DENVER — Gov. Jared Polis signed a pair of housing bills into law Wednesday, praising the two as the latest efforts from the state to wrench down high housing costs.

House Bill 1001 and Senate Bill 1 were the first measures introduced in their respective chambers this legislative session — a point Polis emphasized as showing state government’s continued focus on housing.

HB-1001, dubbed the HOME Act — for Housing Opportunities Made Easier — gives nonprofits and certain government agencies, such as the Regional Transportation District in metro Denver and school districts, the ability to build housing on their property. SB-1 allows counties to spend their property tax revenue on local housing authorities and workforce housing and to sell property to build affordable housing.

“This should also viewed as additive to other steps that we have taken,” Polis said ahead of signing the bills. “Partnering with the legislature, we’re truly beginning to chip away at the high cost of housing by breaking down barriers, allowing housing to be built, to unlock affordability and opportunity.”

Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, a Fort Collins Democrat and lead sponsor on both bills, said HB-1001 in particular was about finding ways to build affordable housing “faster and cheaper” than existing processes. The measures also come down to “the fabric of our communities,” he said.

“What are we saying as a state when people cannot afford to teach and live in the same district? When folks can’t afford to work at a grocery store and also find housing in a school district that works for their kids?” Boesenecker said. “This is about a basic, I think, agreement of who we are as a state and that our state is open for all, welcome for all, and that we will continue today to take bold steps forward in terms of how are we able to house everybody.”

SB-1 was the focus of broad agreement in each chamber and bipartisan sponsorship in the House.

HB-1001, however, faced opposition from several local governments and the Colorado Municipal League, which represents many cities and towns. Kevin Bommer, the executive director of the league, said the two measures stood in contrast.

He and member municipalities agree that the state has an affordable housing crisis; SB-1 gives cities options to address it, while HB-1001 forces state mandates that bypass local planning, Bommer said. People already choose local leadership to make local decisions — they don’t need statewide lawmakers stepping in, he argued.

“Our state government can’t decide what it wants to be,” Bommer said. “It wants to be a helper when there’s something it likes, and it wants to be an opponent of local government when there’s something it doesn’t like.”

A frequent opponent of Polis’ proposed land-use measures, Bommer said he “looks forward to working with the next administration to reset the state and local partnership and work to that end.” Polis is in his last year as governor.

Polis and other supporters of the measures countered that HB-1001 will bring more local entities into the fold to find solutions to local housing. But, they noted, these laws won’t solve the problems on their own.

“There is no silver bullet for solving (the housing) problem, but there are many silver BBs,” Sen. Jeff Bridges, a Greenwood Village Democrat and sponsor of SB-1, said. “And today’s bills are two of those BBs.”

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