Wildfire committee moves eight bills to drafting; will cut to five on Sept. 26

Members of the wildfire committee approved eight committee bills for drafting and expect up to nine to be presented to the committee on Sept. 26, at which point members will vote to narrow the list to five bills that may advance to the next legislative session, wildfire committee staffer James Lucero said.

The committee’s decisions matter to the Colorado Forest Health Advisory Council because several proposals would affect wildfire mitigation, workforce development and grant programs that the council monitors and advises on.

Lucero told the council that “the wildfire committee is allowed to ask for 10 bills to be drafted,” and that committee members approved eight during the Aug. 16 meeting. He said he anticipates a ninth bill being presented on Sept. 26; after that presentation the committee will vote to reduce the set to five bills that will be formally…