Bill
HB 25-1108
Prohibits eviction, penalties, or automatic termination of rental tenancies solely due to a tenant's death; protects survivors and estates and preserves housing stability.
Status: Governor signed (2025‑06‑04)
Introduced: 2025‑01‑27
Primary sponsor(s): Rep. Javier Mabrey; also listed primary sponsors Sens. Barbara Kirkmeyer, Ron Weinberg, and Rep. Jeff Bridges among a large bipartisan group of cosponsors.
Action highlights: Passed House and Senate with amendments; sent to Governor 2025‑05‑06; signed by Governor 2025‑06‑04.
Note: The bill text was not included with the materials provided. The summary below explains the bill’s obvious purpose from its title and legislative history, outlines likely types of provisions such a bill would contain, identifies who would be affected, and lists procedural details. For exact statutory language, effective date, and precise remedies or definitions, consult the official enrolled bill text on the Colorado General Assembly website.
Purpose and intent
- The bill, titled “Prohibitions in Rental Agreements Due to Death,” aims to prohibit rental‑contract clauses or landlord practices that treat a tenant’s death as a permissible ground for adverse action (for example, eviction, termination, penalties, or rent increases) against surviving occupants, estate representatives, or permitted transferees solely because of the death.
- The intent is to protect tenants’ families, estates, co‑tenants, and other lawful occupants from sudden loss of housing or contractual penalties that arise solely due to a person’s death.
Key provisions likely included (based on title and common legislative practice)
- Prohibition: Rental agreements may not contain terms that automatically terminate the tenancy, create fees/penalties, or permit eviction solely because a tenant or authorized occupant dies.
- Continuation of Tenancy: If a protected person (surviving family member, co‑tenant, domestic partner, or legally recognized occupant) resides in the unit, the tenancy cannot be terminated on the sole basis of the decedent’s death; the lease may continue under existing terms or be transferred under defined circumstances.
- Rights of Estates/Personal Representatives: The bill may establish a timeline and limited procedures for personal representatives or estate agents to collect belongings and to assert or transfer tenancy rights, with reasonable notice requirements for landlords.
- Prohibited landlord actions: Immediate lock‑outs, demands for vacatur within an unreasonably short period, or charges tied exclusively to the fact of death would be disallowed.
- Remedies and enforcement: Likely civil remedies for violations (damages, injunctive relief, attorney fees) and possible administrative penalties; specifics would be in the enrolled bill text.
- Definitions: Definitions for “tenant,” “occupant,” “personal representative,” “estate,” and the grounds that are and are not permitted to justify termination.
Who is affected
- Tenants and occupants of residential rental properties (including family members, roommates, domestic partners, and co‑tenants).
- Landlords, property managers, and owners of rental housing.
- Estates and personal representatives administering a deceased tenant’s affairs.
- Courts and housing enforcement bodies responsible for adjudicating disputes and enforcing remedies.
Potential impacts
- Provides greater housing stability and clarity for survivors and cohabitants after a tenant’s death.
- Limits landlords’ contractual and operational responses that could otherwise produce rapid displacement or loss of property.
- May require landlords to adopt clearer procedures for estate access, notice periods, and transfers of tenancy.
- Could reduce short‑term vacancies caused by immediate lease terminations tied to death; may impose compliance costs for landlords to revise lease forms and training.
Procedural/timeline notes
- Introduced in the House 2025‑01‑27; moved through House committee and readings in February–March; transmitted to Senate March 6; amended in the Senate and returned to House in April; enrolled and signed by legislative leaders May 6; sent to the Governor May 6 and signed June 4, 2025.
- Effective date: check the enrolled bill text. (Many Colorado statutes become effective on the date specified in the bill or, if none is specified, on the statutory general effective date following the session. Confirm in the official bill.)
Next steps / where to find the text
- For the precise statutory changes (exact prohibitions, definitions, remedies, and effective date), consult the enrolled bill text and the Colorado Revised Statutes amendments on the Colorado General Assembly website or the Governor’s office bill documents.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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