.png){kind=logo}
DENVER, CO– The House Agriculture, Livestock, and Water Committee today unanimously passed legislation that will provide $20 million for the Colorado Water Plan and nine million for agriculture events across the state, including the National Western Stock Show and Colorado State Fair. The bills are part of the Colorado Comeback state stimulus, a package of legislation that will invest roughly $800 million into helping Colorado recover faster and build back stronger.
HB21-1260, sponsored by Representatives Alec Garnett and Marc Catlin, provides $20 million to the Colorado Water Conservation Board to implement the Colorado Water Plan. The bill helps ensure that Colorado can meet its future water needs, which is critical for maintaining our state as a competitive place to work, play, and live.
“The Colorado Water Plan is our path forward to ensure Colorado has the water resources we need to foster a thriving economy,” said Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver. “This investment will help Colorado build back stronger and be better prepared to weather the increasingly devastating droughts that are threatening our water supply. These projects will create jobs and build the water infrastructure of the future so that all our industries, from agriculture to outdoor recreation, can continue to prosper from this essential natural resource.”
HB21-1262, sponsored by Representatives Susan Lontine and Mike Lynch, provides $3.5 million to the National Western Stock Show–a staple to the state’s agricultural economy and Denver’s economy–as well as $3.5 million for the Colorado State Fair, and $2 million to agricultural events organizations across the state. The Colorado Stock Show and State Fair are vital economic drivers for the agriculture industry in Colorado and the communities in which they are located. With this stimulus, these critical agricultural events will be stronger than ever, ready to attract performers and visitors from across the West as tourism resumes.
“The agriculture industry creates and sustains jobs across Colorado, and the National Western Stock Show is a big part of that,” said Rep. Susan Lontine, D-Denver. “The iconic and world-famous stock show brings significant resources to the Denver regional area and showcases the best the West has to offer. Colorado is standing up to support agriculture events like the state fair, county fairs, and the stock show because these exciting exhibitions create jobs and embody our state’s proud agriculture identity.”