The Rural Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act increases tax credits for rehabilitating historic buildings in rural areas. It provides a 40% credit for affordable housing projects (where at least half the building meets affordability standards) and a 30% credit for other rural historic projects, with a $5 million cap on eligible costs. Taxpayers can transfer these credits to other taxpayers, requiring certification and reporting to the IRS. The bill also adds recapture rules for projects failing to meet affordable housing requirements and removes a basis adjustment for these credits, effective for projects placed in service after 2025.
HR 4477, the PRICE Act, creates a new federal grant program to improve affordable manufactured housing communities. It provides funds for infrastructure, repairs, safety upgrades, and community services in communities that are affordable to low- and moderate-income residents (at or below 120% of area median income) and either owned by residents or committed to remaining affordable. Eligible projects include replacing homes (excluding pre-1976 units), weatherization, accessibility modifications, and resident services like eviction prevention. The program prioritizes projects that preserve long-term affordability for low-income residents and is open to community groups, local governments, tribes, and nonprofit housing organizations.
HR 2746, the Fix Moldy Housing Act, directs the EPA to study when indoor mold assessment and remediation is necessary and develop nonbinding national standards for safely identifying and fixing mold. It authorizes $50 million annually (2026-2030) to fund state and tribal programs that license mold remediation professionals and provide grants for mold cleanup in public buildings (like schools) and low-income residential properties. States must prioritize high-risk areas and low-income households for funding, while prohibiting use of funds for high-income housing. The bill establishes concrete mechanisms for federal support but does not mandate enforcement or binding requirements for mold remediation.
Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder Act of 2025 or the HELPER Act of 2025 This bill establishes a program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide mortgage assistance to law enforcement officers, elementary and secondary school teachers, firefighters, or other first responders. Specifically, these individuals may be eligible for a first-time mortgage on a primary family residence with no down payment. Instead, the mortgage is subject to a one-time, up-front mortgage insurance premium.
The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 would reform the Low-Income Housing Credit program, which provides tax credits to developers of affordable housing. It would increase state allocations based on population with annual cost-of-living adjustments, modify tenant eligibility rules to allow higher income limits for some residents, and add protections for domestic violence victims in housing. The bill would simplify rules for rural and Native American housing projects, clarify credit eligibility requirements, and require greater transparency in program administration. These changes would directly affect developers, property owners, and low-income tenants in housing projects that receive LIHC tax credits.
The First Home Affordability Act establishes a refundable tax credit for first-time homebuyers purchasing a primary residence in the U.S. The credit equals 2% of the home's purchase price (capped at $25,000 per purchase), with special provisions increasing the credit to 10% for teachers, childcare workers, and first responders. The credit is reduced for higher-income households relative to local area median income and home prices, and requires the homebuyer to be at least 18 years old. Homebuyers must meet specific criteria including no prior home ownership in the past three years and using a federally backed mortgage. If the home is sold within the credit period, a portion of the credit may need to be repaid to the IRS.
HR 5508, the Mortgage Insurance Freedom Act, stops the government from collecting annual mortgage insurance premiums on FHA-insured mortgages once the remaining loan balance falls to 78% or less of the home's original purchase price or appraised value. It directly affects homeowners with FHA loans who reach this balance threshold, eliminating their annual insurance payments. The bill requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to create a process for homeowners to prove their loan balance meets the 78% threshold and to conduct outreach about this change. An exception applies if the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund's capital ratio drops below 2%, temporarily keeping premiums in effect for certain mortgages. This applies only to mortgages endorsed for FHA insurance after the bill's enactment.
This bill amends the Higher Education Act to create "basic and emergency supplemental living assistance grants" for first-year undergraduate students participating in their institution's student support services program. Basic grants cover anticipated expenses (like tuition or housing) for completing their first academic year, while emergency grants address unexpected costs (such as childcare, transportation, or personal needs) that could disrupt their studies. Grants are capped at $500 for the 2027-2028 academic year, with future limits adjusted annually using the Consumer Price Index. Institutions must allocate these funds without reducing existing non-Federal support and may use up to 2% of allocated program funds for these grants.
S 1194, the Manufactured Housing Tenant’s Bill of Rights Act of 2025, requires owners of manufactured home communities receiving federal loans to include specific tenant protections in lease agreements. It mandates 1-year lease terms with renewal options, 60-day written notice for rent increases (with extended notice for larger hikes), 5-day rent grace periods, and rights for homeowners to sell their homes in place without relocation. The bill also establishes penalties for noncompliance, including fines and loss of future federal financing, and creates a commission to propose stronger future protections. These changes directly affect approximately 1.5 million manufactured home residents nationwide who lease pad sites in federally backed communities.
This bill blocks the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and mortgage enterprises (like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) from implementing specific mortgage fee changes announced in January 2023. It specifically revokes the FHFA's updated single-family mortgage pricing framework and related guidance documents. The bill does not affect the existing practice of risk-based pricing for mortgage credit fees, which remains permitted. It directly impacts mortgage lenders and borrowers by halting the 2023 fee changes without altering current risk-based fee structures.
