The Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act of 2026 expands disaster relief assistance to individuals who lived in disaster areas but lacked formal proof of ownership or were not renting, including those who were homeless or stayed in temporary accommodations. It allows these eligible households to use federal funds to pay for obtaining property titles, such as costs for land surveys and associated taxes, by accepting a wide range of documents like utility bills, driver's licenses, and school records as evidence of their connection to the property. The bill also requires FEMA to create a simple, non-notarized form for applicants to self-certify their eligibility and mandates that the agency consult with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to coordinate temporary rental assistance programs for displaced residents. Additionally, the legislation amends existing disaster housing rules to focus on ensuring residences are habitable during long-term recovery and permits temporary housing if the President deems it a cost-effective alternative to other solutions.
The Sanctuary City Elimination Act defines "sanctuary jurisdictions" as states or local areas that restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities, such as refusing to share immigration data or honor detention requests. If a jurisdiction is classified as a sanctuary, the bill prohibits it from receiving various federal grants, including funding for education, environmental protection, economic development, and community housing projects. The legislation also provides a legal mechanism allowing state attorneys general to sue in federal court to recover these funds if a sanctuary jurisdiction releases an immigrant who subsequently commits a crime in another state. Additionally, the bill grants local law enforcement the authority to act as federal agents when complying with immigration detainers and offers them immunity from liability in lawsuits related to those actions.
The Incentivizing Local Solutions to Homelessness Act allows local organizations receiving federal homeless assistance funds to request an exemption from spending limits for the years 2027 through 2030. To qualify, these organizations must demonstrate local needs, submit a detailed spending plan, and gather public input before asking the Department of Housing and Urban Development for approval. The Department must publish all requests and decisions online and will deny any waiver if the organization plans to move people without first offering emergency or permanent housing options. If a local group later wants to cancel its waiver, it must inform the Department and share public feedback with subrecipients before the change takes effect.
This Senate resolution expresses support for designating April 2026 as "Fair Chance Jobs Month" to raise awareness about employment barriers faced by formerly incarcerated individuals. While the bill itself does not change laws, it encourages the removal of obstacles like licensing restrictions and promotes fair-chance hiring practices. The resolution also calls for expanded workforce development programs, better access to housing and healthcare, and increased collaboration between government agencies and community groups to help returning citizens secure stable employment.
The Vacancy to Value Act of 2026 directs the General Services Administration to run a five-year pilot program selling or transferring underused federal properties to entities that commit to specific community benefits like affordable housing and job creation. These sales may occur at prices below fair market value, provided buyers submit a redevelopment plan and begin construction within five years, with the government retaining the right to reclaim the property if these conditions are not met. Additionally, the bill establishes a competitive grant program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to fund predevelopment work, construction, and infrastructure for projects led by local governments, nonprofits, and community land trusts. Priority consideration for both property transfers and grants is given to projects that create affordable housing or serve low-income and historically underserved communities, with recipients required to submit annual reports on their progress and impact.
The Reforming Disaster Recovery Act establishes a new Long-Term Disaster Recovery Fund to provide grants for housing, infrastructure, and economic revitalization in areas most affected by catastrophic major disasters. This legislation creates a new Office of Disaster Management and Resiliency within the Department of Housing and Urban Development to coordinate recovery efforts and ensures that at least 70 percent of the funding benefits low- and moderate-income households. The bill also introduces a formula-based allocation system that includes a specific portion of funds for mitigation activities designed to reduce future disaster risks and requires strict reporting to prevent the duplication of benefits with other federal aid.
The Housing Regulatory Clarity Act of 2026 prohibits the Department of Housing and Urban Development from considering disparate impact when making any decisions. This provision directly affects the agency's ability to evaluate housing policies by removing a specific legal standard from its review process. By disallowing this type of analysis, the bill aims to provide clearer guidelines for how the department conducts its actions. The change limits the scope of factors the Secretary can weigh when implementing housing regulations.
This bill, the Original Additional Credit FHA Pilot Program Authorization Act, establishes a pilot program within the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to allow prospective mortgage borrowers to voluntarily opt into a new credit scoring model. This model uses "additional data" beyond traditional credit reports to assess creditworthiness, aiming to help individuals with limited or no conventional credit history qualify for FHA-insured loans. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will select these new credit models and require lenders to inform borrowers about their options and how the pilot model differs. The program specifically prohibits its use for refinancing existing loans on the same property and mandates detailed reports to Congress on its effectiveness, demographic impact, and financial implications for the FHA's insurance fund.
The Rural Area Population Act aims to update and standardize the definition of "rural area" used across various federal programs, including those for rural development, electrification, and housing. The bill modifies the existing definition, primarily by changing the term "urbanized" to "urban," which could broaden the eligibility for communities seeking federal assistance. It also grants the Secretary of Agriculture new authority to designate areas as rural, even if they are located within an urban area, if they demonstrate persistent poverty, a high concentration of farmworker households, or significant infrastructure gaps. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary to prioritize certain "high-need rural pockets" - small, isolated settlements within urban areas that lack services and have high poverty rates - for rural designation, while ensuring current rural designations remain valid until 2030.
This bill reauthorizes and modifies an existing Federal Housing Administration (FHA) pilot program designed to help prospective homebuyers, particularly those with limited credit history, qualify for mortgages. It allows the FHA to use credit scoring models that incorporate "additional data" (beyond traditional credit reports) for borrowers who voluntarily choose to participate, aiming to assess their creditworthiness more comprehensively. The legislation requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to select these models, ensure lenders provide clear information to borrowers about their options, and specifically prevents the program from being used for refinancing existing loans. It also mandates detailed reports to Congress on the pilot's effectiveness and impact, extending the program for an additional five years.
