Parts of Colorado Bill HB-1068 Hearing Regarding Pet Animal Ownership in Housing

February 22, 2023 - Parts of Colorado Bill HB-1068 Hearing Regarding Pet Animal Ownership in Housing. HB-1068 was originally designed to remove all breed-specific polices in housing (private and public), to prohibit insurance companies from denying certain breeds and limiting the ability of property owners and landlords from requiring security deposits and rent for pets. (https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb23-1068) By the time this hearing occurs, the bill had been watered down with multiple amendments as indicated by the stricken lines in the bill (https://www.coloradopolitics.com/legi.... There was little point of including all of the panelists in support of the bill. We removed them to focus more on the speakers who opposed the bill. During the legislative season this year, there are at least a half dozen similar bills across the country in different states, including, MA, MN, TN, WA, IA, VA, MD. The Animal/Pit Bull Lobby is well organized. They don't just want pit bulls in every private apartment complex and public housing, they also want to restrict the basic financial rights of property owners and landlords, who charge pet deposits.

Interesting speakers:

(12:00) Start of the bill's opposition panel - Andrew Hamrick,, General Counsel of Colorado Apartment of Association

(16:25) Homeowner Edward Schoenheit - Powerful testimony! "This bill seeks to prioritize pets over people when it comes to housing"

(18:45) Gary Birch - Landlord - "If I had a rental unit that allowed pets and this law passes, I would immediately make it not allow pets"

(22:38) Andrew Mallory - "Proud cat dad of two cats", speaking on behalf of HOAs, where there is already enormous litigation involving pets. Very interesting.

(25:43) Karen Santi, speaking on behalf of the Colorado Springs chapter of the National Association of Residential Property Managers

(28:10) Witness testimony concluded. They run through the amendments again, objections of support and opposition of them.

(31:47) Bill sponsor's wrap

*Surprise*

(34:43) House committee member, Rep. Wilson, who opposes the bill and owns a pit bull rescued from a dogfighting bust. Said the bill is "inappropriate" and "it's going to kill housing or make less pet friendly housing" ... "to say the danger of a pet is not lead by breed is completely inaccurate..."