Representative Dusty Johnson, who represents House District 63, spoke during the Sept. 8 public-comment period to update commissioners and attendees on results from a six-day special spending session and recent regular-session legislation.

Johnson said the special session focused on balancing the state budget and criticized what he described as spending choices at the state level; he told the board the state “doesn’t have a revenue issue. We have a spending issue,” and said he pushed for greater emphasis on local control. He described a series of bills he carried or supported during the regular session that he said will aid rural constituents.

On water permitting, Johnson said the legislature adopted changes intended to improve the Division of Water Resources’ efficiency and ease burdens on farmers and ranchers who file well paperwork. He said the reforms stagger basin review cycles — basins A will be reviewed in years ending in 5, basins B in years ending in 0 — to help the agency manage workload so that filings submitted on time are not penalized because the state is backlogged.

Johnson also described a new opt-in confidential-voter status for first responders and their spouses, saying the change allows first responders to register with confidential status so their addresses and personal information are not publicly exposed. He said the measure was developed in consultation with county clerks, including Carly (Weld County Clerk and Recorder), and is optional for clerks to implement without creating operational burdens.

Johnson said the legislature exempted agricultural buildings from the 2022 energy-use code changes that would otherwise require renewable-energy and EV-charging features, a change he said reduces compliance burdens for agricultural operators. He also mentioned work on health-care measures and signaled plans to carry additional legislation next year.

Commissioners and other board members thanked Johnson for his work and urged vigilance against unfunded mandates from the state to local governments. No board action was taken on the items Johnson described; the remarks were delivered during the public-comment portion of the meeting.