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DENVER, CO - The House today advanced the Housing Opportunities Made Easier (HOME) Act on a preliminary vote to streamline the process for many non-profits, schools and transit districts to build housing on their land to save Coloradans money on housing.
“High costs are forcing Coloradans to spend more and more of their hard-earned money on housing, making it harder to get ahead and thrive. That’s why we’re working to build an economy where everyone can afford a place to live in the communities they love,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. “There are schools, transit agencies and affordable housing non-profits that want to be a part of the housing solution by harnessing their vacant land to build housing for their communities. The HOME Act would break down bureaucratic barriers that are preventing housing from being built to drive down costs for hardworking Coloradans.”
“There is something wrong with the status quo if people who are juggling two or three jobs can’t afford their rent. We’re working to make life more affordable for hardworking Coloradans by removing barriers to getting more housing built in our communities,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, D-Denver. “Last year, Denver rents went down for the first time in years thanks to efforts to tackle the housing shortage. We know that creating housing opportunities drives prices down, which is why I’m sponsoring this bill to build more housing that Coloradans can actually afford.”
Beginning December 31, 2027, HB26-1001 would streamline the process for building housing by allowing non-profit organizations, housing authorities, school districts, state colleges, Board of Cooperative Educational Services or universities and transit districts to build on their land.
Under the “Housing Opportunities Made Easier Act” (HOME Act), local governments could not reject the construction of a residential development due to height, as long as the development is no taller than three stories or 45 feet or adheres to the height standards of the zoning district. These residential developments could also include childcare centers and facilities that provide recreational, social, or educational services to residents.
HB26-1001 applies to land up to five acres. Exemptions to this bill would include land that is not connected to water and sewage treatment systems, land where state or federal regulations restrict residential housing, conservation easements and municipalities that have already implemented similar process standards.
In 2022, Colorado voters approved Proposition 123 to create and fund new housing affordability programs for low- and middle-income Coloradans. This bill would provide an additional incentive to build affordable housing by counting each unit of affordable housing built on these qualifying properties as 1.1 units, boosting eligibility for Proposition 123 funding.
A 2022 report found that removing bureaucratic barriers in the permitting process can expedite the approval process by 28-percent.