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DENVER, CO - The House today passed legislation that would fund transportation infrastructure projects to improve road safety, save Coloradans money on car insurance premiums and prevent accidents. HB25-1303, sponsored by Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker and Representative Meghan Lukens, passed by a vote of 38-25.
The House also passed legislation to make it easier to build more affordable housing across Colorado. SB25-002, sponsored by Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesensecker and Representative Rebekah Stewart, passed by a vote of 40-23.
“Too many Coloradans have suffered from or mourned the loss of a loved one due to a vehicle collision, and this bill would use data-driven methods to make our roads safer for all Colorado road users,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Andy Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins, sponsor of HB25-1303 and SB25-002. “Vehicle collisions drive up car insurance costs across the board. By making our roads safer, we can save lives and reduce insurance costs.”
“Rural Coloradans are acutely aware of how common and expensive wildlife collisions can be, which is why I’m sponsoring legislation to reduce costly accidents and save lives by implementing successful road safety strategies,” said Rep. Meghan Lukens, D-Steamboat Springs, sponsor of HB25-1303. “We know that infrastructure improvements like protected bike lanes, wildlife crossings, and sidewalks have made travel safer for all road users. This investment will save lives, protect Colorado wildlife and reduce the chances of expensive road accidents that drive up auto insurance costs.”
HB25-1303 would fund transportation infrastructure projects that improve road safety and prevent collisions between vehicles, vulnerable road users and wildlife. Projects that would qualify for funding under this bill include enhancing sidewalks and bike lanes, implementing traffic circles or other speed-reducing strategies, animal detection systems and other safety projects.
A Smart Growth America report stated that every dollar invested in active transportation saves $24 in averted medical costs. According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, for every hour the I-70 mountain corridor is closed, surrounding communities lose up to $2 million in economic activity. Additionally, the estimated annual cost of wildlife-vehicle collisions in Colorado is $313 million and the average cost of hitting a deer is over $23,500.
SB25-002 would increase the stock of affordable housing by reducing regulatory barriers to the construction, installation, and inspection of factory-built structures like tiny homes and other types of modular housing. Modular housing is usually less expensive than traditional, stick-built homes constructed on-site and can be assembled faster, which can help expand permanent housing opportunities and build more affordable housing options.
“Our legislation would improve coordination between state and regional partners and cut down on duplicative steps to build more affordable housing in our communities,” continued Boesenecker. “Modular homes are a high-quality alternative to traditional housing construction methods and are faster to assemble and cheaper to build. This legislation will unlock more affordable housing options for hardworking Coloradans.”
“Modular homes are a creative and proven solution to drive down housing costs, allowing more Coloradans to realize their dream of homeownership,” said Rep. Rebekah Stewart, D-Lakewood, sponsor of SB25-002. “Construction costs, miscommunication and patchwork regulation have been a significant barrier to building affordable housing, and this bill aims to address these issues. With this bill, we can make high-quality housing more affordable across Colorado by fully leveraging the economy of scale that modular housing provides.”
This bill would direct the State Housing Board in the Department of Local Affairs to develop regional building codes for factory-built structures by July 1, 2026. The new building codes would supersede current regulations only for factory-built structures.
The General Assembly passed a bipartisan law in 2022 to create the Innovative Housing Incentive Program to invest in companies pursuing innovative construction methods, such as modular housing, to create more affordable housing options. So far, the program has invested over $10.5 million with 13 businesses that are contracted to produce over 2,500 units and $20 million in loans to four businesses that will create over 3,300 units per year once their factories are up and running.
In 2024, the town of Breckenridge built a 54-unit modular housing project. They saved 13-percent and completed the project six months faster when compared to quotes for traditional housing construction. The bids for a 37-unit affordable housing project in the town of Granby were 21-percent cheaper than stick-built homes and allowed for the construction to be completed within the seasonal six-month building window.