Colorado House Democrats

Rep. Curry Helps Protect Colorado's New Communities from Drought

DENVER – State Representative Kathleen Curry (D-Gunnison) knows the importance of having adequate water.  Her district, which includes Crested Butte, Gunnison and Glenwood Springs, is in the midst of one of the largest energy booms in the country, and has one of the fastest-growing populations in the state.  It is also one of the areas hardest hit by Colorado’s most recent drought.   

Recognizing the need to safeguard Colorado’s water resources, Rep. Curry took on the challenge of sponsoring a bill that will help ensure developers identify adequate water supplies before new developments are approved. 

“It’s tempting to just grow and grow and grow,” said Rep. Curry on Monday.  “New development brings new jobs and can lift a whole economy.  But if we’re not careful – if we don’t develop Colorado responsibly – Colorado’s homeowners will be left without water.”

The Colorado House of Representatives recently passed Curry’s House Bill 1141, with a bi-partisan vote of 46 to 18.  The bill will provide cities, counties and others making planning decisions with verification of the adequacy of proposed water supplies before they approve new developments.

Rep. Curry Responds to Oil & Gas Proposal

(DENVER) -  The Colorado Department of Natural Resources today proposed new ways to address Colorado’s oil and gas development.  In response, State Representative Kathleen Curry (D-Gunnison) released the following statement:

"Today's announcement on how we will manage the oil and gas drilling boom balances protection of the environment, wildlife and public health with energy development.  Today, we have a clear and practical plan to put common sense protections in place."

-- Posted by staff

Legislators Call for More Accountability in Colorado’s Conservation Easement Tax Credit

Vow to “make a successful program stronger”

DENVER— Vowing to “make a successful program stronger,” House Majority Leader Alice Madden (D-Boulder), Rep. Bernie Buescher, (D-Grand Junction), and Rep. Kathleen Curry(D-Gunnison) trumpeted their legislation to add an extra layer of accountability for state conservation easement tax credits.

The measure, House Bill 1353, will build upon changes enacted last year which increased the standards, transparency and accountability for the tax credits.

Conservation easements are sold or donated by private landowners to nonprofits or government agencies to guarantee that a parcel of land will never be developed.  Property owners may continue using their land as it has been used but give up the rights to sell the land to developers in the future or to develop it themselves.

The drafting of HB 1353 was guided by the Colorado Conservation Easement Tax Credit Task Force, led by Rep. Madden.  The 2007 task force included legislators, landowners, state officials and land trust representatives. 

“Colorado has benefited from conservation easements in every corner of the state that protect farms, ranchland, wildlife habitat, scenic and historic landscapes and other unique natural lands.  These are places that could have been lost forever to development without the state tax credits,” said Rep. Madden.  “Our goal is to make this successful program stronger.”

Legislators Call for More Accountability in Colorado’s Conservation Easement Tax Credit

Vow to “make a successful program stronger”

DENVER— House Majority Leader Alice Madden (D-Boulder), Rep. Bernie Buescher, (D-Grand Junction) and Rep. Kathleen Curry (D-Gunnison) will join Senator Jim Isgar (D-Hesperus) tomorrow in introducing legislation to add an extra layer of accountability for state conservation easement tax credits.

Scheduled to be introduced Friday as House Bill 1353, the measure will build upon changes enacted last year in HB07-1361, which increased the standards, transparency and accountability for the tax credits.

Conservation easements are sold or donated by private landowners to nonprofits or government agencies to guarantee that a parcel of land will never be developed.  Property owners may continue using their land as it has been used but give up the rights to sell the land to developers in the future or to develop it themselves.

The drafting of HB 1353 was guided by the Colorado Conservation Easement Tax Credit Task Force, led by Rep. Madden.  The 2007 task force included legislators, landowners, state officials and land trust representatives. 

“Colorado has benefited from conservation easements in every corner of the state that protect farms, ranchland, wildlife habitat, scenic and historic landscapes and other unique natural lands.  These are places that could have been lost forever to development without the state tax credits,” said Rep. Madden.  “Our goal is to make this successful program stronger.”

“Conservation easements are a cost-effective way to safeguard Colorado’s agricultural traditions and beautiful places.  This bill will ensure that holders of conservation easements are truly protecting property and accurately assessing the value of conservation,” said Rep. Buescher.

-- Posted by staff

Bill Helping Local Communities Deal With Energy Explosion Advances

HB 1089 will allow the Department of Revenue to allocate revenue more fairly to areas impacted by Colorado’s energy boom

The General Assembly took action today to help local communities impacted by the unprecedented oil and gas boom occurring across Colorado. HB 1083, sponsored by State Representative Kathleen Curry (D-Gunnison), sets new criteria so more severance tax dollars are directed more equitably to communities that are experiencing the most oil and gas development.

“I appreciate the hard work of the interim committee on severance tax and federal mineral lease revenue, as well as the fine efforts of the working group to craft recommendations that will truly help those communities most affected by the energy boom.  Their efforts and recommendations are reflected in this bill.  Although I’m just a messenger, I’m honored to carry it.  It will greatly improve how we distribute revenue to areas impacted most by oil and gas.”

In 2007, the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Committee approved 6,368 new permits for drilling, a new record. That represents an 8% increase from 2006. In Garfield County alone, there were 2,550 new permits issued. In all, there are over 31,000 active wells in the state, and over 40,000 that have been plugged. This is only the beginning of a long-term development plan by the industry. 

“This is a good piece of legislation that recognizes impacts occur where employees live, drilling occurs, and where drilling will occur in the future,” said Rep. Bernie Buescher (D-Grand Junction).  “Over time, this bill will improve the fairness of how severance tax and federal mineral lease money is distributed.”

The legislation reallocates revenue from the severance tax fund to counties not only based on the number of employees in the oil and gas sector who reside there, but also based on the number of permits filed, and the amount of production occurring.  Additionally, it increases the number of non-industry representatives who serve on the mineral advisory committee, changes the reporting requirements that local governments must follow, and provides the Department of Local Affairs with more guidance for how to make grants equitably to ensure those counties that need the money most get it.    

Local communities across the state are struggling with the impacts of this unprecedented boom: affordable housing is scarce, roads neeed to be repaired, schools need to be built, more public safety offcials are needed. HB 1083, which grew out of the Interim Committee to Study the Allocation of Severance Tax and Federal Mineral Lease Revenues, attempts to mitigate these problems.

The bill awaits final approval from the House before moving to the Senate for further debate.

-- Posted by staff

Rep. Curry Protects Wildlife Habitat and Public Lands

Environmental enthusiasts and sportsmen applaud new rules

DENVER – On Wednesday, State Representative Kathleen Curry (D-Gunnison) helped protect Colorado’s wildlife habitat and preserved the outdoor experience of all Coloradans.  House Bill 1069, which passed the House on a final vote today of 43 to 22, will help curb off highway vehicle (OHV) violations. 

“We need to protect the long term use of Colorado’s public lands without diminishing the quality of the recreational experiences we all cherish in this state,” said Rep. Curry.  “I’m proud to say that we worked long and hard to create legislation that will provide a long-term a solution for using public land in a more sustainable way while recognizing the stewardship ethic that already exists.”

HB 1069 will allow state peace officers to enforce illegal incursions by off highway vehicles – such
as ATVs – on to federal land.  For the first time it also creates penalties for anyone found guilty of violating closed areas and trails.  Enforcement will be incidental; when an officer happens upon a violation, he can enforce the law.  Subsequently, it will not increase the work load of state officers.      

“The ways in which people use public lands are growing, and they’re growing fast,” said Rep. Curry.  “We need to act now to minimize the damage caused by the few users of public land that ignore restrictions on off road vehicle use.  Otherwise, we’ll diminish our core Colorado values holding wildlife habitat and public lands in high esteem.” 

A broad and varied coalition representing hunting, angling, off-highway vehicle and conservation communities pulled together to support the legislation.  HB 1069 now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

-- Posted by staff