Colorado 2024 2024 Regular Session

Colorado House Bill HB1313 Introduced / Fiscal Note

Filed 04/10/2024

                    Page 1 
April 10, 2024  HB 24-1313 
 
 
 
Legislative Council Staff 
Nonpartisan Services for Colorado’s Legislature 
 
Revised Fiscal Note  
(replaces fiscal note dated March 4, 2024)  
 
Drafting Number: 
Prime Sponsors: 
LLS 24-0288  
Rep. Woodrow; Jodeh 
Sen. Hansen; Winter F.  
Date: 
Bill Status: 
Fiscal Analyst: 
April 10, 2024 
House Appropriations  
Josh Abram | 303-866-3561  
Louis Pino | 303-866-3556 
Bill Topic: HOUSING IN TRANSIT-ORIENTED COMMUNITIES  
Summary of  
Fiscal Impact: 
☒ State Revenue 
☒ State Expenditure 
☒ State Transfer 
☒ TABOR Refund 
☒ Local Government 
☒ Statutory Public Entity 
 
The bill requires that certain local governments plan and implement housing density 
goals approved by the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) and creates a grant 
program and other technical assistance to support these efforts. Noncompliant local 
governments forfeit their state allocation of funding from the Highway Users Tax 
Fund. The bill also increases the amount of affordable housing tax credits issued by 
the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority and creates a new state income tax 
credit for taxpayers that invest in qualified low-income housing projects located in a 
transit-oriented community. Beginning FY 2024-25, the bill reduces state income tax 
revenue, transfers money between cash funds and the General Fund, and increases 
expenditures by the state and affected local governments. Beginning FY 2025-26, 
the bill may also decrease local government revenue and divert funds from the 
Highway Users Tax Fund. 
Appropriation 
Summary: 
For FY 2024-25, the bill requires an appropriation of $183,138 to the Colorado 
Energy Office. The other funds affected by the bill are continuously appropriated. 
See State Appropriations section. 
Fiscal Note 
Status: 
The revised fiscal note reflects the introduced bill, as amended by the House Finance 
Committee.. 
Table 1 
State Fiscal Impacts Under HB 24-1313 
 
Budget Year 
FY 2024-25 
Out Year 
FY 2025-26 
Out Year 
FY 2026-27 
Out Year 
FY 2027-28* 
Revenue
1
 	General Fund ($2.6 million)      ($21.9 million) ($49.1 million) ($59.8 million) 
 	Total Revenue ($2.6 million)    ($21.9 million) (49.1 million) (59.8 million) 
Expenditures 	General Fund $183,138  $83,138  - - 
 	Cash Funds $8,924,688  $8,797,295  - - 
 
Centrally Appropriated $127,895  $144,358  - - 
 
Total Expenditures $9,235,721  $9,024,791  - - 
 	Total FTE 6.6 FTE 7.5 FTE - -  Page 2 
April 10, 2024  HB 24-1313 
 
 
 
Table 1 
State Fiscal Impacts Under HB 24-1313 (Cont.) 
 
Budget Year 
FY 2024-25 
Out Year 
FY 2025-26 
Out Year 
FY 2026-27 
Out Year 
FY 2027-28* 
Transfers and 
 Diversions 
General Fund $35 million $35 million $35 million $35 million 
Housing Development Grant Fund ($35 million) ($35 million) ($35 million) ($35 million) 
General Fund ($35 million) - - - 
Transit Communities Cash Fund $35 million - - - 
Highway Users Tax Fund
2
 -  decrease - - 
HUT Account
2
 - increase - -- 
Net Transfer / Diversion $0 $0 $0 $0 
Other Budget 
Impacts 
TABOR Refunds ($2.6 million)      ($21.9 million) not estimated not estimated 
General Fund Reserve $27,471  $12,471  - - 
1
 The bill is projected to decrease General Fund revenue over a 15-year period from FY 2024-25 through 
FY 2038-39.  Peak revenue loss is expected in FY 2027-28. See State Revenue section and Figure 1 for more 
information. 
2
 The bill potentially diverts allocations of HUTF funding from local governments to the Transit-oriented 
Communities Highway Users Tax Account in the Transit-oriented Communities Infrastructure Fund. See 
State Transfers and Diversions Section. 
Summary of Legislation 
The bill identifies local governments that must create, report, and implement a housing 
opportunity goal to increase housing inventory, or forfeit allocations of Highway Users Tax Fund 
(HUTF) revenue from the state. The Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) in collaboration with the 
Colorado Energy Office (CEO) and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), must 
provide broad technical assistance to affected local governments, and administer a grant 
program to assist with planning, compliance, and infrastructure projects. The bill also increases 
the amount of affordable housing tax credits that can be issued by the Colorado Housing and 
Finance Authority (CHFA) and creates a new state income tax credit for taxpayers that invest in 
qualified low-income housing project located in a transit-oriented community. 
Transit-oriented communities. The bill affects any municipality with a population of at least 
4,000 residents that lies within a metropolitan planning organization (MPO). The bill also affects 
county governments whose jurisdictions include a specific portion of a transit station area or 
transit corridor.  
Housing opportunity goal report. The bill requires that transit-oriented communities submit a 
housing opportunity goal report to DOLA. A preliminary report is due by January 2025 and 
another by December 2026. Progress reports are required every three years. The housing 
opportunity goal report must:  
 calculate a housing opportunity goal to determine a target average zoned housing density; 
 include data, methodology and maps used to calculate the goal;  Page 3 
April 10, 2024  HB 24-1313 
 
 
 
 identify zoning districts that may qualify as transit centers or neighborhood centers; 
 adopt affordability strategies, displacement mitigation strategies, and implementation plans; 
and, 
 if applicable, provide an analysis that there are insufficient water supplies to provide the 
needed domestic service necessary to meet the goal. 
DOLA must either approve the report or provide direction for amending and resubmitting the 
report. If a transit-oriented community fails to create the housing opportunity goal report or if 
DOLA does not approve the report by December 2027, or if progress reports are not submitted 
and approved, DOLA must designate the community as non-qualified. DOLA may seek an 
injunction from a district court requiring the transit-oriented community to comply. 
Nonqualified transit-oriented communities. Beginning December 2026, DOLA must report 
nonqualified transit-oriented communities to the State Treasurer each month, and the treasurer 
must transfer HUTF money that would otherwise be allocated to the nonqualified 
transit-oriented community to the newly created Transit-oriented Communities Highway Users 
Tax Account. If the community becomes qualified with DOLA within 180 days, the treasurer must 
pay back any amount withheld during that period. Money in the account may only be awarded 
for specified allowable grant purposes. 
Transit and neighborhood centers. The bill establishes multiple criteria for transit-oriented 
communities to designate areas as transit centers and neighborhood centers, with these 
designations subject to approval by DOLA. Among other requirements, transit centers must net 
housing density requirements, have an administrative process for multifamily development on 
specific parcels, and be located within a transit area. DOLA may establish other criteria 
communities must use to designate transit and neighborhood centers.  
DOLA technical assistance. By July 31, 2024, DOLA must consult with MPOs and transit 
agencies to publish a map designating transit areas to be used in calculating local governments’ 
housing opportunity goals. By December 1, 2024, DOLA must publish models and guidance to 
assist local governments in meeting their goals, and calculating the appropriate housing density 
for transit-oriented communities. By June 30, 2025, DOLA must develop a menu of standard 
affordability strategies and long-term and alternative affordability strategies for communities to 
adopt and include in their housing opportunity goal reports. DOLA must also provide guidance 
and a methodology for local governments to conduct displacement risk assessments, and 
develop a menu of displacement mitigation strategies. 
Grant program. The bill creates the Transit-oriented Communities Infrastructure Grant Program 
in DOLA to assist local governments with planning, community engagement, and infrastructure 
projects for the benefit of regulated affordable housing, transit centers and neighborhood 
centers.  
Funding. The bill creates the Transit-oriented Communities Infrastructure Fund in the state 
treasury (the fund), and the Highway Users Tax Account within the fund (the HUT account). In 
FY 2024-25, the treasurer must transfer $35 million from the General Fund to the fund. 
Beginning in FY 2025-26, HUTF money that would otherwise be allocated to a local government  Page 4 
April 10, 2024  HB 24-1313 
 
 
 
that has been designated a nonqualified transit-oriented community is diverted to the HUT 
account in the fund. 
Money in the fund is continuously appropriated to DOLA. The department may spend up to six 
percent of money in the fund and up to six percent of money in the HUT account for 
administrative expenses to provide technical assistance, enforce the reporting requirements, and 
administer the grant program.   
Other transfers. Under current law, a portion of the additional state revenue collected as a 
result of a sales and use tax vendor fee change under HB 19-1245 is transferred from the 
General Fund to the Housing Development Grant Cash Fund in DOLA. Starting in FY 2020-21, 
the amount transferred was reduced by about $985,000 annually. Beginning in FY 2024-25, this 
bill further reduces the amount of the annual transfer by $35 million. As a result, a total of 
$35,985,335 is retained annually in the General Fund, instead of being transferred to the 
Housing Development Grant Cash Fund. 
Affordable housing tax credit. The bill increases the amounts that CHFA can allocate for the 
state affordable housing income tax credits. The additional amount CHFA can allocate for the 
following tax years are: 
 
 $8.3 million in credits for 2024 ($49.8 million over the tax period); 
 $6.3 million in credits for 2025 ($37.8 million over the tax period); 
 $6.3 million in credits for 2026 ($37.8 million over the tax period); 
 $5.7 million in credits for 2027 ($34.2 million over the tax period); 
 $5.0 million in credits for 2028 ($30.0 million over the tax period); 
 $5.0 million in credits for 2029 ($30.0 million over the tax period); 
 $5.0 million in credits for 2030 ($30 million over the tax period); and 
 $5.0 million in credits for 2031 ($30 million over the tax period). 
 
Affordable housing tax credits can currently be claimed by taxpayers for each of six tax years, 
which results in at least $279.6 million in additional tax credits that can be allocated by CHFA 
over eight years under the bill. For these additional credits only, the bill allows a qualified 
taxpayer to claim 70 percent of the credit in the first year of the credit period, and six percent in 
each of the second through the sixth year of the tax period. Under current law, the taxpayer 
must claim the credit in equal proportions over a six-year tax period. 
Transit-oriented communities tax credit. The bill creates a state income tax credit for a 
taxpayer that owns interest, direct or indirect, in qualified low-income housing project located in 
a transit-oriented community. The amount CHFA can allocate to qualified taxpayers for the 
following tax years are: 
 $8.6 million in credits for 2025 ($43 million over the tax period); 
 $7.2 million in credits for 2026 ($36 million over the tax period); 
 $5.6 million in credits for 2027 ($28 million over the tax period); 
 $5.0 million in credits for 2028 ($25 million over the tax period); and 
 $3.6 million in credits for 2029 ($18 million over the tax period);  Page 5 
April 10, 2024  HB 24-1313 
 
 
 
The credit amounts allocated can be claimed by taxpayers for each of the five tax years. This 
results in a total of at least $150.0 million in transit-oriented communities tax credits that can be 
allocated by CHFA over five years. For these credits only, the bill allows a qualified taxpayer to 
claim 70 percent of the credit in the first year of the credit period, eight percent in years two and 
three, and seven percent in years four and five of the credit period.  
The transit-oriented communities tax credit can be applied to either a taxpayer’s state income 
tax (individual and corporate) or their insurance premiums tax liability, but not both. The credit 
may be applied to reduce the insurance premium tax paid by any entity that is not liable for 
Colorado income taxes. A taxpayer cannot claim the transit-oriented communities tax credit 
until the qualified low-income housing project located in a transit-oriented community is placed 
in service. Finally, the credit is nonrefundable but any unused portion can be carried forward for 
three subsequent tax years. 
In general, the bill requires CHFA to determine eligibility and allocate credits in accordance with 
the standards and requirements they apply for the Colorado’s Affordable Housing Tax Credit 
Program. 
Assumptions 
The fiscal note assumes that CHFA will allocate additional credits immediately when allowed 
under the bill. The fiscal note assumes 15 percent of qualified projects are placed in service 
within one year of CHFA approval, and 85 percent are put into service within two years. 
Developers may be allocated the value of the credit, but the actual tax credit can only be 
claimed with the Department of Revenue once the project is placed in service and is renting 
affordable units. The timing of projects placed in service depends on a number of factors 
including construction and permitting timelines. If allocations and development timelines differ 
from the assumptions in this analysis, General Fund revenue impacts may differ from these 
estimates. 
State Revenue 
The bill authorizes a total of at least $429.6 million in state affordable housing and transit-
oriented communities’ credits that CHFA may allocate between calendar years 2024 through 
2031. As shown in Figure 1 and Table 2, it is estimated that the total revenue impact from the 
credits will be phased in over 15 years, beginning in FY 2024-25. General Fund revenue will be 
reduced by at least $2.6 million in FY 2024-25 (half-year impact), and at least $21.9 million in 
FY 2025-26, with larger impacts in subsequent years that then taper off over time. The bill 
decreases income tax revenue, which is subject to TABOR.  
   Page 6 
April 10, 2024  HB 24-1313 
 
 
 
Figure 1 
Total General Fund Revenue Reductions Under HB 24-1313* 
Dollars in Millions 
 
Table 2 
Total General Fund Revenue Reduction Under HB 24-1313* 
 $-
 $10
 $20
 $30
 $40
 $50
 $60
 $70
FY 2024-25	FY 2025-26	FY 2026-27	FY 2027-28	FY 2028-29	FY 2029-30	FY 2030-31	FY 2031-32	FY 2032-33	FY 2033-34	FY 2034-35	FY 2035-36	FY 2036-37	FY 2037-38	FY 2038-39
Fiscal Year 
Affordable Housing  
Tax Credit 
Transit-Oriented 
Communities Credit 
Total General Fund 
Revenue Reduction 
FY 2024-25 	($2.6 million) 	- 	($2.6 million) 
FY 2025-26 	($19.6 million) 	($2.3 million) ($21.9 million) 
FY 2026-27 	($31.9 million) ($17.2 million) ($49.1 million) 
FY 2027-28 	($30.7 million) ($29.1 million) ($59.8 million) 
FY 2028-29 	($31.5 million) ($27.1 million) ($58.6 million) 
FY 2029-30 	($31.1 million) ($25.5 million) ($56.6 million) 
FY 2030-31 	($31.5 million) ($22.7 million) ($54.2 million) 
FY 2031-32 	($31.7 million) ($13.9 million) ($45.5 million) 
FY 2032-33 	($29.3 million) 	($6.2 million) ($35.5 million) 
FY 2033-34 	($18.2 million) 	($3.8 million) ($22.0 million) 
FY 2034-35 	($7.9 million) 	($1.9 million) 	($9.8 million) 
FY 2035-36 	($6.0 million) 	($0.5 million) 	($6.6 million) 
FY 2036-37 	($4.2 million) 	- 	($4.2 million) 
FY 2037-38 	($2.4 million) 	- 	($2.4 million) 
FY 2038-39 	($0.8 million) 	- 	($0.8 million) 
Total 	($279.6 million) ($150.0 million) ($429.6 million) 
* Revenue impacts shown are the minimum reductions and do not include credits above the annual aggregate cap 
allocated for counties impacted by natural disasters  Page 7 
April 10, 2024  HB 24-1313 
 
 
 
State Transfers and Diversions 
The bill requires multiple transfers and diversions, as outlined below. 
Reduce an existing transfer from the General Fund. Beginning in FY 2024-25, the bill reduces 
a current law transfer from the General Fund to the Housing Development Grant Cash Fund by 
$35 million.  
New transfer from the General Fund. In FY 2024-25, the bill transfers $35 million from the 
General Fund to the Transit-oriented Communities Infrastructure Fund. 
Diversion of HUTF Funding. In FY 2025-26, the bill diverts allocations of HUTF funding from 
local governments that are nonqualified transit-oriented communities to the Transit-oriented 
Communities Highway Users Tax Account in the Transit-oriented Communities Infrastructure 
Fund. The amount diverted will depend on the number and location of nonqualified TOCs and 
the diverted allocation amounts, and cannot be estimated in advance. 
State Expenditures 
The bill increases state expenditures by about $9.2 million in FY 2024-25 and $9.0 million in 
FY 2025-26 and ongoing. Expenditures are in DOLA, CDOT, and the CEO, paid from a 
combination of cash funds and General Fund. Workload may also increase in the Departments of 
Law and Regulatory Agencies and the Judicial Department. Expenditures are shown in Table 3 
and detailed below.   Page 8 
April 10, 2024  HB 24-1313 
 
 
 
Table 3 
Expenditures Under HB 24-1313 
 	FY 2024-25 FY 2025-26 
Department of Local Affairs   
Personal Services 	$360,130  $422,785  
Operating Expenses 	$6,144  $7,296  
Capital Outlay Costs 	$40,020  	- 
Local Government Information System Upgrade 	$70,000  $5,000  
Consultant Services  	$163,450  $83,940  
Infrastructure Grants 	$8,200,000  $8,200,000  
Centrally Appropriated Costs
1
 	$90,241  $106,705  
FTE – Personal Services 	4.8 FTE 	5.7 FTE 
DOLA Subtotal 	$8,929,985  $8,825,726  
Department of Transportation   
Personal Services 	$76,994  $76,994  
Operating Expenses 	$1,280  $1,280  
Capital Outlay Costs 	$6,670  	- 
Centrally Appropriated Costs
1
 	$20,097  $20,097  
FTE – Personal Services 	1.0 FTE 	1.0 FTE 
CDOT Subtotal 	$105,041  $98,370  
Colorado Energy Office    
Personal Services 	$80,584  $80,584  
Operating Expenses 	$1,024  $1,024  
Consultant 	$100,000  	- 
Technical Mapping Services 	$1,530  $1,530  
Centrally Appropriated Costs
1
 	$17,557  $17,557  
FTE – Personal Services 	0.8 FTE 	0.8 FTE 
CEO Subtotal 	$200,695  $100,695  
Total $9,235,721  $9,024,791  
Total FTE 	6.6 FTE 7.5 FTE 
3
 Centrally appropriated costs are not included in the bill's appropriation.  Page 9 
April 10, 2024  HB 24-1313 
 
 
 
Department of Local Affairs 
DOLA will have costs to provide technical assistance and oversee implementation of the bill’s 
transit-oriented community goals, and to manage a new grant program, as outlined below. 
 Staff. DOLA requires 4.7 FTE in FY 2024-25 and 5.7 FTE in FY 2025-26 in the Division of Local 
Government and the Division of Housing, including a manager, program assistant, technical 
assistance planner and statistical analyst, to implement the reporting and compliance 
requirements and provide other technical assistance to transit-oriented communities. These 
staff also include contracting and communication specialists to assist with the grant 
program. Personal services include standard operating and capital outlay costs. 
 Local government information system upgrade. The Office of Information Technology 
will provide upgrades to the Local Government Information System to receive and host new 
document types and reports submitted by transit-oriented communities to the department. 
 Consultant services. DOLA requires consultant services to create and refine models, advise 
staff on complex technical issues related to compliance and grant program awards, and to 
assist with evaluations and feedback on housing opportunity goal reports. 
 Infrastructure grants. The Transit-oriented Communities Infrastructure Fund will have 
$35 million deposited into the fund in FY 2024-25. Assuming this funding is available for four 
years, through FY 2027-28, approximately $2.2 million will be spent for administrative 
purposes, leaving about $32.8 million to provide in grants to qualified transit-oriented 
communities. Assuming this amount is distributed evenly across 4 years equals about $8.2 
million in grants annually, beginning FY 2024-25. 
Colorado Department of Transportation 
CDOT requires 1.0 FTE Analyst V to assist DOLA with consulting services, planning and oversight, 
and participate in outreach and training when implementing the reporting and compliance 
requirements.  
Colorado Energy Office 
The Colorado Energy Office will require the equivalent of 0.8 FTE at the analyst level to 
coordinate with CDOT and DOLA, including assistance with document review, technical 
assistance, grant application review, and other implementation activities. The fiscal note assumes 
that CEO will have a lead role in developing technical analysis and mapping for the transit areas 
map with DOLA and CDOT, which requires the purchase of consultant services to help create 
appropriate models and provide guidance and technical mapping services. 
Other State Agencies 
The Department of Law will have an increase in workload to provide legal services to partner 
agencies implementing the act, and to represent DOLA in regulatory actions if TOCs are 
noncompliant. The bill also increases workload in the Judicial Department if regulatory actions  Page 10 
April 10, 2024  HB 24-1313 
 
 
 
are taken. This fiscal note assumes that regulatory actions will be rare, and that any increased 
work for the departments does not require appropriations. 
The Department of Revenue administers the current Colorado Affordable Housing Credit and 
the Department of Personnel and Administration processes paper tax documents. This bill 
increases the amount of credits that may be claimed by taxpayers, which will result in ongoing 
workload impacts that can be accomplished within existing appropriations 
Centrally Appropriated Costs 
Pursuant to a Joint Budget Committee policy, certain costs associated with this bill are 
addressed through the annual budget process and centrally appropriated in the Long Bill or 
supplemental appropriations bills, rather than in this bill. These costs, which include employee 
insurance and supplemental employee retirement payments, are shown in Table 3. 
Other Budget Impacts 
TABOR refunds. The bill is expected to decrease the amount of state revenue required to be 
refunded to taxpayers by the amounts shown in Table 1. This estimate assumes the March 2023 
LCS revenue forecast. A forecast of state revenue subject to TABOR is not available beyond 
FY 2025-26. Because TABOR refunds are paid from the General Fund, decreased General Fund 
revenue will lower the TABOR refund obligation, but result in no net change to the amount of 
General Fund otherwise available to spend or save. 
General Fund reserve. Under current law, an amount equal to 15 percent of General Fund 
appropriations must be set aside in the General Fund statutory reserve. Based on this fiscal note, 
the bill is expected to increase the amount of General Fund held in reserve by the amounts 
shown in Table 1, decreasing the amount of General Fund available for other purposes. 
Local Government 
Affected jurisdictions will have increased costs to analyze existing transit areas and calculate the 
required housing opportunity goal, review and update local codes and ordinance, report 
progress and demonstrate compliance with DOLA, and apply for and manage grants. Affected 
local governments that do not provide reports or otherwise adopt required strategies and 
implement a housing opportunity goal will forfeit transportation funding allocated from the 
HUTF. 
Statutory Public Entity  
Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) will have an increase in administrative expenses 
to issue additional affordable housing tax credits to qualified taxpayers.   Page 11 
April 10, 2024  HB 24-1313 
 
 
 
Effective Date 
The bill takes effect upon signature of the Governor, or upon becoming law without his 
signature. 
State Appropriations 
For FY 2024-25, the bill requires a General Fund appropriation of $183,138 to the Colorado 
Energy Office, and 0.8 FTE. 
Expenditures in the Department of Local Affairs are paid from the Transit-oriented Communities 
Infrastructure Fund and expenditures in the Colorado Department of Transportation are paid 
from the State Highway Fund. These funds are continuously appropriated to their respective 
departments, and no additional appropriations are required in this bill. 
State and Local Government Contacts 
CHFA       Counties       Law      
Local Affairs     Municipalities      Energy Office   
Revenue      Transportation 
 
 
The revenue and expenditure impacts in this fiscal note represent changes from current law under the bill for each 
fiscal year. For additional information about fiscal notes, please visit the General Assembly website.