Housing (Renters)

in committee · United States · House Dec 19, 2025

HR 4100: End Junk Fees for Renters Act

This bill prohibits landlords from charging application fees, tenant screening fees, and excessive late fees on "covered" rental properties - those with federally backed mortgages (like FHA, VA, or USDA loans) or HUD assistance. It caps late fees at 3% of monthly rent after a 15-day grace period and requires landlords to disclose total monthly costs, past tenant litigation, maintenance issues, and rent history for the past decade before signing leases. The law directs regulators like HUD to define "junk fees" and ban reporting unpaid fees to credit agencies. It directly affects renters in federally supported housing by limiting unexpected costs and increasing transparency.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits excessive fees and mandates transparency for renters in federally-backed housing, directly protecting tenant rights and reducing financial burdens.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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in committee · United States · House Jul 14, 2025

HR 4369: End Tenant Credit Screening Act

HR 4369 prohibits landlords and property managers from using credit reports to screen tenants for rental housing. It bans credit checks for decisions like approving applications, setting security deposits, or determining lease terms. The law applies to all housing providers and overrides tenant consent to use credit reports, with one exception for reconsidering denied applications. This changes how housing providers assess applicants by removing credit history as a factor in rental decisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves credit checks in housing, reducing barriers for individuals with criminal records and supporting reintegration to lower recidivism.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBans credit checks for tenant screening, removing a barrier for low-income renters and protecting tenant rights, which advances affordable housing access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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in committee · United States · House May 1, 2025

HR 3133: HAVEN Act

The HAVEN Act (HR 3133) makes several key changes to federal housing assistance programs. It reduces the percentage used to calculate rental payments from 30% to 20% for several housing programs, increasing assistance for recipients. The bill expands the Housing Choice Voucher Program by adding 500,000 vouchers in 2026 and increasing by 500,000 each year through 2029. It also creates housing navigation grants to help families find housing, expands anti-discrimination protections to include "lawful source of income," and requires zip code-based fair market rents for housing vouchers starting in 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands housing vouchers and reduces rent percentages, directly increasing government funding for housing assistance as an essential public service.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingReduces rental payments (30%→20%), expands vouchers by 500k/year, adds housing navigation grants, and expands anti-discrimination protections - all advancing affordable housing access and tenant rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Renters Tenant Rights

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 6, 2025

S 885: Strategy and Investment in Rural Housing Preservation Act of 2025

S 885 establishes a permanent program to preserve rural affordable housing by protecting low-income residents in properties financed under USDA rural housing loans (sections 514, 515, or 516). It requires annual notices to owners about maturing loans and to tenants about housing security options, including rental assistance renewal for up to 20 years. Key mechanisms include adjusting loan terms (reducing interest or deferring payments), requiring binding agreements to maintain affordability, and providing technical assistance to prevent loss of housing. The bill directly affects rural low-income tenants, farm laborers, and property owners, with $200 million annually authorized for 2026-2030 to support these efforts.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingPreserves rural affordable housing via USDA loan protections, tenant notices, rental assistance renewal, and binding affordability agreements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homeownership Renters Tenant Rights Tags Agriculture Rural Communities

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in committee · United States · Senate Dec 2, 2025

S 3309: Building Housing for the American Dream Act

This bill amends the EB-5 immigrant investor visa program to prioritize housing projects. It redefines "housing project" to include rental housing or homes for purchase as primary residences and directs U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to prioritize processing applications for such projects, especially those using federal housing programs like Section 42 tax credits or HOME funds. The bill requires annual reports from Homeland Security on housing-related EB-5 applications and impacts, and mandates a GAO review after three years to assess whether the changes increase immigrant investment in housing. It does not change visa quotas or create new funding but streamlines processing for housing-focused investments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill prioritizes EB-5 applications using Section 42 tax credits, directly supporting existing housing tax credit programs and fiscal mechanisms for affordable housing.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingPrioritizes EB-5 visa processing for housing projects including rental/purchase, especially using federal affordable housing programs like Section 42 tax credits.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationAmends EB-5 visa program to prioritize housing projects, directing USCIS to expedite processing for housing investments, directly advancing immigrant investor pathways.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Housing Finance Renters Citizenship & Naturalization DACA & Dreamers

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in committee · United States · House Sep 17, 2025

HR 5443: Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2025

HR 5443, the Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2025, expands federal housing anti-discrimination protections to include "source of income," "veteran status," and "military status." It defines "source of income" broadly to cover housing vouchers, Social Security benefits, child support, and other lawful income sources like savings or gifts. The bill adds these categories to all existing anti-discrimination provisions in the Fair Housing Act, prohibiting housing providers from refusing to rent or sell based on these factors. This directly affects renters and homeowners using housing assistance, veterans, active military members, and individuals receiving non-wage income.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands anti-discrimination protections to source of income (vouchers, benefits), veteran/military status, preventing housing refusal based on these factors, directly strengthening tenant protections.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExplicitly adds 'veteran status' to housing anti-discrimination protections, preventing housing discrimination based on veteran status.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homeownership Renters Tenant Rights Veteran Housing

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in committee · United States · House Jun 20, 2025

HR 4060: Service Member Housing Relief Act

HR 4060, the Service Member Housing Relief Act, adjusts housing stipend rules for active-duty military personnel. It lowers the threshold requiring housing cost relief from 20% to 15% of a service member's income, meaning more members will qualify for extra housing assistance when their rent exceeds this lower percentage. The bill removes an outdated provision (subparagraph C) from the existing law governing these stipends. This change directly affects uniformed service members facing high housing costs, providing broader access to financial relief through a simplified calculation.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill lowers housing stipend eligibility threshold from 20% to 15% of income, expanding affordable housing assistance for military personnel.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renters

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in committee · United States · Senate Sep 17, 2025

S 2827: Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2025

S 2827, the Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2025, expands the Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination based on source of income, veteran status, and military status. It directly affects renters and homebuyers using housing assistance (like vouchers or Social Security benefits), veterans, and military members, while requiring landlords and housing providers to comply with these new protections. Key provisions explicitly add these categories to existing anti-discrimination clauses in the Fair Housing Act, defining "source of income" to include housing vouchers, government benefits, spousal support, and other lawful income streams. The bill also strengthens protections against intimidation in fair housing cases by adding these categories to existing civil rights language.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingExpands Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination based on income source, veteran/military status, strengthening tenant protections for voucher users and veterans.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAdds veteran status to Fair Housing Act's anti-discrimination protections, preventing housing discrimination against veterans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Affordable Housing Renters Tenant Rights Veteran Housing

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 24, 2025

S 2148: End Junk Fees for Renters Act

S 2148, the "End Junk Fees for Renters Act," bans specific fees landlords can charge renters in properties with federal mortgage backing (such as FHA, VA, or USDA loans). It prohibits application fees and tenant screening fees, caps late rent fees at 3% of monthly rent after a 15-day grace period, and requires landlords to disclose total monthly costs, past tenant litigation, and rent history upfront. The bill applies directly to renters in "covered dwelling units" (properties tied to federal housing programs) and mandates regulators like HUD to enforce these rules. It also requires landlords to detail all fees and property issues before lease signing.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBans application/screening fees, caps late fees, requires cost disclosure - directly protects tenants from excessive costs in federally backed housing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

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in committee · United States · House Jul 25, 2025

HR 4761: Eviction Right to Counsel Act of 2025

The Eviction Right to Counsel Act of 2025 establishes a $100 million annual federal fund (2026-2030) to support legal representation for low-income tenants facing eviction. It directly affects tenants with incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty line in eviction cases or housing subsidy terminations. The bill provides grants to states, localities, or tribal governments that already have laws guaranteeing free legal counsel for these tenants, prioritizing jurisdictions with additional tenant protections like longer eviction notice periods or emergency rental assistance. Funds can cover attorney training and implementation costs but do not require new federal mandates - eligibility depends on pre-existing state/local "right to counsel" laws.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $100M annual federal fund for tenant legal counsel, directly funding essential housing services per bill's summary.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingFunds legal counsel for low-income tenants facing eviction, directly protecting tenant rights and preventing displacement for those at or below 200% poverty line.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Housing Finance Renters Tenant Rights

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