Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed H.B.25-1207, a pet-inclusive housing bill removing barriers to housing for pet owners, according to a release.
The pet-inclusive housing bill will end insurance-based breed discrimination, expand pet-friendly affordable housing, and support housing stability for vulnerable populations in the state.
“We are laser-focused on saving Coloradans money on housing, and this new law ensures that families will not be forced to decide between beloved furry family members and housing,” Polis said in a release.
“This bill strikes the right balance on making sure Colorado can continue to promote more housing now and keep families together with their pets,” Polis said.
“Our pets are more than just indoor animals. They are family. This new law honors that bond by keeping Colorado families together with their beloved pets when they search for housing,” said Colorado First Gentleman Marlon Reis, an animal rights activist.
The bill was supported by the Michelson Center for Public Policy (MCPP).
“Restrictive rental housing pet policies are not just a nuisance—they are a leading cause of housing insecurity and pet relinquishment,” Ross Barker, Director of the Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative at MCPP, said in a release.
“This legislation marks a pivotal step toward addressing these issues and will be a game-changer for pet-owning renters. By prioritizing pet-inclusive housing and eliminating outdated breed-based insurance discrimination, Colorado is leading by example and affirming what so many of us already know: pets are family, and no one should have to choose between a roof over their head and a beloved pet,” Barker said.
Polis also signed HB25-1180 – prohibiting pet animal sales in public spaces.
“We want Colorado to be the best state in the country for Coloradans and pets to live and thrive. These bills will help animal shelters and rescues and increase support for enforcing high animal welfare standards across the state. Coloradans love our animals, and through the new income tax check-off, anyone can donate while filing taxes to protect pets and farm animals from cruelty, neglect, and during emergencies like fires and floods,” Polis said in the release.
“The work of protecting animals is, by nature, teamwork. It happens at the community level. It means standing up and speaking out for animals when they’re in trouble and can’t defend themselves. It means looking at every possible avenue by which we can support and uplift animals – and that’s exactly what these bills do,” Reis said in the release.
