House passes bill to let qualifying faith and education land be used for housing after extensive amendments and debate

The Colorado House passed House Bill 11‑69 on March 5 after lengthy floor debate and multiple committee amendments that narrowed qualifying properties and added affordability and local‑control safeguards.

Why it matters: The measure allows qualifying faith‑based organizations, school districts and certain educational institutions to permit residential development on up to five acres of underused land in jurisdictions with populations over 2,000, subject to local infrastructure review and new affordability requirements. Supporters say it creates opportunities for affordable housing by unlocking underused land; opponents said it erodes local control, risks infrastructure strain and could produce unintended development outcomes.

What the bill does: The final amended bill: - Limits qualifying properties to parcels up to five acres (roughly two city blocks); - Restricts the policy to jurisdictions with populations over 2,000 people; - Preserves local governments’ authority to apply health, safety and environmental standards, short‑term rental rules and airport/floodplain/oil‑and‑gas setbacks; - Allows local governments to require minimum dwelling‑unit‑per‑acre/density standards so projects are appropriately sized for the jurisdiction; - Requires affordability pathways: if a…