ColoradoHB25-12402025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Protections for Tenants with Housing Subsidies

Sponsored By: Faith Winter, Junie Joseph (Democratic), Katie Wallace (Democratic), Meg Froelich (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Housing

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Stronger payments for renters facing subsidy discrimination

Courts awarding damages for specified housing violations involving subsidy discrimination must award the plaintiff at least $5,000. For those violations, the Colorado Civil Rights Commission must require a separate payment of at least $5,000, beyond damages. Actual damages must consider possible subsidy losses caused by landlord discrimination based on income source or amount. Commission civil penalty limits are $10,000 with no prior discriminatory housing practice, $25,000 with another adjudged violation in the previous five years, and $50,000 with two or more in the previous seven years; those periods run back from the charge filing. Courts can also award actual and punitive damages or order discrimination stopped. The new damages and penalties apply to conduct on or after the law's effective date.

More landlord cooperation for renters seeking help

Landlords must make reasonable efforts to respond promptly to requests for information needed for rental assistance applications. They must cooperate with tenants applying in good faith, including providing documents required by the agency handling assistance. Failing to do so is an unfair housing practice, but cooperation does not guarantee approval. The law removes an unfair-housing enforcement exemption for landlords with three or fewer rental units. It also removes the voucher-acceptance exemption for landlords with five or fewer single-family rentals and no more than five total units.

Renters' refunds count rent paid by subsidies

Tenants who prove the habitability defense in court receive a refund that counts rent paid by their housing subsidy. They must show it is more likely than not that the defense is valid. The refund equals rent paid minus the home's reduced fair rental value while the breach existed. Rent paid by the tenant, a subsidy issued to the tenant, or both counts.

Renters get 30-day notice for unpaid rent

Landlords starting an eviction for unpaid rent must follow the federal notice rule, including its 30-day notice requirement. The law preserves the federal rule identified as enacted on March 7, 2020, despite later federal changes. The landlord definition includes mobile home park landlords and management. The Division of Housing is encouraged, not required, to post resources using existing funds. Those resources help landlords identify federally covered dwellings and find possible financial help.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Andrew Boesenecker
Democratic • House
Emily Sirota
Democratic • House
Jennifer Bacon
Democratic • House
Jamie Jackson
Democratic • House
Javier Mabrey
Democratic • House
Kyle Brown
Democratic • House
Lorena Garcia
Democratic • House
Monica Duran
Democratic • House
Mandy Lindsay
Democratic • House
Manny Rutinel
Democratic • House
Sheila Lieder
Democratic • House
Tammy Story
Democratic • House
Yara Zokaie
Democratic • House
Cathy Kipp
Democratic • Senate
Dafna Michaelson Jenet
Democratic • Senate
Iman Jodeh
Democratic • Senate
Julie Gonzales
Democratic • Senate
Lisa Cutter
Democratic • Senate
Matt Ball
Democratic • Senate
Mike Weissman
Democratic • Senate
Tom Sullivan
Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 174 • No: 89

House vote • 4/11/2025

Senate amendments: Repass

Yes: 39 • No: 22

House vote • 4/11/2025

Senate amendments: Concur

Yes: 41 • No: 20

Senate vote • 4/8/2025

Third reading: Amend (l.011)

Yes: 24 • No: 10

Senate vote • 4/8/2025

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 22 • No: 12

Senate vote • 4/1/2025

Refer House Bill 25-1240 to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 4 • No: 3

House vote • 3/11/2025

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 37 • No: 22

House vote • 3/5/2025

Refer House Bill 25-1240, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 7 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

Governor Signed
5/29/2025House
Sent to the Governor
5/2/2025House
Signed by the Speaker of the House
5/1/2025House
Signed by the President of the Senate
5/1/2025Senate
House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
4/11/2025House
House Considered Senate Amendments - Result was to Laid Over Daily
4/9/2025House
Senate Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor
4/8/2025Senate
Senate Second Reading Passed - No Amendments
4/7/2025Senate
Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 04/07/2025 - No Amendments
4/4/2025Senate
Senate Committee on Business, Labor, & Technology Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
4/1/2025Senate
Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Business, Labor, & Technology
3/13/2025Senate
House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
3/11/2025House
House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
3/10/2025House
House Committee on Business Affairs & Labor Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
3/5/2025House
Introduced In House - Assigned to Business Affairs & Labor
2/12/2025House

Bill Text

Engrossed
PDF
Final Act
PDF
House Business Affairs & Labor Preamend
PDF
Introduced
PDF
Reengrossed
PDF
Rerevised
PDF
Revised
PDF
Signed Act
PDF

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