Senate Finance Committee passes bill giving incentives for using killed trees

By LORY POUNDER
Summit County Correspondent
March 28, 2008

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DENVER, Colorado — The Senate Finance Committee recently approved a bill that would provide incentives for products made with timber killed by bark beetle infestation, according to a press release from the Senate Chamber.

The bill, HB08-1269, sponsored by Senator Dan Gibbs, D-Silverthorne, would help reduce the threat of devastating wildfires in the state’s forests. And next it is headed to the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration.

It would provide an exemption from sales and use tax for sales, storage and use of wood products, such as lumber, furniture or wood chips made with wood from salvaged trees killed by the bark beetle, the press release said. Also, it would provide cities and counties the option of exempting those sales from taxes.

“Colorado’s forests and watersheds are among our most critical resources and we must do all we can to protect them,” said Gibbs in the press release. “It’s heartbreaking to see the extent of the devastation in our mountain forests.”

Gibbs is a Type II Wildland Firefighter. Last year, he crafted and passed the 2007 Colorado Forest Restoration Act, which also dealt with the bark beetle epidemic in Colorado’s high country.