The Senate Local Government & Housing Committee advanced HB 26-1045, a bill adding state-law definitions for assistance animals under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, after federal HUD guidance was withdrawn in September 2025. The bill passed 4 to 3 over property-rights objections from two committee members.
Senator Mark Baisley argued the bill was 'just another brick in the wall' of accumulating regulations that chase housing out of Colorado, referencing an acquaintance who owns approximately 30 apartment complexes across four states but refuses to operate in Colorado. Bill sponsors Senator Kipp and Senator Danielson maintained the bill was necessary to restore clarity lost when federal guidance was withdrawn, and Jack Johnson stated it was crafted not to change or go beyond existing obligations.
“Danielson and Senator Kip, tell us about 10:45. Who would to start? Senator Kip. Thank you. So, federal guidance from the HGJD and the DOJ has long provided essential clarity for housing providers, tenants, advocates, administrative agencies, and courts interpreting the Fair Housing act, as amended, fhaa. And these guidance documents offer practical, accessible explanations that help both tenants and housing providers resolve accommodation requests without escalating to administrative or court”
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Sign in to subscribeHousing Committee will come to order. Mr. Alamzaro, please call the rope. Senators Basley. Present. Ball. Excused. Winstadt. Present. Rich. Here. Zamora Wilson. Present. Snyder. Here. Mr. Chair, good afternoon. We just have one bill that we're going to hear, and before I do that, we want to welcome Senator Zamora Wilson. That looks much better than Senator Liston. Thank you for joining us. Okay, Senator Danielson and Senator Kip, tell us about 10:45. Who would like to start? Senator Kip. Thank you. So, federal guidance from the HGJD and the DOJ has long provided essential clarity for housing providers, tenants, advocates, administrative agencies, and courts interpreting the Fair Housing act, as amended, fhaa. And these guidance documents offer practical, accessible explanations that help both tenants and housing providers resolve accommodation requests without escalating to administrative or court proceedings, saving significant time and resources when disputes do reach an agency. These interpretations have supported effective mediation and informed determinations on probable cause. In September of 2025, HUD withdrew its 2013 notice on assistance Animals, a foundational document that had guided the EV evaluation of assistance animal accommodation requests for more than a decade. This withdrawal would create significant uncertainty and…
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