Summary: This bill seeks to allow personal attestation (instead of 3rd party proof) of domestic violence where rental properties are concerned. It imposes an 18-month repayment plan obligation on unpaid balances due if the victim wishes to remain in the property, requires landlords to inform tenants of their rights and if a landlord fails to do so, this could be used as an affirmative defense in an eviction hearing. Finally, landlords would not be allowed to charge tenants for damages "caused by the abuser".
CHC Position/Concerns:AMEND -The CHC seeks to amend this bill, which fundamentally represents a lack of balance that could easily be abused by a tenant acting in bad-faith. The way the bill is currently written, it leaves property owners responsible for criminal behavior done by a resident.
CHC Advocacy Efforts:
- February:The CHC has attended stakeholder meetings around this bill, and provided our major concerns with the bill as introduced. We have redlined this bill, and sent the redline plus our written feedback to the bill sponsors.
Link to Bill:https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb25-1168
We encourage you to reach out the Bill Sponsors and Committee Members in opposition, pending amendments:
- Sponsor Mandy Lindsay HD42 - 303.866.3911
- Sponsor Cecelia Espenoza HD4 -303.866.2954
- Sponsor Mike Weissman SD28 -303.866.4879
- Meg Froelich HD3 - 303.866.2921
- Rebekah Stewart HD30 - 303.866.2951
- Carlos Barron HD48 - 303.866.2943
- Andrew Boesenecker HD53 - 303.866.2917
- Jamie Jackson HD41 - 303.866.2919
- Mandy Lindsay HD42 - 303.866.3911
- Amy Paschal HD18 - 303.866.2932
- Jacque Phillips HD31 - 303.866.2918
- Chris Richardson HD56 - 303.866.2912
- Larry Suckla HD58 - 303.866.2955
- Alex Valdez HD5 - 303.866.2925
- Steven Woodrow HD2 - 303.866.2967
- Dan Woog HD19 -303.866.2924
Email List for Committee and Sponsors;
mandy.lindsay.house@coleg.gov,cecelia.espenoza.house@coleg.gov,mike.weissman.house@coleg.gov,meg.froelich.house@coleg.gov,rebekah.stewart.house@coleg.gov,carlos.barron.house@coleg.gov,andrew.boesenecker.house@coleg.gov,jamie.jackson.house@coleg.gov,mandy.lindsay.house@coleg.gov,amy.paschal.house@coleg.gov,jacque.phillips.house@coleg.gov,chris.richardson.house@coleg.gov,larry.suckla.house@coleg.gov,alex.valdez.house@coleg.gov,steven.woodrow.house@coleg.gov,dan.woog.house@coleg.gov
