Rent, land use bills challenged as legislative session nears end

DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado needs more solutions for housing.

The governor and state lawmakers both said solving the state's housing crisis was a priority at the start of this year's session, but as time runs out, two separate bills relating to housing took big blows within 24 hours.

A bill that took aim at Colorado's rent prices failed in committee Tuesday night. A separate bill looking to open the door to more types of housing development got a big adjustment Wednesday morning.

The bills are two different policies, but advocates of both measures say their goal is to provide more affordable housing so people can continue to live and work in Colorado.

Local control at issue in housing bills

Both measures also deal with local control. The rent measure would have given localities the ability to introduce rent control.

Gov. Jared Polis was skeptical about that measure. It failed in committee, with three Democrats voting for it and one ...