Policy Advocacy – East Colfax Community Collective

Policy Advocacy & Resources

Together with our neighbors, we identify opportunities for meaningful policy change and take action through coalitions to create practical solutions that strengthen our community

No more Junk Fees Law | HB 25-1090

What does this law do?

In 2025, our member-driven organizing helped pass HB25-1090 — Colorado’s new law cracking down on hidden and misleading “junk fees” in housing, small businesses, and other consumer transactions.

Effective January 1, 2026, the law requires clear, upfront pricing, bans deceptive charges, and gives community members a real way to hold violators accountable.

A key feature is the demand-letter process: anyone charged an illegal fee can request a refund or notify the violator they refuse to pay, and if ignored for 14 days, the violator owes damages plus 18% interest, giving renters and small businesses true enforcement power.

RESIDENTIAL RENTERS GAIN

Under HB25-1090, residential renters gain:

– Honest, upfront pricing: no misleading or hidden charges

– Clear disclosure of any fees that are not part of the total price

– Stronger protections against deceptive pricing practices in leases and contracts

This ensures that small businesses are not caught off guard by unexpected, unjustified, or inflated fees.

SMALL BUSINESSES & COMMERCIAL TENANTS GAIN

Under HB25-1090, landlords cannot:

– Charge prohibited fees or add-ons not allowed by law

– Misrepresent or hide the real cost of renting a unit

– Include unlawful fees in a lease agreement

– Impose extra charges without clearly showing the true total price

Renters now have a clear legal process to challenge these charges and demand reimbursement.

CONSUMERS GAIN

For goods, services, and property, businesses must:

– Clearly show the maximum total price, including all mandatory fees

– Avoid any misleading or unclear pricing practices

– Disclose the purpose and nature of any fee that is not included in the total price

Businesses that provide broadband, cable, delivery services, food and beverage services, or federally regulated services must follow special transparency requirements specific to their industry.

Summaries of the Law & Resources

To help you understand HB 25-1090 and take action if you are affected, we have prepared easy-to-read one-pagers and demand-letter templates in English, Spanish, French, Burmese, and Vietnamese. These resources explain your rights under the law, show exactly what fees and charges are prohibited, and give you ready-to-use tools to enforce your protections starting January 1, 2026.

We will post brief, one page summaries of the bill in many languages below, check back soon!

Residential Renters

One-Page Summary with Resources

Demand Letter Template

words

Small Businesses / Commercial Tenants

One-Page Summary with Resources

Demand Letter Template

words

2025 Legislative Recap

Our 2025 policy efforts at the state and local level delivered major wins for tenant rights, housing, small businesses, and immigration justice—while also highlighting areas where more work is needed.

Here’s a recap of the bills EC3 members voted to endorse:

Passed in 2025 and Became Law

Tenant and Landlord Law Enforcement (SB 25-020): Empowers local governments and state attorneys to take action when landlords neglect habitability issues, including appointing a receiver to manage repairs.

Protect Civil Rights: Immigration Status (SB 25-276): Removes affidavit requirements, limits local collaboration with federal immigration enforcement, strengthens data privacy, and expands post-conviction relief access.

Protections Against Deceptive Pricing Practices(HB 25-1090): Requires all mandatory fees—like application or service fees—to be disclosed upfront for renters, small businesses, and other consumers.

Housing Protections for Victim-Survivors (HB 25-1168): Expands protections for survivors of gender-based violence, strengthens eviction safeguards, and broadens acceptable documentation.

For Cause (HB 24-1098): Limits when a landlord can evict a residential tenant and requires proper notice in certain circumstances.

Prohibit Residential Occupancy Limits (HB 24-1007): Requires residential occupancy limits to be strictly based on health and safety standards.

Safe Housing for Residential Tenants (SB 24-094): Strengthens the Warranty of Habitability law with updated notice requirements and temporary accommodation protections.

Denver Ordinance (25-0469): Housing Code Enforcement Update: Strengthens enforcement of housing violations and allows Denver’s public health department to require landlords to provide temporary relocation for tenants.

Failed to Pass

Property Tax Payment Schedule (HB 25-1199): Would have allowed homeowners and some small businesses to pay property taxes in four installments instead of two.

Ban on Rent-Setting Algorithms (Vetoed; HB25-1004): Would have treated rent-setting algorithms that coordinate pricing between landlords as illegal under state antitrust law.

Defendant Filing Fees in Eviction (HB 24-1099): Would have eliminated defendant filing fees in eviction proceedings.

Monthly Residential Eviction Data (SB 24-064): Would have required courts to track and publish county-level eviction data.

2024 Legislative Recap

In 2024, our members helped secure important victories for renters and small businesses.

Passed in 2024 and Became Law

For Cause (HB 24-1098): Limits when a landlord can evict a residential tenant and requires proper notice in certain circumstances.

Prohibit Residential Occupancy Limits (HB 24-1007): Ensures occupancy limits are based strictly on health and safety standards.

Safe Housing for Residential Tenants (SB 24-094): Strengthens the Warranty of Habitability law with updated notice requirements and temporary accommodation protections.

Failed to Pass

Defendant Filing Fees in Eviction (HB 24-1099): Would have eliminated defendant filing fees in eviction proceedings.

Monthly Residential Eviction Data (SB 24-064): Would have required courts to track and publish county-level eviction data.

Join us

Support the East Colfax Community Collective’s mission to fight displacement and build collective power in our community to shape our own destiny by donating to our general operating fund today!

Policy Advocacy & Resources

No more Junk Fees Law | HB 25-1090

What does this law do?

In 2025, our member-driven organizing helped pass HB25-1090 — Colorado’s new law cracking down on hidden and misleading “junk fees” in housing, small businesses, and other consumer transactions.

Effective January 1, 2026, the law requires clear, upfront pricing, bans deceptive charges, and gives community members a real way to hold violators accountable.

A key feature is the demand-letter process: anyone charged an illegal fee can request a refund or notify the violator they refuse to pay, and if ignored for 14 days, the violator owes damages plus 18% interest, giving renters and small businesses true enforcement power.

RESIDENTIAL RENTERS GAIN

Under HB25-1090, residential renters gain:

– Honest, upfront pricing: no misleading or hidden charges

– Clear disclosure of any fees that are not part of the total price

– Stronger protections against deceptive pricing practices in leases and contracts

This ensures that small businesses are not caught off guard by unexpected, unjustified, or inflated fees.

SMALL BUSINESSES & COMMERCIAL TENANTS GAIN

Under HB25-1090, landlords cannot:

– Charge prohibited fees or add-ons not allowed by law

– Misrepresent or hide the real cost of renting a unit

– Include unlawful fees in a lease agreement

– Impose extra charges without clearly showing the true total price

Renters now have a clear legal process to challenge these charges and demand reimbursement.

CONSUMERS GAIN

For goods, services, and property, businesses must:

– Clearly show the maximum total price, including all mandatory fees

– Avoid any misleading or unclear pricing practices

– Disclose the purpose and nature of any fee that is not included in the total price

Businesses that provide broadband, cable, delivery services, food and beverage services, or federally regulated services must follow special transparency requirements specific to their industry.

Summaries of the Law & Resources

We will post brief, one page summaries of the bill in many languages below, check back soon!

Residential Renters​

One-Page Summary with Resources

Demand Letter Template

Small Businesses / Commercial Tenants

One-Page Summary with Resources

Demand Letter Template

2025 Legislative Recap

Our 2025 policy efforts at the state and local level delivered major wins for tenant rights, housing, small businesses, and immigration justice—while also highlighting areas where more work is needed.

Here’s a recap of the bills EC3 members voted to endorse:

Passed in 2025 and Became Law

Tenant and Landlord Law Enforcement (SB 25-020): Empowers local governments and state attorneys to take action when landlords neglect habitability issues, including appointing a receiver to manage repairs.

Protect Civil Rights: Immigration Status (SB 25-276): Removes affidavit requirements, limits local collaboration with federal immigration enforcement, strengthens data privacy, and expands post-conviction relief access.

Protections Against Deceptive Pricing Practices(HB 25-1090): Requires all mandatory fees—like application or service fees—to be disclosed upfront for renters, small businesses, and other consumers.

Housing Protections for Victim-Survivors (HB 25-1168): Expands protections for survivors of gender-based violence, strengthens eviction safeguards, and broadens acceptable documentation.

For Cause (HB 24-1098): Limits when a landlord can evict a residential tenant and requires proper notice in certain circumstances.

Prohibit Residential Occupancy Limits (HB 24-1007): Requires residential occupancy limits to be strictly based on health and safety standards.

Safe Housing for Residential Tenants (SB 24-094): Strengthens the Warranty of Habitability law with updated notice requirements and temporary accommodation protections.

Denver Ordinance (25-0469): Housing Code Enforcement Update: Strengthens enforcement of housing violations and allows Denver’s public health department to require landlords to provide temporary relocation for tenants.

Failed to Pass

2024 Legislative Recap

In 2024, our members helped secure important victories for renters and small businesses.

Passed in 2024 and Became Law

Failed to Pass

Join us

Support the East Colfax Community Collective’s mission to fight displacement and build collective power in our community to shape our own destiny by donating to our general operating fund today!

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Residential Renters