Colorado opened its 2026 legislative session with a decisive move on housing policy as Governor Jared Polis signed the HOME Act, a measure designed to make it easier for communities to build affordable housing on land that has long sat underused. The new law gives nonprofits, school districts, transportation agencies, and local housing authorities the ability to develop income‑restricted housing on property they already control, removing one of the most expensive barriers to new construction.

Supporters of the bill describe it as a practical tool for communities that have struggled to keep pace with rising housing costs. By allowing publicly controlled land to be repurposed for residential use, the state hopes to accelerate projects near transit lines, schools, and existing infrastructure—areas where housing demand is high but land acquisition has been prohibitively expensive.

Governor Polis framed the bill as a foundational step in addressing Colorado’s long‑running housing shortage, noting that the state’s workforce, young families, and rural communities have all felt the strain of limited supply. The HOME Act is the first major housing bill of the 2026 session, signaling that affordability will remain a central focus for lawmakers in the months ahead.

Housing advocates welcomed the law as a way to help smaller communities that lack large land inventories or the financial capacity to purchase new parcels. Critics cautioned that while the bill removes a significant hurdle, land access alone will not solve the crisis without additional funding for construction, infrastructure, and long‑term affordability measures.

State agencies and local partners will begin identifying eligible parcels in the coming months, setting the stage for a new wave of projects aimed at easing Colorado’s housing pressures.