Thanks to REALTOR® voices across the state, a harmful tax on vacant homes did not move forward.

We’re excited to share a major advocacy win for Colorado REALTORS® and property owners across our state!

 House Bill 26-1036—commonly referred to as the “vacancy tax” bill—was defeated in the House Finance Committee on February 9th on a 7-4 vote after intense testimony from more than a dozen REALTORS® and extensive advocacy work by the Colorado Association of REALTORS® (CAR) leadership and staff.

 This bill would have authorized local governments to impose new taxes on residential properties they deemed “vacant,” even if those homes were legitimately owned and maintained by Coloradans. CAR strongly opposed HB26-1036 because it raised serious concerns about:

• Penalizing lawful private property ownership, taxing homes not based on value but on occupancy.
• Undermining Colorado’s constitutional requirement for uniform property taxation.
• Threatening real estate transactions and housing investment by creating tax uncertainty for buyers, sellers, and developers.

“This was a critical win for REALTORS® and property owners across Colorado,” said 2026 CAR President Molly Eldridge. “HB 1036 would have undermined long-standing principles of fair and uniform taxation. It also would have created new uncertainty in the housing market with the potential for many unintended consequences and a patchwork of hard to regulate taxes. Because REALTORS® showed up and shared real-world expertise, lawmakers heard firsthand how harmful this proposal could be. This outcome is a powerful reminder of why REALTOR® advocacy matters—and how our collective voice, through CAR, protects our industry, our clients, and private property rights statewide.”

 Your Voice Makes a Difference

This win didn’t happen by accident—it happened because REALTORS® stood up and spoke out. From testimony at the Capitol to outreach with legislators, CAR members helped ensure lawmakers heard real REALTOR® perspectives.

 Advocacy is one of the core benefits of your CAR membership—and this victory shows the collective power of REALTORS® when we engage with the policy process.

 CAR continues to advocate for you and Colorado homeowners. Stay tuned for updates on future bills that may affect your business, your clients, and Colorado communities. Together, we’ll continue defending property rights and ensuring Colorado’s housing market works for everyone.

 Thank you for being a REALTOR® and a voice for the profession.