In early April 2025, the Colorado House of Representatives concurred with the state Senate to pass HB25-1168. This vital bill is now headed to the Governor for signature to ensure greater protections for survivors of sexual assault.
What is HB25-1168?
HB25-1168 seeks to build on existing legal protections and establish new mechanisms to protect victim-survivors of gender-based violence from housing instability, eviction, and homelessness. The bill will improve housing security, expand access to justice and mitigate legal barriers, and help keep victim-survivors safe.
Colorado Poverty Law Project provided The Blue Bench with an FAQ and fact sheet to help Coloradans better understand their rights. Learn more below.
Highlights:
- Evictions:
- Tenants who experience unlawful sexual behavior and stalking are now covered in the eviction defense for non-rent related evictions (previously, only domestic violence and domestic assault), and tenants who experience GBV and provide documentation are now eligible for a 9-month payment plan for a non-payment eviction
- Documented GBV incident constitutes good case for vacating a default judgment, extending a court deadline, or to suppress an eviction judgment
- Landlords must attempt personal service three times before posting an eviction notice or summons on a victim-survivor's door
- A victim-survivor who receives an eviction judgment has 30 days to move out, rather than 10, before the sheriffs come.
- Landlord/tenant:
- Tightened the timeline and landlord requirements for a GBV-related lease break, including deadlines for landlords to notify victim-survivor they owe one month's rent
- Victim-survivor can't be charged for damage committed during an act of GBV, if a victim-survivor breaks their lease due to GBV, they get the security deposit back (less any lawful withholdings) at termination, even if a cotenant remains
- Imposes penalties and a cause of action for VS tenants to sue landlords who violate these laws
- Allows victim-survivor to make reasonable safety accommodations to the structure without incurring charges or penalties (i.e. window bars, security cameras, etc.) and allows a victim-survivor to change the locks.
- General:
- Documentation options for asserting any of these rights now include self-attestation, and expands the definition of who can write a lease break letter to a qualified third party (rather than just an Address Confidentiality Program application assistant), which includes a lawyer, faith leader, victim advocate, or service provider, social worker, etc.
Documents to help you understand your rights:
HB25-1168 - Housing Justice for Victim-Survivors of Gender-Based Violence Fact Sheet
The Blue Bench remains committed to serving survivors. If you or someone you know needs assistance, please contact us below:
- Sexual Assault Crisis Hotline/ Línea de Crisis Sobre La Violencia Sexual: 303-322-7273
- To inquire about receiving therapy or case management services, call our resource line at 303-329-9922 (para Español, 303-329-9922) or email resourceline@thebluebench.org
- To inquire about joining our upcoming workshops and groups, call our resource line at 303-329-9922 or email resourceline@thebluebench.org
Please consider giving what you can to support The Blue Bench's survivor support services. Every donation helps create a lifeline for survivors to find hope and healing:
https://thebluebench.org/take-action/support-the-cause/donate.html
