CO HB1099

Defendants in forcible entry and detainer (eviction) complaints are prohibited from being charged any fees for filing an answer, regardless of counterclaims or money judgments sought.

Courts cannot assess e-filing fees, service fees, or other charges on documents filed by defendants in residential eviction actions in county court.

If a pro se defendant files documents physically rather than electronically, the court must serve those documents on the plaintiff on the defendant's behalf at no cost.

Eviction summons language was updated to remove language requiring defendants to pay a filing fee when filing an answer, while maintaining language about rent payment obligations for repair-related defenses.

$122,743 is appropriated to the judicial department for fiscal year 2024-25 ($3,623 for courts administration and $119,120 for information technology infrastructure) to implement the act, effective November 1, 2024.