Committee members raise privacy, access questions after AI fire‑detection language moved to DFPC

At the March 7 meeting the committee discussed language in a legislative amendment that moved an AI fire‑detection camera incentive out of the Colorado State Forest Service grant program and into the Division of Fire Protection and Control (DFPC). Committee Chair Larimer County Commissioner Jody Shab McNally said she had raised privacy concerns and wanted the provision broadened so that emergency management, sheriff's offices and local strike teams — not only firefighters — could access the technology in an incident response.

"I was like, woah, we need to put some guardrails here," McNally said, describing her privacy concerns. She also said she was concerned by language that "only says firefighters can have access to it," and asked staff whether the amendment could be adjusted to include other authorized emergency responders.

James, legislative staff, told the committee the amendment to move the program into DFPC had passed through Senate Energy but that he had not seen language in the amendment expanding access beyond firefighters. "I did not see that in this amendment that they passed," he said, and offered to continue checking and to circulate any changes to the committee.

The committee discussed whether to pursue clarifying language and encouraged individual commissioners to engage while staff continued to research the amendment text. No formal action to change statutory language was taken at the meeting; staff committed to follow up with the committee on whether the amendment language will be adjusted.