Two-thirds of the Colorado General Assembly live in the state’s population centers along the Front Range. Over the last several years, rural legislators outside the Front Range have complained that some of their urban cousins don’t understand the rural way of life, which has led to heated battles over gun rights, energy and agriculture. It has also led to the formation of a caucus that, its members hope, will lead to a better understanding of rural issues.

The Rural Caucus serves two purposes: to allow for discussion among rural legislators on the issues facing their districts and to educate urban legislators about those rural issues.

Their first meeting for 2015 is scheduled for Feb. 18, to take place in the conference room at 1525 Sherman St. The caucus will meet with the Colorado Ag Council, an organization with more than two dozen member groups representing all facets of Colorado agriculture, from agribusiness to wheat growers.

This is the second year for the caucus. Last year, they met about once a month during the session to discuss telecommunications reform, education, healthcare and energy. And while the caucus did not take an official position on the telecommunications issue, three members became part of the force that helped push through changes to the state’s broadband laws.

The highlight bill of the telecom package for rural Colorado, the Connect Colorado Broadband Act, had as its co-prime sponsors caucus members Sen. Larry Crowder, R-Alamosa, and Rep. Don Coram, R-Montrose. Caucus co-chair Sen. Mary Hodge, D-Brighton, also was a co-sponsor. All three were co-sponsors of four of the five telecom bills signed into law by Gov. John Hickenlooper.

Rep. Tim Dore, R-Elizabeth, leads the rural caucus in the House. While state laws require each senator or representative to represent more-or-less equal populations, that doesn’t hold true for land mass. Dore told this reporter that rural legislators cover large parts of the state. His district has nine counties; Crowder’s district has all or part of 17 counties.

“Our intent is to increase rural visibility,” Dore said.

Among the issues likely to show up on the caucus’ agenda: agritourism. Last year Dore carried a bill to allow limited liability for agritourism activities. This year, Dore is the House sponsor of Senate Bill 127, with Sen. Leroy Garcia, D-Pueblo, which would provide tax incentives for agritourism businesses.

Another issue from last year that is sure to continue into this session is fracking. “If you’re rural, oil and gas is in your district,” Dore said. Caucus member Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg, R-Sterling, is the chief sponsor of Senate Bill 15-093, which would require local governments to compensate owners of mineral rights when the community bans certain types of mineral extractions (fracking). Last year Sonnenberg toyed but then abandoned the idea of a ballot measure that would take the anti-fracking communities to task.

Hodge said this week that the caucus has yet to start its outreach to potential new members. Last year’s caucus had just under two dozen members, representing agriculture, real estate, ranching, law, education and business.

— Marianne@coloradostatesman.com