriculture', for purposes of applying the exemption, to include silviculture. Current law also exempts 'agricultural equipment which is used on the farm or ranch in the production of agricultural products' from the levy and collection of property tax. The bill repeals the current exemption and instead clarifies that agricultural equipment includes silviculture personal property that is designed, adapted, and used for the planting, growing, maintenance, or harvesting of trees in a raw or unprocessed state. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

In Colorado, water subject to a water right may be used for the purpose for which the water is decreed. The bill confirms that a person with an absolute or conditional water right decreed for agricultural use may use the water subject to the water right for the growth or cultivation of industrial hemp if the person is registered by the department of agriculture to grow industrial hemp for commercial or research and development purposes. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)