New CO bill would prevent landlords from refusing to rent to people on public assistance

DENVER, Colo. (KRDO) -- A new bill proposed to the Colorado state legislature would make it illegal to refuse to rent or lease to someone based on "source of income."

House Bill 20-1332 defines this as any source of money "paid directly, indirectly, or on behalf of a person, including income from any lawful profession or from any government or private assistance, grant, or loan program."

In effect, the bill would prevent landlords or homeowners from refusing to rent or lease to someone on a housing assistance program. The bill would also ban discriminating in the terms and conditions of a rental agreement based on source of income.

However, the bill would only apply to landlords with four or more rental units.

In a special segment last November, KRDO spoke with a local economist about the cost of living in Colorado Springs. With an average wage of $16 an hour, rents should be about $800 dollars a month. Instead they're averaging $1,200. About half of renters in Colorado Springs pay 30% or more of their income on rent.

The bill is sponsored by Herod and Jackson in the House and Fields in the state Senate. To read the bill's full text, see here.