Agricultural Producers Use Of Agrivoltaics

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Recent Bill (PDF) Recent Fiscal Note (PDF) Bill Summary: In support of the use of agrivoltaics, which is the integration of solar energy generation facilities with agricultural activities, the act authorizes the agricultural drought and climate resilience office (office) to award grants for new or ongoing demonstration or research projects that demonstrate or study the use of agrivoltaics. The Colorado water conservation board (board), in consultation with the state engineer, the Colorado energy office, and the Colorado water institute, is required to study the feasibility of using floatovoltaics, which are solar energy generation facilities placed over, near, or floating on irrigation canals or reservoirs. On or before January 1, 2025, the board shall submit a written report of its findings and conclusions from the study to the legislative committees of reference with jurisdiction over agricultural matters. The director of the division of parks and wildlife is required to consult on the impacts on wildlife of: Any research projects for which the office awards money to study the use of agrivoltaics; and A project that the board finances to study the feasibility of using floatovoltaics in the state. The act exempts certain agrivoltaic equipment from property taxation if the equipment is used in the required manner and amends the statutory definition of "solar energy facility", used in determining the valuation of public utilities for property tax purposes, to include agrivoltaics and floatovoltaics. The act requires the commissioner of agriculture (commissioner) to study greenhouse gas reduction and carbon sequestration opportunities in the agricultural sector, including soil health management practices, the use of dry digesters, and the potential for creating and offering a certified greenhouse gas offset program and credit instruments in the agricultural sector. To perform the study, the commission must consult with the Colorado energy office, the air quality control commission, the natural and working lands task force, the Colorado state forest service, and an institution of higher education with expertise in climate change mitigation, adaptation benefits, and other environmental benefits related to agricultural research. On or before October 1, 2024, the commissioner shall submit to the general assembly a progress report on the study and, on or before October 1, 2025, a final report, which must include any legislative and regulatory recommendations. The commissioner, in consultation with the Colorado energy office and the air quality control commission, may adopt rules to implement recommendations from the study that do not require legislative changes. Any greenhouse gas offset program or other greenhouse gas reduction and carbon sequestration program or mechanism that the commissioner establishes in rule must not mandate participation by agricultural producers. The act appropriates $611,870 for the 2023-24 state fiscal year from the general fund to the department of agriculture for use by the commissioner's office and administrative services, with $500,000 of the money appropriated for agrivoltaic project grants. APPROVED by Governor May 18, 2023 EFFECTIVE August 7, 2023 NOTE: This act was passed without a safety clause and takes effect 90 days after sine die. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) bill-detail#toggle' id='read-more-less-btn'> Read more Prime Sponsors Senator Cleave Simpson Senator Chris Hansen Representative Karen McCormick Representative Matt Soper Committees Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Appropriations Share: If you require reasonable accessibility accommodation to access this content, please email accessibility@coleg.gov . Status Became Law Introduced Passed Became Law Related Documents & Information Bill Text Fiscal Committees Votes Amendments Bill History Sponsors Session Laws Bill Text Fiscal Committees Votes Amendments Bill History Sponsors Session Laws All Versions (7) Date Version Documents 05/18/2023 Signed Act PDF 05/17/2023 Final Act PDF 05/08/2023 Rerevised PDF 05/07/2023 Revised PDF 04/24/2023 Reengrossed PDF 04/21/2023 Engrossed PDF 01/30/2023 Introduced PDF Preamended Versions (4) Date Version Documents 05/07/2023 PDF 05/04/2023 PDF 04/21/2023 PDF 04/14/2023 PDF Fiscal Notes (5) Date Version Documents 08/23/2023 FN5 PDF 05/06/2023 FN4 PDF 04/27/2023 FN3 PDF 04/20/2023 FN2 PDF 02/14/2023 FN1 PDF Budget Staff Analysis (2) Date Version Documents 05/06/2023 SA2 PDF 04/20/2023 SA1 PDF 05/06/2023 | House Appropriations (3) Activity Vote Documents Adopt amendment L.019 The motion passed without objection. Vote summary Adopt amendment J.004 The motion passed without objection. Vote summary Refer Senate Bill 23-092, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 11-0. Vote summary Hearing Summary | Committee Report: PDF 05/03/2023 | House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources (4) Activity Vote Documents Adopt amendment L.014 The motion passed without objection. Vote summary Adopt amendment L.015 The motion passed without objection. Vote summary Adopt amendment L.016 The motion passed without objection. Vote summary Refer Senate Bill 23-092, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 13-0. Vote summary Hearing Summary | Committee Report: PDF 04/21/2023 | Senate Appropriations (2) Activity Vote Documents Adopt amendment J.002 The motion passed without objection. Vote summary Refer Senate Bill 23-092, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 7-0. Vote summary Hearing Summary | Committee Report: PDF 04/13/2023 | Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources (8) Activity Vote Documents Adopt amendment L.001 The motion passed without objection. Vote summary Adopt amendment L.002 The motion passed without objection. Vote summary Adopt amendment L.003 The motion passed without objection. Vote summary Adopt amendment L.004 The motion passed without objection. Vote summary Adopt amendment L.005 The motion passed without objection. Vote summary Adopt amendment L.006 The motion passed without objection. Vote summary Adopt amendment L.007 The motion passed without objection. Vote summary Refer Senate Bill 23-092, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a vote of 7-0. Vote summary Hearing Summary | Committee Report: PDF House Votes (1) Date Calendar Motion Vote Vote Document 05/08/2023 Third Reading BILL 50 AYE 12 NO 3 OTHER Vote record Senate Votes (3) Date Calendar Motion Vote Vote Document 05/08/2023 House Amendments REPASS 32 AYE 3 NO 0 OTHER Vote record 05/08/2023 House Amendments CONCUR 35 AYE 0 NO 0 OTHER Vote record 04/24/2023 Third Reading BILL 31 AYE 3 NO 1 OTHER Vote record Amendments (18) Date Amendment Number Committee/ Floor Hearing Status Documents 05/07/2023 L.021 Second Reading Passed [**] PDF 05/07/2023 L.018 Second Reading Passed [**] PDF 05/07/2023 L.022 Second Reading Passed [**] PDF 05/06/2023 J.004 HOU Appropriations Passed [*] PDF 05/06/2023 L.019 HOU Appropriations Passed [*] PDF 05/03/2023 L.016 HOU Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Passed [*] PDF 05/03/2023 L.015 HOU Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Passed [*] PDF 05/03/2023 L.014 HOU Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Passed [*] PDF 04/21/2023 L.013 Second Reading Passed [**] PDF 04/21/2023 L.012 Second Reading Passed [**] PDF 04/21/2023 J.002 SEN Appropriations Passed [*] PDF 04/13/2023 L.007 SEN Agriculture & Natural Resources Passed [*] PDF 04/13/2023 L.006 SEN Agriculture & Natural Resources Passed [*] PDF 04/13/2023 L.005 SEN Agriculture & Natural Resources Passed [*] PDF 04/13/2023 L.004 SEN Agriculture & Natural Resources Passed [*] PDF 04/13/2023 L.003 SEN Agriculture & Natural Resources Passed [*] PDF 04/13/2023 L.002 SEN Agriculture & Natural Resources Passed [*] PDF 04/13/2023 L.001 SEN Agriculture & Natural Resources Passed [*] PDF * Amendments passed in committee are not incorporated into the measure unless adopted by the full House or Senate. ** The status of Second Reading amendments may be subsequently affected by the adoption of an amendment to the Committee of the Whole Report. Refer to the House or Senate Journal for additional information. Bill history (15) Date Location Action 05/18/2023 Governor Governor Signed 05/17/2023 Governor Sent to the Governor 05/17/2023 Senate Signed by the President of the Senate 05/16/2023 House Signed by the Speaker of the House 05/08/2023 Senate Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass 05/08/2023 House House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments 05/07/2023 House House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor 05/06/2023 House House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole 05/03/2023 House House Committee on Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Refer Amended to Appropriations 04/24/2023 House Introduced In House - Assigned to Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources 04/24/2023 Senate Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments 04/21/2023 Senate Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor 04/21/2023 Senate Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole 04/13/2023 Senate Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources Refer Amended to Appropriations 01/30/2023 Senate Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Agriculture & Natural Resources Sponsors Prime Sponsor Sen. C. Hansen | Sen. C. Simpson Rep. K. McCormick | Rep. M. Soper Sponsor (None) Co-Sponsor Sen. J. Bridges | Sen. J. Buckner | Sen. J. Coleman | Sen. L. Cutter | Sen. T. Exum | Sen. S. Fenberg | Sen. R. Fields | Sen. J. Gonzales | Sen. N. Hinrichsen | Sen. S. Jaquez Lewis | Sen. J. Marchman | Sen. K. Mullica | Sen. B. Pelton | Sen. R. Pelton | Sen. K. Priola | Sen. D. Roberts | Sen. P. Will | Sen. F. Winter Rep. J. Amabile | Rep. S. Bird | Rep. K. Brown | Rep. R. Dickson | Rep. R. English | Rep. E. Hamrick | Rep. L. Herod | Rep. J. Joseph | Rep. M. Lindsay | Rep. B. Marshall | Rep. M. Martinez | Rep. T. Mauro | Rep. J. McCluskie | Rep. D. Michaelson Jenet | Rep. J. Parenti | Rep. N. Ricks | Rep. M. Snyder | Rep. T. Story | Rep. B. Titone | Rep. A. Valdez | Rep. E. Velasco Session laws (1) Effective Date Chapter # Title Documents 08/07/2023 218 Agricultural Producers Use Of Agrivoltaics PDF Quick Links Find My Legislator Find a Bill How a Bill Becomes a Law Back to top Resources & Information Resources & Information Accessibility Capitol Security Protocol Colorado Open Records Act Maximum Hourly Research and Retrieval Fee Legislative Resources and Requirements Salaries for Legislators, Statewide Elected Officials, and County Officers State Home Transparency Online Project Policies Policies Language Interpretation Services Policy Remote Testimony and Remote Participation Policies Open Records Requests & Policy Privacy Policy Public Wifi Workplace Expectations Workplace Harassment Policy For Legislators & Staff For Legislators & Staff Ethics Tutorial Social Calendar House and Senate Rules Policy on Member Requests for CSP Protection IT Login Colorado General Assembly 200 E Colfax Avenue Denver, CO 80203 Contact Us Privacy Policy