Senate Approves Fields & Winter Bill Securing Eviction Protections
Legislation would require tenant-landlord mediation in certain eviction proceedings
Senators Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, and Faith Winter’s, D-Westminster, bill to require mediation in eviction proceedings for tenants qualifying for certain financial assistance cleared the Senate today.
HB23-1120 would require tenant-landlord mediation prior to eviction proceedings if a tenant receives supplemental security income, federal social security disability insurance, or financial assistance from the Colorado Works program, at no cost to the tenant. The bill would require lease agreements to contain a notice that qualified individuals are entitled to mediation, and does not allow an agreement to waive mandatory mediation.
“As rents skyrocket, so do evictions,” Fields said. “Too often, Coloradans are forced to choose between feeding their families and paying rent. When it comes down to it, these difficult choices result in more evictions and more displacement. This important bill will help facilitate honest, productive conversations between tenants and landlords, and ultimately keep more Coloradans housed.”
“Colorado’s eviction rates have recently risen to pre-pandemic levels,” said Winter. “We must do more to keep Coloradans in safe, stable housing. Combined with many other pro-tenant bills I’m sponsoring this year, HB 1120 will help balance the scales between tenants and landlords, ensuring Coloradans are given a fair shake when navigating difficult housing circumstances.”
If mediation fails and a tenant covered under the bill is evicted, the bill requires that law enforcement wait 30 days before executing the eviction, up from 10 days under current law, except in cases of substantial violation or if the landlord has less than five single family rental homes and less than five total rental units. Those landlords are also exempt from the mandatory mediation.
In March, 1,195 tenants faced eviction in court in Denver, a 69 percent increase from 708 in March of 2019.
HB23-1120 now moves back to the House for consideration of amendments. You can follow the bill’s progress HERE.