#628: The Battle Over Colorado's Eviction Legislation in 2026

Two Colorado eviction bills came dangerously close to reshaping how rental property owners operate across the state in 2026. One would have capped evictions at 5 cases per county per month. The other would have required landlords to attach 60-to-80-page leases to every notice served. Both were defeated, but the same ideas are already being redrafted for 2027. Host Chris Lopez sits down with Vic Sulzer and Jonathan Carlson from TSM Law, and Matt La Crue and Ellie Reynolds from Purple Label Government Solutions, the bipartisan lobbying team representing the Colorado Workforce Housing Coalition at the Capitol. Together they break down how the last session played out, why 10 moderate Democrats termed out changes everything, and what a Phil Weiser governorship likely means for housing providers. The group walks through HB 1047, which would have permanently suppressed eviction records and let tenants deny prior evictions on rental applications. They also cover HB 1106, which proposed blocking eviction service during any period below 32°F, above 90°F, or with substantial snow or rain accumulation, leaving roughly 4 months a year when landlords could actually file. The conversation gets into the state’s $1.5 billion budget deficit, the migration patterns that shifted Colorado’s political makeup, why small owners (who make up roughly 50% of the market) are quietly exiting the rental pool, and what rent control could look like under a governor who has already said he’s going after corporate landlords. In This Episode We Cover: Why HB 1047 would have produced the equivalent of two Empire State Buildings of printed leases every year The 4-month window when evictions could actually be filed under HB 1106 How Colorado Poverty Law drafts and markets tenant legislation Why Colorado’s political makeup shifted after COVID migration What a supermajority in both chambers would mean for housing bills in 2027 How the Attorney General’s Office adds another layer of risk for housing providers Why joining the coalition matters more before a session than after If you own rental property in Colorado (or are thinking about it), this is one of the more important conversations you’ll hear this year. Subscribe for weekly Colorado real estate investing content, and check out the resources below to get involved with the coalition. Watch the Youtube Video https://youtu.be/Kw3yP5xxZ-0 Timestamps 00:00 Welcome and Guest Introduction 01:36– What the Colorado Workforce Housing Coalition Does 02:49 – 100 Years of Stable Landlord Law Before COVID 04:25  – Why the Coalition Formed and Who It Represents 06:59 – 2026 Session Recap and Political Dynamics 09:18 – $1.5 Billion State Budget Deficit Drives the Agenda 13:03 – How Migration Patterns Shifted Colorado Left 17:18 – Phil Weiser’s Track Record on Landlords and Towing 21:33 – Moderate Democrats Losing Primary Races 22:27– What a 2027 Supermajority Would Mean for Housing 25:24– HB 1047 Breakdown (Lease Attachments and Suppressed Records) 31:21– How HB 1047 Died in Committee by a Narrow Margin 39:26– HB 1106 Eviction Caps and Weather Restrictions Explained 43:30– Small Owners Exiting the Rental Pool 46:00- Rent Control Expected to Return in 2027 51:52 – Jenna Griswold and the Attorney General Race 55:15 – How to Join the Coalition and Get Involved Links in Podcast Colorado Workforce Housing Coalition-become a member and help fight future housing legislation Purple Label Government Solutions-Matt La Crue and Ellie Reynolds Tschetter Sulzer Muccio (TSM Law)– Vic Sulzer and Jonathan Carlson HB26-1047 (Protections for Residential Tenants)HB26-1106 (Eviction Protections for Tenants) Colorado Poverty Law Project – the tenant advocacy group referenced as drafting housing legislation Colorado General Assembly – track future bills and legislative sessions