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Issues that Matter to Business

Housing:

The solution to housing affordability is the economic principle of supply and demand—as supply increases, prices decrease. To that end, the Chamber supports efforts that boost housing stock and get housing built for every Colorado budget.

The biggest barrier to this goal is the effect our construction defects laws have had on attached condominium development, which is the most affordable housing typology and creates denser and more sustainable urban landscapes. Prior to construction defects laws, new condominium construction accounted for around 20% of all permits in the state—that number today hovers between 3-5%. We are doing a disservice to our vibrant workforce if we do not advocate for removing barriers to building condos and making it easier for developers to build attainable housing in communities where our workforce is employed. The Chamber supports efforts to reform construction litigation laws, and we will be renewing our push to work with the General Assembly and the Governor’s Office to find solutions and build attainable housing.

You can hear more about the Chamber’s stance on Colorado housing from our President & CEO, J. J. Ament, in the video below.

Major 2023 Housing Policy:

The Chamber took a stance on 70 pieces of legislation for the 2023 session. In our 2023 legislative recap, we narrowed down the top three bills for housing this session, and they are listed below. You can also view all our stances for the session.

  1. (Chamber Support) Land Use Bill SB23-213
    1. This bill attempted to put housing under state control, but a key provision of Gov. Jared Polis’ proposal was dropped in the Senate in the final weeks. This included a 39-page strike below, putting the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) back into its role as a resource and partner to local governments, instead of making it a regulatory agency. The House added many provisions back into the bill before sending it back to the Senate, but ultimately no deal could be reached to keep the measure alive. This bill died on the calendar in the Senate.
  2. (Chamber Oppose) Rent Control HB23-1115
    1. This was a contentious bill to allow local rent control laws in Colorado. The rent control measure would not have directly created any limits on rent prices, but it would have allowed city governments to pass their own rent regulations. Cities still would have had to allow rents to rise faster than inflation. This measure was killed in a Senate committee.
  3. (Chamber Oppose) Affordable Housing Right of First Refusal HB23-1190
    1. This bill creates the right of first refusal, with certain exemptions, for local governments to purchase multi-unit residential properties for long-term affordable housing. Local governments would be given the right to purchase a qualifying property for an “economically substantially identical offer” to another offer that a residential seller receives. This bill would tip the scales and prevent competitive offers from being considered in favor of local governments. This bill has been sent to Governor Polis for signature. The Chamber has requested a veto.

Even in today’s expensive real estate market, buyers can find a great home for under $500,000. The options are more likely to be attached like townhomes – or duplexes – with smaller yards. This shows how more dense development can control prices. You can view example of what’s available through our Metro Denver area attainable housing map by clicking the button below.

Attainable Housing

Guided by the pillars of a strong economy and feedback from members about the biggest challenges they see for our region, we focus in on specific areas of work.

Our Pillars:

Education and workforce development, health and wellness and infrastructure are foundational to a strong economy. All three are vital to our success now and in the future.

Critical Issues:

We must address education and workforce development, energy, housing, transportation, water and engaging independent voters in the short-term to ensure our community thrives in the long-term. Our members identified these as the most pressing challenges faced by our region.

How We Work

We want Colorado to continue to be a great place to live and work—that’s why we advocate for you here at home and in Washington. Get to know how we work and how you can get involved.