A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning measures to address barriers to pet ownership in
Page 1, Line 102connection with residing in a residential structure.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.)
Current law prohibits an insurer from refusing to insure or increasing a premium for a homeowners insurance policy or a dwelling fire insurance policy based on the breed or mixture of breeds of a dog that is kept at a dwelling unless the dog is known to be dangerous or has been declared to be dangerous. Section 1 of the bill defines the term "homeowners insurance" to clarify that this provision applies to all residential structures used for a residence and occupied by an owner or renter.
The "Colorado Housing Act of 1970" provides financing for building or rehabilitating affordable housing. Section 2 requires each housing development that receives financing to authorize tenants of the affordable housing to own or keep one or more pet animals, subject to reasonable conditions.
Current law authorizes a tax credit for affordable housing. Section 3 requires the person claiming the tax credit to allow tenants to own or keep one or more pet animals at the unit that the tenant resides in, subject to reasonable conditions.
This Unofficial Version Includes Committee
Amendments Not Yet Adopted on Second Reading
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 10-4-110.8, amend(16)(a) and (16)(b) as follows:
Page 2, Line 310-4-110.8. Homeowners insurance - prohibited and required
Page 2, Line 4practices - estimates of replacement value - additional living expense
Page 2, Line 5coverage - copies of policies - personal property contents coverage -
Page 2, Line 6inventory of personal property - requirements concerning total loss
Page 2, Line 7scenarios resulting from wildlife disasters - definitions - rules.
Page 2, Line 8(16) (a) An insurer shall not refuse to issue, cancel, refuse to renew, or
Page 2, Line 9increase a premium or rate for a
homeowner'sPage 2, Line 10policy,
orPage 2, Line 11multifamily units, or a policy to cover the contents of a
Page 2, Line 12structure used for a residence and occupied by an owner or
Page 2, Line 13renter based on the breed or mixture of breeds of a dog that is kept at the dwelling, multifamily unit, or structure used as a residence.
Page 2, Line 14(b) This subsection (16) does not prohibit an insurer from refusing
Page 2, Line 15to issue,
cancellingPage 2, Line 16reasonable increase to a premium or rate for a
homeowner'sPage 2, Line 17homeowners insurance policy,
orPage 3, Line 1commercial policy for multifamily units, or a policy to cover
Page 3, Line 2the contents of a structure used for a residence and occupied by
Page 3, Line 3an owner or renter based on sound underwriting and actuarial
Page 3, Line 4principles on the basis that a particular dog kept at the dwelling,
Page 3, Line 5multifamily unit, or structure used as a residence is known to be
Page 3, Line 6dangerous or has been declared to be dangerous in accordance with section 18-9-204.5.
Page 3, Line 7SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 24-32-735 as follows:
Page 3, Line 824-32-735. Pet-inclusive publicly financed housing - definitions
Page 3, Line 9- rules. (1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 3, Line 10(a) "Landlord" has the meaning set forth in section 38-12-502 (5).
Page 3, Line 11(b) "Pet animal" means a dog or cat that is commonly kept
Page 3, Line 12in the home for companionship rather than for commercial purposes.
Page 3, Line 13(c) (I) "Reasonable conditions" may include:
Page 3, Line 14(A) Prohibitions on ownership of a dangerous dog in violation of section 18-9-204.5;
Page 3, Line 15(B) Policies on nuisance behaviors;
(C) Leashing requirements and waste removal;
Page 3, Line 16(D) Requirements that a tenant have liability insurance;
Page 3, Line 17(E) Limitations on having more than two pet animals or on
Page 3, Line 18the number of pet animals permitted in a single unit determined
Page 3, Line 19by the size of the unit; or
Page 4, Line 1(F) Requirements for pet security deposits and pet rent, subject to section 38-12-106.
Page 4, Line 2(II) "Reasonable conditions" does not include:
(A) A prohibition on having up to two pet animals; or
Page 4, Line 3(B) Prohibitions on pet animal breeds or weight restrictions of a pet animal.
Page 4, Line 4(2) The division shall require each housing development
Page 4, Line 5that receives financing from the division on or after January 1,
Page 4, Line 62026, pursuant to this article 32, to authorize tenants of the
Page 4, Line 7affordable housing to own or keep up to two pet animals, subject
Page 4, Line 8to reasonable conditions and applicable state and local laws
Page 4, Line 9governing public health, animal control, and animal
Page 4, Line 10anti-cruelty, and the reasonable and applicable rules adopted by the division or the department of local affairs.
Page 4, Line 11(3) This section does not limit or affect other laws that
Page 4, Line 12require reasonable accommodations to be made for an
Page 4, Line 13individual with a disability who maintains an animal to provide assistance, service, or support.
Page 4, Line 14SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-22-2102, add (5.5) as follows:
Page 4, Line 1539-22-2102. Credit against tax - affordable housing
Page 4, Line 16developments - legislative declaration - definitions. (5.5) (a) The
Page 4, Line 17authority shall not allocate a credit pursuant to this part 21
Page 4, Line 18unless tenants residing at a qualified development are allowed
Page 4, Line 19to own or keep one or more pet animals in the units where the
Page 4, Line 20tenants reside, subject to reasonable conditions that may be
Page 4, Line 21imposed on tenants for owning or keeping pet animals at the unit.
Page 5, Line 1(b) The allowance of one or more pet animals to reside
Page 5, Line 2with a tenant is subject to state and local laws governing
Page 5, Line 3public health, animal control, and animal anti-cruelty and the reasonable and applicable rules adopted by the authority.
Page 5, Line 4(c) As used in this subsection (5.5), unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 5, Line 5(I) "Pet animal" has the meaning set forth in section 35-80-102 (10).
Page 5, Line 6(II) "Reasonable conditions" has the meaning set forth in section 24-32-735 (1)(c).
Page 5, Line 7(d) This section does not limit or affect other laws that
Page 5, Line 8require reasonable accommodations to be made for an
Page 5, Line 9individual with a disability who maintains an animal to provide assistance, service, or support.
Page 5, Line 10SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date -
Page 5, Line 11applicability. (1) This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following
Page 5, Line 12the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the
Page 5, Line 13general assembly; except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant
Page 5, Line 14to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an
Page 5, Line 15item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item,
Page 5, Line 16section, or part will not take effect unless approved by the people at the
Page 5, Line 17general election to be held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take
Page 5, Line 18effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.
Page 5, Line 19(2) Section 1 of this act applies to insurance policies issued or renewed on or after the applicable effective date of this act.