Coleman, Hansen Bill to Protect Homeowners in Metro Districts Clears Committee

DENVER, CO – The Senate Local Government & Housing Committee today passed a bill that would increase protections and prevent foreclosures for homeowners in metropolitan districts.

HB24-1267, sponsored by Senate President pro tempore James Coleman, D-Denver, and Senator Chris Hansen, D-Denver, would prohibit metropolitan districts from foreclosing based on delinquent fines and fees and require them to publish clear policies and procedures for imposing fines and handling disputes between a metropolitan district and a homeowner. 

“Keeping families housed is a key priority of mine,” Coleman said. “But a lack of transparency and confusing, hard-to-follow rules in metro districts can saddle homeowners with large fines and make it  hard for folks to stay in their homes. This bill will give metro district homeowners more freedom and better protection from foreclosures, and ultimately keep more Colorado families housed.”

“Metro districts can be an important tool in helping create more badly-needed housing for our communities - but too often homeowners in metro districts face entirely preventable foreclosures,” Hansen said. “By creating more avenues for dispute resolution and creating clearer rules and practices, we can help ensure a fair process for foreclosures and keep more of our neighbors in their homes.”

Starting January 1, 2025, HB24-1267 would prohibit a metro district from foreclosing on a lien based on a resident’s delinquent fees or other charges owed to the metro district. It would also create rules and guidelines for metro districts to comply with when enforcing policies on owners, including:

• Requiring metro districts to adopt written policies regarding the imposition and collection of fines;

• Prohibiting metro districts from requiring residents to use specific flammable roofing or other materials;

• Establishing a fair process that gives an owner notice and an opportunity for a hearing; and 

• Outlining procedures for dispute resolution between metro districts and residents, including mediation and court cases.

HB24-1267 further protects residents’ property rights by allowing them to display flags and signs, modify their property to accommodate a person with a disability, park an emergency vehicle in a driveway, remove vegetation for fire mitigation purposes, use a rain barrel, operate a family child care home or install renewable energy devices.

HB24-1267 will now move to consideration before the full Senate. Track the bill’s progress HERE.