The Colorado Housing Coalition (CHC) is actively reviewing proposed legislation during the 2026 Colorado legislative session. Several bills could directly affect landlords, rental property owners, investors, property managers, and housing providers across the state.
Below is a straightforward summary of the key bills CHC is tracking, along with the potential impact on rental housing operations.
HB26-1106: Eviction Protections for Tenants
Status: Lost / postponed indefinitely.
CHC Position: Opposed
Link to Bill: https://leg.colorado.gov/
HB26-1106 proposed several changes to Colorado’s eviction process, including limits on how many eviction cases could be heard in court each day, additional tenant protections after missed deadlines, removal of the eviction appeals bond, a longer writ execution timeline, and weather-related restrictions on physical evictions.
CHC opposed the bill due to concerns that it would significantly delay the eviction process, increase financial strain on housing providers, and create scheduling challenges for sheriff departments responsible for executing writs.
For small rental property owners, delays in the eviction process can create serious cash flow issues, especially when the owner still has to pay a mortgage, taxes, insurance, maintenance, and other property expenses.
HB26-1196: Tenant Data Information
Status: Passed.
CHC Position: Amend
Link to Bill: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1196?blm_aid=92161
As introduced, HB26-1196 would have required certain housing providers to offer positive rent payment reporting to credit bureaus. That portion was later removed. The bill now focuses on tenant application disclosures and the handling of personal identifying information in eviction filings.
CHC originally raised concerns that the 5-unit threshold was too low and could create cost and compliance challenges for smaller housing providers.
HB26-1284: Requirements for Tenant Utility Billing
Status: Lost / postponed indefinitely.
CHC Position: Amend
Link to Bill: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1196?blm_aid=92161
HB26-1284 proposed new requirements for tenant utility billing, including water submeters for new residential properties beginning January 1, 2027, rules for ratio utility billing systems, a required 10% deduction for common area usage, and tenant remedies for billing disputes.
CHC sought amendments to remove the flat 10% utility discount and make the prevailing party clause more balanced in utility disputes.
HB26-1045: Disabilities Housing Protections
Status: Passed.
CHC Position: Monitor
Link to Bill: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1045?blm_aid=92161
HB26-1045 defines assistance animals, emotional support animals, and reasonable accommodation standards in Colorado housing law.
CHC initially sought amendments to ensure housing providers could still request appropriate documentation and address specific animals with a documented history of aggression. After amendments were accepted, CHC moved its position to monitor.
HB26-1047: Protections for Residential Tenants
Status: Lost / postponed indefinitely.
CHC Position: Opposed
Link to Bill: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1047?blm_aid=92161
HB26-1047 would have required additional documentation with eviction filings, expanded suppression of eviction records, required redaction of personal identifying information, and required at least one rent payment option that did not require an online portal or transaction fee.
CHC opposed the bill because of concerns that suppressing eviction records would make tenant screening more difficult and increase risk for housing providers.
HB26-1013: Ratio Utility Billing Systems
Status: Became law.
CHC Position: Support
Link to Bill: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1013?blm_aid=92161
HB26-1013 authorizes landlords to use ratio utility billing systems when specific requirements are met. These include ensuring tenants are not billed more than the total utility provider charge, excluding common area costs, avoiding unauthorized markups, and clearly disclosing the billing method in the lease.
This bill provides helpful clarification for housing providers who use utility allocation methods for residential properties.
HB26-1036: Local Taxes on Vacant Residential Property
Status: Lost / postponed indefinitely.
CHC Position: Opposed
Link to Bill: https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1036?blm_aid=92161
HB26-1036 would have allowed local governments, with voter approval, to impose taxes on vacant residential properties and use the revenue for affordable, attainable, or workforce housing.
CHC opposed the bill due to concerns about creating new local tax authority over vacant properties, especially without clear exemptions for rental homes listed for rent, properties under renovation, or homes listed for sale.
What This Means for Colorado Landlords and Property Owners
The 2026 legislative session shows that rental housing regulation remains a major focus in Colorado. Even when bills do not pass, they often signal future policy discussions that may return in later sessions.
Colorado landlords, property owners, and real estate investors should continue watching legislation related to:
- Eviction timelines and court procedures
- Tenant screening and rental applications
- Utility billing compliance
- Emotional support and assistance animal rules
- Local taxes on rental or vacant housing
- Required lease disclosures and resident notices
If you would like to join the CHC Legislative Committee and be a part of the conversation and fight against bad legislation please contact Samantha Santee at https://www.coloradohousingcoalition.org.
