Colorado Governor Vetoes Affordable Housing Bill

The bill would have given cities the right of first refusal when multifamily housing projects come up for sale if the city wants to preserve them as affordable housing.

1 minute read

June 11, 2023, 9:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Colorado Governor Jared Polis vetoed a bill that would have let local governments have the first chance to purchase multifamily housing properties for sale if they pledge to maintain them as affordable housing

According to a story by Michael Brady in Smart Cities Dive, “Polis said he vetoed House Bill 23-1190 because it was mandatory and might have led to higher rents, delays and confusion.”

A statement from the bill’s co-sponsors, Reps. Andrew Boesenecker and Emily Sirota and Sens. Sonya Jaquez-Lewis and Faith Winter, accuses its critics of waiting until the last minute to voice their opposition. “Backroom conversations and last-minute veto letters should not usurp the public and lengthy legislative process,” the statement says. The bill’s co-sponsors said “The Governor has sided with the interests of private equity, hedge funds, and their powerful corporate lobbyists over and against the affordability concerns of people in our state.”

Yet the state’s legislature recently reined in the proposed “More Homes Now” bill, which included statewide upzoning and which local leaders said eroded local control.

Thursday, June 8, 2023 in Smart Cities Dive

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

White Waymo autonomous car driving fast down city street with blurred background at night.

Seattle's Plan for Adopting Driverless Cars

Equity, safety, accessibility and affordability are front of mind as the city prepares for robotaxis and other autonomous vehicles.

June 16 - Smart Cities Dive

Two small wooden one-story homes in Florida with floodwaters at their doors.

As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?

With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.

June 16 - Governing

People riding bicycles on separated bike trail.

With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike

For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.

June 16 - UNM News