Colorado Capitol Report

Bill to Prioritize Public Health, Safety and Environment over Oil-and-Gas Production Dies in Senate Committee


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Bill to Prioritize Public Health, Safety and Environment over Oil-and-Gas Production Dies in Senate Committee

Once again, the House proposes and the Senate disposes.

On Wednesday in the Senate, two minority Democrats joined six majority Republicans on the Senate Agriculture, Natural Resources and Energy Committee to ice a House bill to radically alter state policy to emphasize public health, safety and the environment at the expense of oil-and-gas production.

The two Democrats were Senators Leroy Garcia (Pueblo) and Kerry Donovan (Vail).

The CACI Energy and Environment Council opposed the measure, and CACI lobbied for its defeat.

Current policy by the state’s regulatory body, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, is to balance the two ends of this public policy teeter-totter.  The mission of the COGCC is stated on its web site:

The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) is charged with fostering the responsible development of Colorado’s oil and gas natural resources in a manner consistent with the protection of public health, safety, and welfare, including the environment and wildlife resources. Our agency seeks to serve, solicit participation from, and maintain working relationships with all those having an interest in Colorado’s oil and gas natural resources.

HB-1071 would have essentially put into state statute the ruling of the Colorado Court of Appeals in the Martinez case, which is now pending before the Colorado Supreme Court.

Here’s the legislative summary of HB-1071, which was not amended in the House:

HB-1071  “Concerning the regulation of oil and gas operations in a manner consistent with the protection of public safety.”

Current law declares that it is in the public interest to ‘[f]oster the responsible, balanced development, production, and utilization of the natural resources of oil and gas in the state of Colorado in a manner consistent with protection of public health, safety, and welfare, including protection of the environment and wildlife resources’. The Colorado court of appeals, in Martinez v. Colo. Oil & Gas Conservation Comm’n , 2017 COA 37, has construed this language to mean that oil and gas development is not balanced with the protection of public health, safety, and welfare, including protection of the environment and wildlife resources. Rather, that development must occur in a manner consistent with such protection.

The bill’s Fiscal Note offered a more detailed analysis of HB-1071.

The significance of the Martinez case–which the Colorado Supreme Court agreed on January 29th to hear–to not only the oil-and-gas industry but the entire state economy cannot be understated.  If the ruling by the Colorado court of Appeals in the Martinez case is upheld by the Colorado Supreme Court, decisions by the state’s regulatory body over the industry would very likely be mired in litigation, which could bring new production to a screeching halt.

HB-1071 was passed by the Democrat-controlled House over the opposition of two Democrats and all minority Republicans.

The Senate sponsor was Senator Dominick Moreno (D-Commerce City).  HB-1071 was sponsored in the House by Representative Joe Salazar (D-Thornton), who is running for the Democrat nomination for Colorado Attorney General.  Representative Salazar is term-limited.

For more information about HB-1071 and other bills targeting the oil-and-gas industry, contact Bill Skewes, CACI Contract Lobbyist.

For more information on HB-1071 and news media coverage of the bill, read:

Fracking bills die predictable deaths in Colorado House, Senate,” by Joey Bunch, Colorado Politics, March 8th.

Colorado Senate kills bill to rewrite state policy on oil and gas,” Cathy Proctor, The Denver Business Journal, March 7th.

Colorado lawmakers kill bill to require protecting the environment and people as oil and gas production move closer,” by Bruce Finley, The Denver Post, March 7th.

Senate Committee Sets Date for Hearing on Bill Seeking to Codify State Appeals Court Ruling on Martinez Case before Colorado Supreme Court Can Rule,” CACI Colorado Capitol Report, February 23rd.


CACI Tax Council Gets Educated on Colorado Severance Tax System

Travis Holland, Anadarko and Rhonda Sparlin, RubinBrown

During the CACI Tax Council meeting held today, the Council had the opportunity to hear a presentation by Travis Holland, Senior Tax Accountant for Anadarko Petroleum.  Mr. Holland shared an overview of the current severance tax system in Colorado including details on the interplay between the ad valorum tax and the severance tax, the calculation and rates of both taxes and how they are assessed on the oil and gas industry in Colorado.  Mr. Holland also spoke about the challenges of the current severance system and the industry’s discussions with the Office of the Governor on potential opportunities for improvements to the system.

In addition to this presentation, the Council discussed the notice received by CACI and Tax Council members last week from the Colorado Department of Revenue stating that it plans to rescind all revenue bulletins.  The DOR staff shared with CACI staff that the intent of this decision was to formalize guidance they’ve been giving to taxpayers for years that the publications should not be relied upon and that the Department no longer regards the bulletins as binding.  The bulletins were issued from 1982-1992 and some were revised in 1999.

Finally, the Tax Council discussed 2018 tax related legislation including a bill addressing a long-term severance tax solution (HB 1201).  The Council took a position of SUPPORT on House Bill 1201 with a caveat that the bill be amended to reflect an earlier effective date.  Details regarding this piece of legislation and others discussed are provided below:

HB 1185 by Rep. Kraft-Tharp & Senator Neville – Market based sourcing for business income tax apportionment

CACI Position:  SUPPORT,

Background:  Under current law, income from the sale of services and intangible property is apportioned based on where the income-producing activity is performed. This bill changes the sourcing rules so that the income is apportioned based on where the income-producing activity is used or delivered.

Status:  Passed in the House Finance Committee on February 28th and scheduled for House Appropriations Committee.  CACI’s Loren Furman testified in support of the bill along with Bruce Nelson, a member of CACI Tax Council.

HB 1201 by Rep. Thurlow & Senator Coram – Severance Tax Voter Approved Revenue Change

CACI Position SUPPORT with Amendment

Background:  Requires a referred measure for this November election allowing the state to retain and spend an amount equal to state severance tax revenue.  This is only when the State would otherwise be required to make a TABOR refund, and conditioned on State not:

    • Repealing or reducing any of the existing severance tax exemptions or credits; or
    • Reducing the percentage of the severance tax revenue that is allocated to local governments.

Status:  Scheduled to be heard in House Finance on April 9th.

HB 1022 by Rep. Kraft-Tharp & Senator Neville – DOR Sales Tax Request for Information

CACI Position SUPPORT

Background:  Requires DOR to issue an RFI for an electronic sales and use tax simplification system that the state or any local government that levies a sales or use tax, including a home rule municipality and county, could use for administrative simplification on state and local sales and use taxes.

Status:  Signed by the Governor on March 1, 2018


CACI's Legislative Agenda

Below is a list of bills and their status on which CACI Policy Councils have taken positions. For more information on the bills, contact Loren Furman, CACI Senior Vice President, State and Federal Relations, at 303.866.9642.

Health Care Council BillsBill Title/DescriptionCouncil Position
HB 1007 by Rep. Kennedy & Sen. LambertSubstance Use Disorder Payment & CoverageMonitor/Passed
HB 1009 by Rep. Roberts & Sen. DonovanDiabetes Drug Pricing Transparency Act 2018Oppose/Dead
HB 1097 by Reps. Catlin, Danielson & Sens. Coram, ToddPatient Choice Of PharmacyOppose/Dead
HB 1279 by Rep. Esgar & Sens. Priola, MorenoElectronic Prescribing Controlled SubstancesSupport/Dead
HB 1311 by Reps. Rankin, HamnerSingle Geographic Rating Area Individual Health PlanOppose/Dead
HB 1358 by Reps. Foote, Beckman & Sens. Lundberg, AguilarHealth Care Charges Billing Required DisclosuresOppose/Dead
HB 1370 by Reps. Esgar, Singer & Sen. JahnDrug Coverage Health PlanOppose as Introduced/Dead
HB 1392 by Reps. Kennedy, Rankin & Sens. Coram, DonovanState Innovation Waiver Reinsurance ProgramOppose/Dead
SB 136 by Neville & Reps. Kraft-Tharp, SiasHealth Insurance Producer Fees And Fee DisclosureSupport/Signed by Governor
SB 023 by Sen. Martinez Humenik & Rep. GinalPromote Off-label Use Pharmaceutical ProductsOppose/Dead

 

Tax Council BillsBill Title/DescriptionCouncil Position
HB 1022 by Reps. Sias, Kraft-Tharp & Sen. Jahn,Requiring DOR to do RFI for Sales Tax Simplification SystemSupport/Signed by Governor
HB 1185 by Reps. Kraft-Tharp, Wist & Sens. Neville, MorenoMarket Sourcing For Business Income Tax ApportionmentSupport/Passed
HB 1036 by Rep. Leonard & Sen. NevilleReduction of Business Personal Property TaxSupport/Dead
HB 1201 by Rep. Thurlow & Sen. CoramSeverance Tax Voter-Approved Revenue ChangeSupport w/ Amendment/Dead
HB 1387 by Rep. Rankin & Sen. MorenoEliminate Oil & Gas Abatement Refund InterestOppose/Dead

 

Labor & Employment
Council Bills
Bill Title/DescriptionCouncil Position
HB 1001 by Reps. Winter, Gray & Sens.
Fields, Donovan
Family and Medical Leave Insurance ProgramOppose/Dead
HB 1033 by Rep. Weissman & Sen. CoramEmployee Leave To Participate In ElectionsNeutral/Dead
HB 1067 by Reps. Melton, SalazarRight To Rest ActOppose/Dead
HB 1128 by Reps. Wist, Bridges & Sens. Lambert, CourtProtections For Consumer Data PrivacyNeutral as Amended
HB 1250 by Reps.Kraft-Tharp, Sias & Sen. PriolaAnalysis to Improve Compliance With Rules By BusinessSupport/Passed
HB 1256 by Reps. Duran, Herod & Sen. GardnerSunset Continue Civil Rights Division And CommissionSupport as Amended
HB 1261 by Rep. WeissmanColorado Arbitration Fairness ActOppose/Dead
HB 1262 by Reps. Jackson & RobertsArbitrations Services Provider Transparency ActOppose/Dead
HB 1298 by Reps. Pettersen, Bridges & Sens. Donovan, ToddColorado Secure Savings PlanOppose/Dead
HB 1368 by Reps. Danielson, Melton & Sens. Merrifield, MorenoLocal Control Of Minimum WageOppose/Dead
HB 1377 by Reps. Coleman, PettersenProhibit Seeking Salary InformationOppose/Dead
HB 1378 by Reps. Danielson, Buckner & Sens. Donovan, FieldsEqual Pay For Equal Work ActOppose/Dead
SB 44 by Sen. Crowder & Rep. LandgrafVeterans Employment Preference By Private EmployerNeutral/Dead
SB 178 by Sen. Smallwood & Rep. Kraft-TharpSimilar Coverage Independent Commercial VehiclesSupport/Passed
SB 193 by Sen. CoramLimit State Agency Occupational RegulationsOppose/Dead

 

Energy & Environment
Council Bills
Bill Title/DescriptionCouncil Position
HB 1071 by Rep. SalazarRegulate Oil Gas Operations Protect Public SafetyOppose/Dead
HB 1157 by Reps. Becker, SingerIncreased Reporting Oil And Gas Incidents

Oppose/Dead
HB 1215 by Rep. ArndtSafe Disposal Naturally Occur Radioactive MaterialOppose As Introduced/Dead
HB 1271 by Reps. Gray, Willett & Sen. TateUC Electric Utilities Economic Development RatesSupport/Passed
HB 1274 by Reps. Becker, Bridges & Sen. KerrReduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050Oppose/Dead
HB 1289 by Reps. Foote, Young & Sen. JonesExempt Local Gov’t School Districts Statutory PoolingOppose/Dead
HB 1297 by Reps. Winter, Pettersen & Sen. DonovanClimate Change Preparedness & ResiliencyOppose/Dead
HB 1301 by Reps. Roberts, McLachlanProtect Water Quality Adverse Mining ImpactsOppose/Dead
HB 1352 by Reps. Foote, Gray & Sens. Jones, AguilarOil And Gas Facilities Distance From School PropertyOppose/Dead
HB 1400 by Reps. Becker, McKean & Sens. Scott, JahnIncrease Fees Stationary Sources Air PollutantsSupport/Passed
HB 1419 by Reps. Foote, Jackson & Sens.Jones, KefalasOil Gas Operators Disclosures Wellhead IntegrityOppose/Dewad
SB 009 by Sens. Priola, FenbergAllow Electric Utility Customers Energy Storage EquipmentNeutral/Signed by Governor
SB 047 by Sen. Marble & Rep. SaineRepeal Tax Credits Innovative VehiclesOppose/Dead
SB 063 by Sen. Jones & Rep. BenavidezOil Gas Higher Financial Assurance Reclamation RequirementsOppose/Dead
SB 064 by Sen. Jones & Rep. FooteRequire 100% Renewable Energy By 2035Oppose/Dead
SB 167 by Sens. Scott, Donovan & Reps. Winter, Saine Enforce Requirements 811 Locate Underground FacilitiesNeutral/Passed
SB 230 by Sen. Marble & Rep. SaineModify Laws Drilling Units Pooling OrdersSupport/Passed
SB 245 by Sen. CookeAllow Natural Occurring Radioactive Material RulesSupport/Passed

 

Governmental Affairs
Council Bills
Bill Title/DescriptionCouncil Position
SB 062 by Sen. MorenoSnow Removal Service Liability LimitationOppose/Passed
SB 230 by Sen. Marble & Rep. SaineModify Laws Drilling Units Pooling OrdersSupport/Passed
HB 1392 by Reps. Kennedy, Rankin & Sens. Coram, DonovanState Innovation Waiver Reinsurance ProgramOppose/Dead
HB 1128 by Reps. Wist, Bridges & Sens. Court, LambertProtections For Consumer Data PrivacySupport as Amended
SCR 004 by Sens.Grantham, FenbergCongressional RedistrictingSupport/Passed
SCR 005 by Sens.Grantham, FenbergLegislative RedistrictingSupport/Passed

 

General Business Issues BillsBill Title/DescriptionCouncil Position
SB 001 by Sens. Cooke, Baumgardner & Reps Carver, BuckTransportation Infrastructure FundingSupport/Passed