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.
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)(d) 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) (d) As used in this subsection (16), unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 2, Line 9(I) "Dwelling" includes a dwelling unit as defined in section 38-12-502 (3).
Page 2, Line 10(II) (A) "Homeowners insurance" means a policy insuring
Page 2, Line 11residential structures, including condominiums, mobile homes,
Page 2, Line 12manufactured homes, or commercial multifamily buildings, used for a residence and occupied by an owner or renter.
Page 2, Line 13(B) "Homeowners insurance" includes a policy insuring the
Page 2, Line 14contents of a structure described in subsection (16)(d)(II)(A) of
Page 2, Line 15this section.
Page 3, Line 1SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 24-32-735 as follows:
Page 3, Line 224-32-735. Pet-inclusive publicly financed housing - definitions
Page 3, Line 3- rules. (1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 3, Line 4(a) "Landlord" has the meaning set forth in section 38-12-502 (5).
Page 3, Line 5(b) "Pet animal" means a domesticated animal that is
Page 3, Line 6commonly kept in the home for companionship rather than for commercial purposes.
Page 3, Line 7(c) (I) "Reasonable conditions" may include:
Page 3, Line 8(A) Prohibitions on ownership of a dangerous dog in violation of section 18-9-204.5;
Page 3, Line 9(B) Policies on nuisance behaviors;
(C) Leashing requirements;
Page 3, Line 10(D) Requirements that a tenant have liability insurance; or
Page 3, Line 11(E) Limitations on the number of pet animals permitted in a single unit determined by the size of the unit.
Page 3, Line 12(II) "Reasonable conditions" does not include prohibitions on pet animal breeds or weight restrictions of a pet animal.
Page 3, Line 13(2) The division shall require each housing development
Page 3, Line 14that receives financing on or after January 1, 2026, pursuant to
Page 3, Line 15this article 32, to authorize tenants of the affordable housing
Page 3, Line 16to own or keep one or more pet animals, subject to reasonable
Page 3, Line 17conditions and applicable state and local laws governing public
Page 3, Line 18health, animal control, and animal anti-cruelty, and the
Page 4, Line 1reasonable and applicable rules adopted by the division or the department of local affairs.
Page 4, Line 2(3) This section does not limit or affect other laws that
Page 4, Line 3require reasonable accommodations to be made for an
Page 4, Line 4individual with a disability who maintains an animal to provide assistance, service, or support.
Page 4, Line 5SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-22-2102, add (5.5) as follows:
Page 4, Line 639-22-2102. Credit against tax - affordable housing
Page 4, Line 7developments - legislative declaration - definitions. (5.5) (a) The
Page 4, Line 8authority shall not allocate a credit pursuant to this part 21
Page 4, Line 9unless tenants residing at a qualified development are allowed
Page 4, Line 10to own or keep one or more pet animals in the units where the
Page 4, Line 11tenants reside, subject to reasonable conditions that may be imposed on tenants for owning or keeping pet animals at the unit.
Page 4, Line 12(b) The allowance of one or more pet animals to reside
Page 4, Line 13with a tenant is subject to state and local laws governing
Page 4, Line 14public health, animal control, and animal anti-cruelty and the reasonable and applicable rules adopted by the authority.
Page 4, Line 15(c) As used in this subsection (5.5), unless the context otherwise requires:
Page 4, Line 16(I) "Pet animal" has the meaning set forth in section 35-80-102 (10).
Page 4, Line 17(II) "Reasonable conditions" has the meaning set forth in section 24-32-735 (1)(c).
Page 4, Line 18(d) This section does not limit or affect other laws that
Page 4, Line 19require reasonable accommodations to be made for an
Page 5, Line 1individual with a disability who maintains an animal to provide assistance, service, or support.
Page 5, Line 2SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date -
Page 5, Line 3applicability. (1) This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following
Page 5, Line 4the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the
Page 5, Line 5general assembly; except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant
Page 5, Line 6to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an
Page 5, Line 7item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item,
Page 5, Line 8section, or part will not take effect unless approved by the people at the
Page 5, Line 9general election to be held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take
Page 5, Line 10effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.
Page 5, Line 11(2) Section 1 of this act applies to insurance policies issued or renewed on or after the applicable effective date of this act.