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SB26-053 • 2026

Colorado Housing and Finance Authority Mortgage POST Officers First Responders

The bill expands eligibility for mortgage loans through the Colorado housing and finance authority to law enforcement officers and first responders. irrespective of income The bill defines first respo

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Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Sen. B. Kirkmeyer, Sen. K. Mullica, Rep. C. Clifford, Rep. R. Gonzalez, Sen. J. Carson, Sen. J. Coleman, Sen. L. Daugherty, Sen. L. Frizell, Sen. C. Kipp, Sen. W. Lindstedt, Sen. L. Liston, Sen. B. Pelton, Sen. D. Roberts, Sen. M. Snyder, Rep. A. Boesenecker, Rep. M. Duran, Rep. E. Hamrick, Rep. M. Lindsay, Rep. J. McCluskie, Rep. K. Nguyen, Rep. J. Phillips, Rep. M. Rutinel, Rep. E. Velasco
Last action
2026-04-08
Official status
Sent to the Governor
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify what happens if a referendum petition is filed against it.

Colorado Champions Home Loan Program

This bill expands mortgage loan eligibility through the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority to include law enforcement officers and first responders, regardless of income level.

What This Bill Does

  • Expands eligibility for mortgage loans from the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority to include peace officers and first responders.
  • Defines 'first responder' as a firefighter, emergency medical technician, or similar role.
  • Sets an income limit for families eligible under this program.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Law enforcement officers
  • First responders (firefighters, EMTs)

Terms To Know

First responder
A person who responds to emergencies such as firefighters, paramedics, and police.
Peace officer
An individual authorized by law to enforce the peace and order of a community, including police officers.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill sets an income limit for families eligible under this program.
  • It is not clear what happens if a referendum petition is filed against this act.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

L.007

HOU Transportation, Housing & Local Government

Passed [*]

Plain English: The amendment removes specific language that limited eligibility for mortgage loans to law enforcement officers and their families, potentially broadening the scope of who can qualify for these loans.

  • Removes the phrase 'OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WORKING IN COLORADO OR FAMILIES' from the bill.
  • The exact impact on eligibility criteria and which groups will now be eligible is unclear without additional context.
  • The amendment text does not provide details about what replaces the removed language or how it affects first responders mentioned in the bill title.
L.001

SEN Local Government & Housing

Passed [*]

Plain English: The amendment changes the definition of 'first responder' to include more types of emergency workers and updates references in the bill.

  • Changes the reference from '(7.5)' to '(12.3)' on page 2, line 6.
  • Defines 'responder' as a peace officer, firefighter, or emergency medical technician starting at page 2, line 14.
  • Expands the definition of 'peace officer' to include noncertified deputy sheriffs in section (12.3) on page 3.
  • The amendment text does not fully explain all changes and may require additional context for full understanding.
L.006

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: The amendment expands eligibility for mortgage loans through the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority to include families of law enforcement officers and first responders working in Colorado, with income limits.

  • Adds 'emergency communications specialist' and 'corrections officer' as eligible professions under the bill.
  • Modifies the definition of 'first responder' to specifically include those working in Colorado.
  • Includes families of law enforcement officers and first responders who meet certain income requirements.
  • The exact impact on current mortgage loan programs is not fully detailed in the amendment text.
L.008

Second Reading

Passed [**]

Plain English: The amendment modifies the bill to include Port of Entry Officers and Wildlife Officers as eligible for mortgage loans through the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, alongside law enforcement officers and first responders.

  • Removes 'OR' from the text.
  • Replaces '16-2.5-135.' with a new definition that includes Port of Entry Office and Wildlife Officer roles.
  • The exact impact on mortgage loan eligibility for these additional officer types is not detailed in this amendment text.
L.009

Third Reading

Passed

Plain English: The amendment changes the term 'OFFICE' to 'OFFICER' in a specific section of the bill and makes other minor adjustments.

  • Changes 'OFFICE' to 'OFFICER' on page 3, line 10.
  • Inserts 'SECTION' after the first occurrence of 'IN' on page 3, line 11.
  • Strikes out line 12 and substitutes it with 'SECTION 16-2.5-116.'.
  • The amendment text is brief and technical, making the full impact of these changes unclear without additional context from the bill itself.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 Governor

    Sent to the Governor

  2. 2026-04-07 House

    Signed by the Speaker of the House

  3. 2026-04-07 Senate

    Signed by the President of the Senate

  4. 2026-04-06 Senate

    Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass

  5. 2026-04-02 House

    House Third Reading Passed with Amendments - Floor

  6. 2026-03-31 House

    House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

  7. 2026-03-30 House

    House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor

  8. 2026-03-27 House

    House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

  9. 2026-03-24 House

    House Committee on Transportation, Housing & Local Government Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole

  10. 2026-03-02 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation, Housing & Local Government

  11. 2026-03-02 Senate

    Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  12. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Senate Third Reading Laid Over to 03/02/2026 - No Amendments

  13. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Senate Third Reading Laid Over to 02/27/2026 - No Amendments

  14. 2026-02-25 Senate

    Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor

  15. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 02/25/2026 - No Amendments

  16. 2026-02-23 Senate

    Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 02/24/2026 - No Amendments

  17. 2026-02-18 Senate

    Senate Second Reading Laid Over to 02/23/2026 - No Amendments

  18. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Senate Committee on Local Government & Housing Refer Amended to Senate Committee of the Whole

  19. 2026-01-27 Senate

    Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Local Government & Housing

Official Summary Text

The bill expands eligibility for mortgage loans through the Colorado housing and finance authority to
law enforcement officers and
first responders.
irrespective of income

The bill defines first responder and peace officer. The bill also sets an income limit for families made eligible for mortgage loans by the bill.
(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SENATE BILL 26-053
BY SENATOR(S) Kirkmeyer and Mullica, Carson, Daugherty, Frizell,
Kipp, Lindstedt, Liston, Pelton B., Roberts, Snyder, Coleman;
also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Clifford and Gonzalez R., Boesenecker,
Duran, Hamrick, Lindsay, Nguyen, Phillips, Rutinel, Velasco, McCluskie.
CONCERNING THE EXPANSION OF ELIGIBLE BORROWERS FOR MORTGAGES
THROUGH THE COLORADO HOUSING AND FINANCE AUTHORITY.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. Short title.
The short title of this act is the "Colorado Champions Home Loan
Program".
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 29-4-703, amend (5.4);
repeal (5.3) and (5.5); and add (5.6), (5.8), (5.9), and (12.3) as follows:
29-4-703. Definitions - rules.
As used in this part 7, unless the context otherwise requires:
NOTE: This bill has been prepared for the signatures of the appropriate legislative
officers and the Governor. To determine whether the Governor has signed the bill
or taken other action on it, please consult the legislative status sheet, the legislative
history, or the Session Laws.
________
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material added to existing law; dashes
through words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law and such material is not part of
the act.
(5.3) "Governing body" means the board, council, officer, or group
charged with exercising the legislative power of a government.
(5.4) "Government" means the federal government, the state
government, and any county, municipality, or state agency "F IRST
RESPONDER" MEANS A PEACE OFFICER , FIREFIGHTER , OR EMERGENCY
MEDICAL TECHNICIAN.
(5.5) "Home improvement loan" means a loan of money for the
alteration, repair, or improvement of an existing housing facility. The term
does not include a loan for a pool, hot tub, or any other construction not
directly improving the structural integrity, general appearance, or living
conditions within the housing facility.
(5.6) "GOVERNING BODY" MEANS THE BOARD, COUNCIL, OFFICER, OR
GROUP CHARGED WITH EXERCISING THE LEGISLATIVE POWER OF A
GOVERNMENT.
(5.8) "G OVERNMENT" MEANS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT , THE
STATE GOVERNMENT, AND ANY COUNTY, MUNICIPALITY, OR STATE AGENCY.
(5.9) "HOME IMPROVEMENT LOAN" MEANS A LOAN OF MONEY FOR
THE ALTERATION , REPAIR , OR IMPROVEMENT OF AN EXISTING HOUSING
FACILITY. THE TERM DOES NOT INCLUDE A LOAN FOR A POOL, HOT TUB, OR
OTHER CONSTRUCTION NOT DIRECTLY IMPROVING THE STRUCTURAL
INTEGRITY, GENERAL APPEARANCE , OR LIVING CONDITIONS WITHIN THE
HOUSING FACILITY.
(12.3) "PEACE OFFICER" MEANS A PEACE OFFICER AS DESCRIBED IN
SECTION 16-2.5-102, A NONCERTIFIED DEPUTY SHERIFF AS DESCRIBED IN
SECTION 16-2.5-103 (2), AN EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST AS
DEFINED IN SECTION 29-11-101 (10.5), A CORRECTIONS OFFICER AS
DESCRIBED IN SECTION 16-2.5-135, A PORT OF ENTRY OFFICER AS DESCRIBED
IN SECTION 16-2.5-115, OR A WILDLIFE OFFICER AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION
16-2.5-116.
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 29-4-712, amend (4)(a)
as follows:
29-4-712. Powers of the board - executive director - mortgage
PAGE 2-SENATE BILL 26-053
purchase - loans to lenders - assistance in providing housing facilities.
(4) (a) Mortgage loans made by lenders to families with the
proceeds of a loan as provided for in subsection (3) of this section, pursuant
to a commitment to purchase as provided for in paragraph (a) of subsection
(3.5) SUBSECTION (3.5)(a) of this section, or with the proceeds of the
purchase of a mortgage loan as provided for in paragraph (b) of subsection
(3.5) SUBSECTION (3.5)(b) of this section, shall be to families who qualify
as:
(I) Low-income or low- or moderate-income families; OR
(II) FAMILIES OF FIRST RESPONDERS WORKING IN COLORADO WHOSE
QUALIFYING INCOME DOES NOT EXCEED ONE HUNDRED TEN PERCENT OF THE
QUALIFYING INCOME LIMITS ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD UNDER SECTION
29-4-703 (10).
SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August
12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13, 2026); except that, if a
referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state
constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within
such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless
PAGE 3-SENATE BILL 26-053
approved by the people at the general election to be held in November 2026
and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of
the vote thereon by the governor.
____________________________ ____________________________
James Rashad Coleman, Sr. Julie McCluskie
PRESIDENT OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES
____________________________ ____________________________
Esther van Mourik Vanessa Reilly
SECRETARY OF CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APPROVED________________________________________
(Date and Time)
_________________________________________
Jared S. Polis
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
PAGE 4-SENATE BILL 26-053