CO HB1045

HB 26-1045: Disabilities Housing Protections

• Defines "assistance animal" in Colorado law as an animal that works, performs tasks, assists, or provides therapeutic emotional support to an individual with a disability, including both emotional support animals and service animals

• Defines "emotional support animal" as an animal that provides emotional support to alleviate a symptom or effect of a disability

• Establishes that permitting an assistance animal in housing is presumed to be a reasonable accommodation, and complete prohibition of assistance animals is presumed discriminatory

• Clarifies that the mere presence of an assistance animal does not constitute a direct threat to health/safety and is not presumed to result in substantial property damage

• Codifies rescinded federal guidance into state law to provide clarity for housing providers and individuals with disabilities following recent federal policy changes