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House passes bill creating insurer‑funded ‘Strengthen Colorado Homes’ enterprise amid sharp debate
Summary
The House adopted Senate Bill 155 to create a fee‑funded enterprise that would collect a 0.5% insurer fee to finance resilient roof grants and related studies, after hours of debate about consumer costs, sunset clauses and bond authority.
The Colorado House on May 11 passed Senate Bill 155, creating the Strengthen Colorado Homes Enterprise to collect an insurer fee intended to finance grants for resilient roof systems and studies of insurance risk in high‑wildfire areas. The vote followed extended floor debate and several amendments.
Supporters said the enterprise aims to stabilize the homeowners insurance market by reducing insurer losses from hail, wind and wildfire, and by funding grants and workforce training related to resilient roofing. “This bill is about making sure we have resilient communities that are more hail proof that will reduce insurance losses, and therefore, reduce people's homeowners insurance premiums over time,” a lawmaker supporting the bill said.
Opponents repeatedly warned the insurer fee would be passed along to policyholders despite statutory language that prohibits surcharging, and pushed for time‑limited reviews. Representative Hartsook urged a sunset review, arguing lawmakers should revisit the program within five (and later two) years to ensure it performs as intended; she warned that fees levied on insurers are ultimately borne by consumers: “There is no 2 ways about it…that fee will ultimately be borne by the consumer,” she said. Supporters countered that program design, prioritization of grants, and reporting requirements would protect consumers while improving market stability.
During floor action, members debated amendments to add a sunset review and to clarify program scope and reporting. Several sunset proposals failed; the House adopted a narrower technical amendment clarifying evidentiary treatment of public comment and other procedural fixes before final passage. The bill directs the enterprise to impose and collect a fee beginning in calendar year 2027 and requires annual reporting and rulemaking by the enterprise board. It also authorizes revenue bonds and sets guardrails on how fee revenue may be used, including limits on the share used for workforce development and administration.
The bill includes provisions that require the enterprise board to prioritize grants for primary‑residence homeowners and to adopt standards for resilient roof systems. It also requires an analysis of insurance risk in high‑wildfire areas and a transparency regime for enterprise finances.
The House adopted the bill as amended on third reading. The measure now proceeds toward enrollment and any subsequent steps the Senate may request. The change is intended to take effect after the statutory referendum period; certain sections contain delayed effective dates tied to implementation and appropriation actions.
