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Broomfield staff brief council on 2026 legislative session, urge monitoring of HOME bill and local-control issues
Summary
City staff reviewed a packet of 485+ bills, described two Broomfield bill trackers, and flagged several housing- and local-control bills (including HB1001 'HOME' concepts) while recommending no position changes until amendment language is available.
City staff told the City and County of Broomfield council on March 3 that more than 485 bills have been introduced in the 2026 Colorado legislative session and that staff are monitoring measures affecting housing, transportation and local authority.
John Whiting, strategic initiatives manager, walked council through two bill trackers: one that lists only council-priority bills (used for advocacy with legislators) and a general tracker for bills that could affect city operations. Whiting summarized bills on which council has already taken positions and described others staff is monitoring.
On the Housing Developments on Qualifying Property bill (referred to in staff materials as HB1001 or the "HOME" bill), council directed staff earlier to work with sponsors and legislators on amendments. Whiting said sponsors shared amendment concepts and that staff has discussed them with Representative Basiner and Senator Lindstead; however, Whiting emphasized that staff had not yet seen final amendment language and therefore recommended council not change its current "oppose unless amended" position until text is available.
Council members asked detailed questions about local-control implications, airport influence zones, administrative-review processes and whether housing authorities could trigger ballot measures to levy a tax. Staff answered that, as written in the draft concepts, a housing authority would not unilaterally levy a tax; the council and voters would still be required to authorize any local tax. On the proposed funding measure (HB1206) to allow housing authorities to levy local taxes subject to council referral and voter approval, staff said the city would need to reconcile its charter requirements with state changes and is consulting the city attorney.
Other bills discussed included HB1114 (minimum lot size), SB24 (a drone bill that was postponed indefinitely after council feedback), SB40 (affordable home ownership program with waiver language for front-end ratios), HB1065 (Transit and Housing Investment Zones), HB1071 (automated enforcement on state highways), HB1269 (partner pass for transit for people experiencing homelessness) and a late-filed HB1313 affecting the statewide affordable housing fund. For many items staff is monitoring and will return to council if amendment text changes council's recommended positions.
Whiting said the Joint Budget Committee is in the figure-setting phase and that the long bill deadline in the Colorado House is March 30. Council members thanked staff for monitoring and said they would consider whether to take formal positions should final amendment text arrive before the next meeting.
