Colorado House Passes Pro-Density Housing Bill, Heads to Senate

The HOME Act would allow public entities to bypass local zoning to build affordable housing.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Colorado House Democrats gave final approval to House Bill 1001, also known as the Housing Opportunities Made Easier (HOME) Act, which would allow public schools, colleges, nonprofits, transit agencies and other entities to bypass local zoning codes and build affordable housing on land they own. The bill passed largely along party lines and now heads to the state Senate.

Why it matters

The legislation is aimed at reducing bureaucratic barriers and unlocking more land for housing development to help address Colorado's estimated 106,000-unit housing deficit, which has contributed to high housing costs. However, the bill has faced opposition from Republicans who argue it would usurp local control and lead to high-density housing that could lower property values.

The details

The HOME Act would enable public and non-profit entities to build affordable housing on their own land without having to go through local zoning processes. Supporters say this will speed up housing construction, while critics argue it removes community input and oversight. The bill is part of a broader package of housing legislation being pushed by Colorado Democrats, including measures to provide tax incentives for transit-oriented development and property tax exemptions for affordable homebuilding.

  • The Colorado House gave final approval to the HOME Act on February 8, 2026.
  • The bill now heads to a Senate committee hearing.

The players

Andrew Boesenecker

A Fort Collins Democrat and prime sponsor of the HOME Act.

Julie McCluskie

Colorado House Speaker, a Democrat from Dillon.

Jared Polis

The Governor of Colorado, a Democrat who is backing the HOME Act.

Larry Don Suckla

A Republican state representative who represents some of Colorado's southwestern communities and opposes the bill.

Beverly Stables

The legislative advocacy manager for the Colorado Municipal League, which represents over 270 of the state's cities and towns and opposes the HOME Act.

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What they’re saying

“No one housing bill will solve our state's affordable housing crisis, but if we do not act, nothing will change.”

— Andrew Boesenecker, Fort Collins Democrat and prime sponsor of the HOME Act (steamboatpilot.com)

“The bill takes the people who actually live there, our families and our neighbors, and shuts them out of decisions that could put their homes, their kids and their communities at risk. It wipes out rural public hearings — the voice of the people — and local review and it hands it over to the Denver bureaucrats who've never dealt with our wildfires, our dirt roads, our water shortages or our volunteer fire departments.”

— Larry Don Suckla, Republican state representative (steamboatpilot.com)

“By eroding local control and bypassing established planning processes, (the HOME Act) risks creating unintended consequences that ultimately make housing challenges more difficult.”

— Beverly Stables, Legislative advocacy manager, Colorado Municipal League (steamboatpilot.com)

What’s next

The HOME Act will next be considered by a Senate committee before potentially advancing to a full Senate vote.

The takeaway

The HOME Act highlights the ongoing tension in Colorado between state efforts to boost housing supply and local governments' desire to maintain control over land use and development decisions. While supporters argue the bill will unlock more affordable housing, critics warn it could lead to unintended consequences by overriding community input.