The bill introduces several changes related to homeowners insurance, affordable housing financing, and pet ownership:
1. Homeowners Insurance:
Clarification on Insurance Policies: The bill clarifies that the current law, which prohibits insurers from refusing to insure or increasing premiums for homeowners or dwelling fire insurance policies based on a dog’s breed (unless the dog is dangerous or declared dangerous), applies to all residential structures used for residence, whether occupied by an owner or a renter. This broadens the scope to cover more types of residential living arrangements.
2. Affordable Housing:
Pet Ownership in Affordable Housing: Section 2 mandates that any housing development that receives financing through the Colorado Housing Act of 1970 must allow tenants to own or keep one or more pets, as long as this is subject to reasonable conditions. This provision ensures that tenants in affordable housing developments can have pets, which is particularly important for people with companion animals.
Tax Credit for Affordable Housing: Section 3 requires that any person claiming a tax credit for affordable housing must allow tenants to own or keep one or more pets in their units, subject to reasonable conditions. This ensures that the tax credit program aligns with the pet ownership provision in affordable housing.
The bill seeks to protect pet ownership rights for tenants in affordable housing developments and clarifies insurance protections related to dogs. It also aligns the tax credit program with these pet ownership provisions to ensure consistency across housing policies.
Summary
Current law prohibits an insurer from refusing to insure or
increasing a premium for a homeowners insurance policy or a dwelling fire insurance policy based on the breed or mixture of breeds of a dog that is kept at a dwelling unless the dog is known to be dangerous or has been declared to be dangerous. Section 1 of the bill defines the term homeowners insurance to clarify that this provision applies to all residential structures used for a residence and occupied by an owner or renter.
The Colorado Housing Act of 1970 provides financing for
building or rehabilitating affordable housing. Section 2 requires each housing development that receives financing to authorize tenants of the affordable housing to own or keep one or more pet animals, subject to reasonable conditions.
Current law authorizes a tax credit for affordable housing. Section 3 requires the person claiming the tax credit to allow tenants to own or keep one or more pet animals at the unit that the tenant resides in, subject to reasonable conditions.
