Senate approves building-accessibility bill after brief debate over cost

Senate Bill 109, intended to clarify building-code standards for housing funded with public money to improve accessibility, was adopted by the Colorado Senate on March 10.

Sponsor Senator Exum described the bill as a set of technical fixes to ensure buildings meet modern accessibility needs for people with disabilities and said the legislation followed stakeholder meetings. "This bill is just clarifying some things about building accessibility for the members of the disability community," Exum said.

Senator Rich told the chamber he would vote no, arguing the changes impose additional costs on developers amid an affordability crisis: "I feel like it imposes yet another costly accessibility mandate on property developers at a time when Colorado is already facing a serious housing affordability crisis," Rich said. Supporters, including Senators Cutter and Exum, said the bill addresses basic accessibility needs and cited moving testimony from stakeholders. The motion to adopt the committee report and pass SB 109 carried by voice vote and was recorded as adopted in the transcript.