Housing

This bill (HR 3869, the Every Veteran Housed Act) expands eligibility for veterans' homelessness benefits by redefining who qualifies as a "veteran" under existing law. It removes barriers for veterans discharged under conditions other than dishonorable or by general court-martial, regardless of service length, component (active/reserve), or current military status. The bill ensures these veterans can access housing assistance programs without being excluded due to prior discharge status or service details. It makes minor conforming changes to related provisions but does not create new benefits or alter funding. This directly affects veterans previously excluded from homelessness assistance due to technical discharge or service criteria.

HR 3558, the Veteran Jobs Training Act, increases funding for programs helping homeless veterans reintegrate into the workforce. It amends Title 38 of the U.S. Code to authorize $75 million annually for fiscal years 2024 and beyond for homeless veterans' reintegration programs, replacing previous language that only covered 2024. This direct funding increase affects homeless veterans seeking employment assistance through federal programs. The bill’s key provision is the specific annual appropriation amount, ensuring sustained financial support for these services. It does not create new programs but expands existing funding mechanisms.

This bill directs the Comptroller General to study whether a federal uniform residential building code could reduce local government approval times for new housing, lower construction costs nationwide, and improve the quality and affordability of housing. The study must be completed within one year of the bill's enactment and report findings to Congress. It does not create new regulations but examines potential benefits of standardized building codes. The study would primarily inform future policy decisions affecting local governments and the housing market, without directly changing current building standards or costs.

The Innovation Fund Act establishes a competitive grant program providing up to $200 million annually (2027-2031) to local governments and tribes that have demonstrably increased housing supply. Eligible entities - such as cities, counties, or tribes with proven housing growth - can use funds to implement specific initiatives like reforming zoning rules (e.g., reducing parking requirements, allowing denser housing), streamlining permitting, or using tax incentives to expand affordable housing options. The grants require applicants to show how projects address community housing needs and improve affordability, with priority given to innovative approaches that increase housing supply. The bill explicitly prohibits federal preemption of local zoning laws and focuses on supporting existing local housing strategies rather than mandating new policies.

This bill requires five federal agencies (Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, Treasury, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency) to coordinate housing data sharing and jointly propose policy solutions. Within one year of enactment, the agencies must establish a shared agreement and submit a report to Congress addressing mortgage costs, housing construction barriers, local regulations, insurance availability, down payment assistance, and disaster resilience. The report will outline specific proposals to improve housing affordability and market efficiency. This is a procedural bill focused on interagency coordination, not direct policy changes or benefits for homeowners.

The Rural Housing Service Reform Act of 2025 establishes a permanent housing preservation and revitalization program to maintain affordable multifamily housing projects financed under sections 514, 515, and 516 of the Housing Act of 1949, authorizing $200 million annually for fiscal years 2026-2030 to support loan restructuring, rental assistance renewal, and technical assistance for owners. The bill creates a $50 million annual set-aside for Native community development financial institutions to increase homeownership opportunities for Indian Tribes, Alaska Native communities, and Native Hawaiian communities. Additionally, it modifies Section 504 loans to reserve 60% for very low-income applicants and increases the loan cap from $7,500 to $15,000, while adjusting rural housing voucher processes to allow more frequent recalculation based on changing household circumstances.

The MOLD Act (HR 7188) establishes uniform health and safety standards for military housing managed by private contractors, directly affecting approximately 700,000 service members and their families living in privatized housing across 78 developments. It requires the Defense Secretary to set enforceable limits on indoor humidity (below 50%), mandate third-party inspections after tenant complaints or unit turnover, and hold contractors fully responsible for mold remediation, relocation costs, and property damage. The bill also mandates public reporting of complaints, inspection results, and remediation timelines, and requires contractors to use certified professionals for mold assessments. These provisions aim to reduce mold-related health risks and improve accountability in privatized military housing.

# Summary of Proposed Tax Code Amendment This document is a comprehensive proposal for tax code amendments, primarily focused on extending, modifying, and creating new tax credits related to clean energy, energy efficiency, and environmental initiatives. The key components include: ## Housing and Residential Credits - **First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit**: A refundable credit for first-time homebuyers (Section 13001) - **Renter Tax Credit**: A refundable credit for renters paying more than 30% of their adjusted gross income in rent (Section 13002) ## Clean Energy Credits (Sections 21001-21007) - Extended clean energy production credit with a new phase-out date (2032 or when greenhouse gas emissions reach 25% of 2022 levels) - Extended clean electricity investment credit for wind and solar facilities - Restored credit for wind and solar leasing arrangements - Extended clean hydrogen production credit (construction date reverted to 2033) - Extended residential clean energy credit (termination date moved to 2034) - Reinstated special rate for sustainable aviation fuel (35 cents/ gallon for certain facilities) ## Energy Efficiency Credits (Sections 22001-22004) - Restored product identification number requirement for energy-efficient home improvements - Extended new energy efficient home credit (acquisition date moved to 2032) - Repealed termination of new energy efficient commercial buildings deduction - Restored cost recovery for energy property ## Electric Vehicle and Charging Infrastructure Credits (Sections 23001-23005) - Extended previously-owned vehicle credit (acquisition date moved to 2032) - Extended clean vehicle credit (placement in service date moved to 2032) - Extended commercial clean vehicles credit (termination date moved to 2032) - Extended alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit (termination date moved to 2032) - Created a new credit for electric bicycles (30% of cost, up to $5,000 per bicycle) ## Clean Infrastructure and Resiliency Credits (Sections 24001-24007) - Created qualifying water reuse project credit (30% of qualified investment) - Created recycling property investment credit (30% of qualified investment with phase-out) - Excluded amounts received from State-based catastrophe loss mitigation programs from gross income - Expanded exclusion for certain emergency agricultural assistance - Created credit for disaster mitigation expenditures (30% of qualifying mitigation activities) - Created qualifying electric power transmission line credit (30% of qualified investment) - Created qualifying advanced battery project credit (30% of qualified investment with $3 billion cap) The proposed amendments generally extend existing credits through 2032-2037, with some credits having phase-out schedules and others having specific termination dates. The document also includes numerous conforming amendments to other sections of the tax code to accommodate these changes.

This bill enhances Civilian Conservation Centers (CCCs) operated by the Interior or Agriculture Departments to train underserved youth in conservation fields. It creates specialized wildfire and forestry training programs at CCCs, sets annual hiring goals (300 covered graduates per year for wildland firefighting roles), and allows direct hiring of graduates without standard civil service rules. The bill also establishes a housing pilot program using covered students to renovate federal housing for firefighters and other agency staff. These provisions directly affect CCC graduates (those who completed training) and current CCC students, aiming to build workforce pipelines for conservation and firefighting careers.

The HEIRS Act of 2025 establishes two grant programs to help homeowners with "heirs' property" - residential land held by multiple heirs without clear title due to intestacy. It provides $30 million annually (2026-2036) to states/local governments that adopt the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act, funding title documentation, legal fees, and estate planning. An additional $10 million annually (2026-2030) supports HUD-approved housing counselors and legal services to assist low- and moderate-income minority homeowners in clearing title and retaining homes. The bill requires grantees to prioritize neighborhoods with high concentrations of affected residents and includes mandatory education about heirs' property risks and solutions.