Committee amends pet‑overpopulation grant program, adds TNR eligibility and board changes; bill goes to Committee of the Whole

The House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee voted to advance House Bill 11 37, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The bill—sponsored by Rep. Lindsey with Rep. Velasco as co‑prime—would modify the Colorado Pet Overpopulation Fund (the license‑plate fund and related checkoff) to expand eligible applicants to include trap‑neuter‑return (TNR) and community‑cat programs, change certain board composition rules and direct a greater share of funds toward counties below a 200,000 population threshold.

Nut graf: Supporters said the bill would increase transparency, diversify the pool of grantees and direct a statutory portion of funds to rural communities and TNR programs that historically received little or no licensing‑plate funding. Opponents—many shelter directors and rural advocates—testified it would reallocate existing donated…