Rep. Fischer's graywater recycling bill set for debate

A bill that would revolutionize one aspect of Colorado water law, allowing re-use of water circulated through showers and appliances, may make into the law books this year.

The Fort Collins Coloradoan has a detailed story about the odyssey and impacts of HB 13-1044, sponsored by Rep. Randy Fischer, D-Fort Collins, in today's paper.

The measure gets its first hearing on Monday before the committee Fischer chairs.

Dem Leadership Team Announced

House Democrats, in addition to electing a new speaker, chose the other members of the majority caucus leadership team today. The group includes four new faces.

Rep. Paul Weissman of Louisville, who will start his last term in the House in January, will be majority leader.

The assistant majority leader will be Rep. Andy Kerr of Lakewood, while the majority caucus chair will be Aurora's Karen Middleton.

Rep. Claire Levy, D-Boulder, returns to the leadership team as majority whip, assisted by Rep. Randy Fischer, D-Fort Collins.

The assistant caucus chair is newly-elected Rep. Sal Pace of Pueblo.

The speaker-to-be of the 67th General Assembly, Rep. Terrance Carroll of Denver, said he expects the Democrats' leadership team to "hit the ground running."

“We have lawyers, cowboys, teachers, ranchers and engineers in our caucus, and we have members that hail from every part of the state,” Carroll said. “Together, we really look like Colorado and we truly understand the economic struggles Coloradans face. As the new speaker, I hope to draw on that diversity and tap the talent of every member in our caucus.”

Ritter Signs Water Bill

Gov. Bill Ritter signed Monday a bill that will allow farmers and ranchers to leave water to which they have appropriation rights in a stream or river and lease or lend the water rights for conservation purposes or instream use.

The "Healthy Rivers Act" will, for the first time in Colorado history, take away the disincentive to conserve water created by the principle of "historic consumptive use," which requires holders of water rights to maintain, year-to-year, their use of water or lose the right to use it.

HB 1280 thus allows the Colorado Water Conservation Board to gain access to flows needed for the state's burgeoning river recreation industry.

"For too long, ranchers and farmers could lose their water rights if they didn't use all the water they were given annually," bill sponsor Rep. Randy Fischer, D-Fort Collins, said. “That’s backwards. We live in a large, dry western state that's susceptible to drought, and it's time we reward – not punish – those who conserve. This legislation gives landowners an important incentive to turn off the tap."

The bill was approved in the House, 59-6, and in the Senate, 32-2, before heading to Ritter's desk. It was carried in the Senate by Democrat Gail Schwartz of Snowmass Village.

Speaker Romanoff Announces New Committee Assignments

In the aftermath of the resignation of former Rep. Michael Garcia and the appointment of Rep. Karen Middleton, D-Aurora, to replace him, speaker Andrew Romanoff shuffled Democratic committee assignments Wednesday.

Middleton was assigned to the Education and State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committees. She replaces Rep. Edward Casso, D-Commerce City, on the education panel and Rep. Terrance Carroll, D-Denver, on the State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee.

Casso moves over to the Business Affairs & Labor Committee, where he replaces Rep. Mark Ferrandino, D-Denver.

Ferrandino moves to the Finance Committee.

Carroll, having recently been elected assistant majority leader, will remain only on the Judiciary Committee. He will keep his post as chair of that committee.

In addition, Reps. Christine Scanlan, D-Dillon, and Randy Fischer, D-Fort Collins, switch committee assignments. Scanlan goes from the Transportation & Energy Committee to the Education Committee while Fischer moves from the education panel to Pueblo West Democrat Buffie McFadyen's transportation and energy panel.