2020 Colorado Legislative Summary
The Enterprise Public Policy team works on state and local policy efforts across the country to increase local resources for affordable housing, use existing resources more effectively, ensure that rental housing stock is sustainable for the long term, and improve tenant protections.
Following an unprecedented two-month break in the legislative session due to Covid-19, the Colorado legislature reconvened on May 26 for a final flurry of lawmaking before adjourning on June 15. Throughout Colorado’s 2020 state session, Enterprise was proud to join many partner organizations and legislative leaders to advance multiple housing-centered bills, as well as to support a landmark police reform bill. Some key housing efforts were ultimately set aside—many due to limited time and resources once the legislature reconvened—and a hard-fought attempt to extend a statewide eviction moratorium in the waning days of session was ultimately never introduced.
Still, several successful measures will provide lasting protections for Colorado tenants and much-needed funding for housing assistance in response to the Covid-19 crisis. And despite having to slash $3 billion from the budget with significant implications for state-funded services across the board, the Joint Budget Committee did not permanently eliminate any of the new sources of funding for housing and homelessness secured last year.
We are grateful for the stalwart advocacy efforts of our organizational partners and the leadership of the sponsors of bills Enterprise actively supported, detailed below. In particular, we thank the legislators whose late-session efforts helped direct COVID-19 relief dollars and future funds to Coloradans’ housing needs, including: Representatives Esgar, Exum, McCluskie, Gonzales-Gutierrez, Weissman and Woodrow, and Senators Bridges, Danielson, Gonzales, Moreno, Rankin, Winter and Zenzinger.
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Bill |
Title |
Description |
Lead Sponsors |
Status |
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Suppressing Court Records of Eviction Proceedings |
Requires automatic suppression of court records related to eviction filings that to not proceed to judgment; enables suppression regardless of judgment if both parties agree |
Rep Jackson; Sen Winter |
Signed by Gov. Polis on 3/20/2020 |
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Programs to Develop Supportive Housing Services |
Establishes grant program to support communities developing supportive housing programs/projects, gives the state legislative authority to apply for Medicaid waiver to expand the scope of covered providers and care to include supportive services. |
Rep Singer; Sen Fields |
Did not pass |
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|
Reimbursement to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) |
Requires Medicaid reimbursement to FQHCs for telemedicine and clinical pharmaceutical services, providing increased resources for outreach teams connected with FQHCs to meet the health needs of marginalized people, including those experiencing homelessness |
Reps Caraveo, Will; Sens Rankin, Donovan |
Did not pass |
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Fees Charged to Tenants by Landlords |
Limits the dollar amount, frequency and types of fees landlords are permitted to charge tenants |
Reps Caraveo, Gonzales-Gutierrez; Sen. Gonzales |
Did not pass |
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Prohibiting Housing Discrimination Source of Income |
Prohibits discrimination against potential and current tenants based on a person's receipt and use of verifiable public or private housing assistance, grant or loan program, or other government supports; prohibits discrimination based on SOI in noticing/advertising properties |
Reps Herod, Jackson; Sen Fields |
Passed 6/13/2020 |
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|
CO Homeless Projection Tax Credit |
Rebrands current enterprise zone tax credit as the Homeless Contribution Tax Credit, a statewide 25% credit ($1 saved for every $4 donated) incentivizing capital campaign and operations contributions; moves program to DOH |
Rep Melton; Sen. Winter |
Did not pass |
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Local Government Authority Promote Affordable Housing Units |
Gives municipalities the authority to regulate new construction or redevelopment to promote the construction of new affordable housing, provided developers are given a menu of options |
Reps Lontine, Gonzales-Gutierrez; Sens Gonzales, Rodriguez |
Did not pass |
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|
Funding for Eviction Legal Defense Fund |
Assesses an additional $30 fee per eviction filing; directs collected fees to state's eviction legal defense fund |
Rep Woodrow; Sens. Winter, Danielson |
Did not pass |
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COVID-19-related Housing Assistance |
Allocates money from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for those in need due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including $19.7 million for rental, mortgage and other housing assistance and $350,000 to the state's eviction legal defense fund |
Reps Gonzales-Gutierrez, Exum; Sens. Gonzales, Zenzinger |
Signed by Gov. Polis on 6/22/2020 |
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Enhance Law Enforcement Integrity |
Reforms various law enforcement practices, including: banning chokeholds, ending qualified immunity for police officers, requiring officers statewide wear body cameras, restricting the rehiring of officers terminated for cause, and enhancing public transparency and accountability |
Sens. Garcia, Fields; Reps. Herod, Gonzales-Gutierrez |
Signed by Gov. Polis on 6/19/2020 |
