In the News

U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen, D-Lakewood, passed three related bipartisan housing bills out of the U.S. House last week, an effort to address inventory shortages in Colorado and across the nation.

“The No. 1 financial pain point I hear about from people in every corner of our district is that housing in Colorado is too expensive,” Pettersen wrote Tuesday in a district newsletter. “That’s why I worked on legislation to update outdated zoning laws, increase housing supply, and expand access to affordable housing options, particularly in rural areas.”

A study on Colorado’s housing released by Gov. Jared Polis and Colorado’s demography office in September 2025 noted a shortage of 106,000 units as of 2023, down from 140,000 in 2019. It is the second-worst shortage after California, the Denver Post notes. Increased interest rates and rising construction costs have slowed progress, with a slowing population growth assisting in gains through 2023, the study finds.

“We are fighting to lower housing costs and ensure that every Coloradan can realize the dream of becoming a homeowner, but more work needs to be done,” Polis said.

There are 16 bills in the 75th General Assembly that include the term or subject “affordable housing”. Pettersen’s federal bills are intended to further offer an “all-hands-on-deck” solution, she said.

“My bills take important steps forward to address [the] shortage and encourage policies that help new housing development,” Pettersen said.

• H.R.4659, the  Identifying Regulatory Barriers to Housing Supply Act, by Pettersen and Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., aims to discourage “overly burdensome land use policies and remove barriers to making housing more affordable,” the bill text reads.

The bill encourages a move from traditional zoning laws it says can be overly restrictive to a streamlining of regulations. Flood called the bill “commonsense” and praised its aim to “shed light on onerous local zoning and development policies so we can build more housing.”

• H.R.2840, the Housing Supply Frameworks Act, by Pettersen and Flood, directs the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish frameworks for zoning and land-use best practices, and provide local and state governments with resources to confront barriers to housing development and construction. The legislation is endorsed by more than 140 housing advocacy organizations, a press release reads.

The frameworks could assist local governments in reforming their zoning and land-use policies and to become a resource. There is presently a shortage of about 4 to 7 million homes in the U.S., a note in the bill reads. “We need to build up the supply of housing to bring down costs for renters and homebuyers,” Pettersen said.

• H.R.4989, the Streamlining Rural Housing Act of 2025, by Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., and Pettersen, directs HUD and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to align housing standards. Companion legislation was also filed in the U.S. Senate. Pettersen notes the bill will “expedite the affordable housing projects our communities desperately need.”

“The purpose of HUD and USDA housing programs is to help Americans who need a home and cannot afford it,” Stutzman said. “That is why we must remove the barriers that drive up costs and make it harder to build housing for Americans who need it most.”

In order to prevent an increase in housing shortfall, Colorado would need to build an estimated 34,100 new homes each year across the next decade, based on population projections.

“By expanding housing options, we can lower costs and provide more options for Coloradans to live where we want to live,” Polis said.

The state has proposed the following measures to expedite homebuilding:

• Expanding modular and manufactured housing;

• Testing AI technology to speed up the building plan review process;

• Streamlining contracting processes and permit approval timelines;

• Financing affordable housing and middle-income housing;

• Expanding the availability of accessory dwelling units (ADUs);

• Administering state and federal housing vouchers and emergency rental assistance;

• Funding infrastructure expansion to accommodate higher residential densities, especially around transit hubs

• Helping more than 200 communities plan for future housing needs.

“I will keep working to pursue policies that build more housing, get homes on the market and into the hands of families, and make it easier to buy, rent, or sell a home,” Pettersen said.

She suggests anyone seeking local housing assistance for buying or renting a home to attend her office’s Housing Resource Fair from 1:30 to 3 p.m. March 10 in South Lakewood by pre-registering at pettersen.house.gov/forms/form/?ID=192.