21st Century ROAD to Housing Act
Officially: “21st Century ROAD to Housing Act” Read the full text
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Sec. 1Short title; table of contents
This section gives the bill the short title "Housing for the 21st Century Act" and sets out the table of contents for the rest of the bill.
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1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Housing for the 21st Century Act . (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Title I—Building Smarter for the 21st Century Sec.
Sec. 101Housing Supply Frameworks
This section directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development to develop guidelines to help states and localities build more housing. For this section, affordable housing means housing whose monthly payment is not more than 30 percent of the household's monthly income, and it defines the Assistant Secretary (the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research) and the Secretary (the Secretary of HUD). It defines "local zoning framework" as the local zoning codes and other ordinances, procedures, and policies that govern zoning and land use at the local level, and it defines "State zoning framework" differently: not State-level codes that govern zoning and land use directly, but the State legislation, or State agency and department procedures (or equivalent legislation or procedures in a U.S. insular area), that enable local planning and zoning authorities and that establish and guide related zoning policies and programs. Not later than 3 years after enactment, the Assistant Secretary must publish guidelines and best practices, covering both State and local zoning frameworks, to support building enough housing for communities and provide housing opportunities at every income level. During the 2 years after enactment, while developing these guidelines the Assistant Secretary must publish draft guidelines in the Federal Register for public comment and create a task force to help draft them, with members drawn from urban planners and architects, housing developers (affordable, market-rate, and manufactured housing), community engagement experts and affected community members, public housing agencies and transit authorities, local zoning and planning board members and regional transportation planners, State housing or land-use officials including State zoning appeals board members, academic researchers, and home builders. The guidelines must, for State zoning frameworks, outline potential models for updated State enabling legislation, and must include recommendations covering topics such as reducing or eliminating parking minimums, raising maximum floor area ratios and building heights while reducing minimum lot sizes and setbacks, eliminating restrictions on accessory dwelling units, allowing duplexes, triplexes, or quadplexes by right, targeting rezoning near transit without disproportionately burdening economically distressed areas, streamlining by-right development review (including ministerial review and entitlement and design review), reducing regulatory obstacles to manufactured and modular housing, model State zoning codes and adoption incentives, encouraging transit-oriented development, strengthening public engagement, reforming protest-petition laws, standardizing or reducing impact fees, cost-effective building codes, community benefit agreement models, and mechanisms to preserve affordability and prevent displacement. For State zoning frameworks specifically, the guidelines must also address model codes, a model State zoning appeals process that would let developers or builders appeal a local board's rejection of a project containing a State-defined amount of affordable housing to a State or regional body (with qualifying communities exempted based on their existing affordable housing stock), and streamlined State environmental review. For local zoning frameworks, the guidelines must address simplifying and standardizing zoning codes, maximum review timelines, best practices for disposing of government-owned land for affordable housing, differences between rural, suburban, and urban best practices, and streamlined local environmental review, plus any other land-use measures the Secretary identifies. In developing the guidelines, the Assistant Secretary must also consider effects on eligibility for federal discretionary grants and tax credits, coordination between infrastructure investment and housing planning, local housing needs and goal-setting, a range of rental and homeownership affordability levels (prioritizing extremely low, low, and moderate income households), accountability measures, the long-term cost of not building more housing, barriers facing people trying to access affordable housing in growing and economically strong communities, the legal distinction between home-rule and Dillon Rule States (as discussed in Hunter v. Pittsburgh), statewide mechanisms such as land banks and community land trusts to preserve long-term affordability, the public comments received, and any other considerations the Assistant Secretary identifies. This section also abolishes the Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse and repeals the law that created it. Not later than 5 years after the Assistant Secretary publishes final guidelines, the Assistant Secretary must report to Congress on which States and localities adopted recommendations from the guidelines, which States adopted a State zoning framework, what changes each State made to its framework, and a general summary of local framework updates.
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101. Housing Supply Frameworks. Sec.
Sec. 102Accelerating home building grant program
This section creates a HUD grant program to help communities adopt pre-approved home designs so they can build housing faster. For this section, affordable housing means housing whose total monthly cost is not more than 30 percent of monthly household income for a household earning not more than 80 percent of the area median income. A covered structure is a low-rise or mid-rise building of not more than 25 units, including accessory dwelling units, infill development, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, cottage courts, courtyard buildings, townhouses, multiplexes, or any other structure of at least 2 units the Secretary considers appropriate. Eligible entities are units of general local government, municipal membership organizations, and Indian tribes. The section also defines high opportunity area, infill development, mixed-income housing, pre-reviewed designs (also called pattern books, meaning construction plans already approved by localities to speed up permitting), rural area (any area other than a city or town that has a population of less than 50,000 people), and Secretary (the Secretary of HUD). The Secretary may award grants to eligible entities so they can select pre-reviewed designs of covered structures of mixed-income housing for use in their jurisdictions, but grant money may not be used for actual construction, alteration, or repair work. In reviewing grant applications, the Secretary must consider the entity's need for affordable housing, whether high opportunity areas are present in its jurisdiction, and its coordination with State agencies and with State, local, and regional transportation planning authorities. At least 10 percent of the funds available each year for these grants must go to eligible entities located in rural areas. Grant recipients must report to the Secretary on the impact of their grant-funded activities on affordable housing supply, which pre-reviewed designs they selected, how many permits were issued for developments using those designs, and how many housing units those developments produced. The Secretary must, to the extent possible, encourage localities to publish information about the selected designs and their benefits on a public website, and must collect and publish best practices about such designs on HUD's website. The Secretary may require a recipient to repay its grant funds if the pre-reviewed designs it selected have not been adopted within 5 years of receiving the grant, unless the Secretary extends that period.
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102. Accelerating home building grant program. Sec.
Sec. 103Federal guidelines for point-access block buildings
This section directs HUD to develop federal guidance to help make it easier to permit "point-access block" apartment buildings, meaning Group R-2 residential buildings of not more than 5 stories where a single internal stairway provides access to every unit. Not later than 18 months after enactment, the Secretary must issue guidelines giving States, territories, Tribes, and localities model code language, best practices, and technical guidance to help permit these buildings. In developing the guidelines, the Secretary must consider fire safety (including sprinklers, smoke detection, ventilation, and egress), construction costs and effects on housing affordability and supply in high-cost areas, flexibility for different family sizes, unit configurations, and accessibility needs, examples of single-stair codes already adopted or considered by U.S. States and cities and used in international standards, research and model code language from organizations focused on point-access block design and code reform, input from experts including developers, architects, fire marshals, researchers, economists, housing authorities, and officials from States with single-stair codes, and alternative safety measures such as added passive or active safety features. The Secretary must coordinate with the International Code Council to encourage it to add point-access block provisions to the International Building Code. The Secretary may award competitive grants to eligible entities, defined broadly to include States, local and Tribal governments, public housing agencies, nonprofit and community development organizations, private developers, construction and design firms, engineering firms, academic and research institutions, or partnerships of two or more of these, to run pilot projects testing the safety, feasibility, or cost-effectiveness of point-access block buildings. Nothing in this section overrides any State or local building code.
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103. Federal guidelines for point-access block buildings. Sec.
Sec. 104Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews
This section directs HUD to streamline environmental reviews for many of its housing-related activities and adds new environmental-review rules for HUD assistance involving Indian Tribes. Following normal federal rulemaking procedure and section 103 of the National Environmental Policy Act, HUD must reclassify certain housing activities to match, or come close to matching, existing categories of NEPA review under HUD's regulations as they existed on January 1, 2025. Activities such as tenant-based rental assistance, supportive services (health care, housing services, permanent housing placement, day care, nutrition, short-term rent, mortgage or utility payments, and help accessing government benefits), operating costs, economic development activities not tied to construction, help for homebuyers purchasing existing or under-construction homes, affordable-housing pre-development costs that have no physical impact, approval of supplemental assistance to already-approved projects, and emergency homeowner or renter utility assistance must be treated the same as activities HUD currently calls exempt from environmental review. A second group of activities, including repair or replacement of existing public facilities like water and sewer lines, curbs, sidewalks, and streets without expanding capacity by more than 20 percent, rehabilitation of 1-to-4 unit residential buildings and related infrastructure, new construction, demolition, acquisition, or disposition on up to 4 scattered housing sites (with a maximum of 4 units per site), and acquisition, leasing, or disposition of an existing structure or vacant land kept in the same use, must be treated the same as HUD's current categorical exclusions that avoid certain additional procedural and legal reviews, as long as the activity does not materially change environmental conditions or exceed the project's original scope. A third group of activities, including acquiring open space or residential property to help residents relocate from a high-risk area or convert land to open space, converting office buildings to housing (subject to a unit cap the Secretary sets and no more than a 20 percent size increase), new construction, demolition, acquisition, or disposition of 5 to 15 units on one site, similar development of 15 or more units spread across scattered sites with a Secretary-set minimum distance between them, rehabilitating 5-to-15-unit buildings without exceeding 15 units in density, infill projects, and voluntary buyouts of properties in a floodway, floodplain, or other area affected by a federally declared disaster, must be treated the same as HUD's current categorical exclusions that still require certain other legally required reviews, again only if the activity does not materially change environmental conditions or exceed the project's original scope. Starting 2 years after enactment and continuing for 5 years, HUD must report annually to the House Financial Services Committee and Senate Banking Committee on how much these changes reduced review times and administrative costs, especially for affordable housing, and recommend further changes to HUD's categorical exclusions. Separately, this section lets HUD's Secretary, for environmental review purposes under NEPA, treat HUD assistance as funding for a "special project" the way the Multifamily Housing Property Disposition Reform Act of 1994 already allows, except where a law already specifies a different environmental review procedure for that assistance. It also amends that 1994 Act so that Indian Tribes, not just States and local governments, can take on the environmental review responsibilities described there, and it defines Indian Tribe as a federally recognized tribe. Finally, the section defines "infill project," for these environmental-review purposes, as a project within a municipality's limits, adequately served by existing utilities and public services, on no more than 5 acres of previously disturbed land surrounded mostly by residential or commercial development, that will reuse a vacant, underused, dilapidated, or abandoned site for a residential or commercial purpose.
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104. Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews. Sec.
Sec. 105Federal Housing Agency Application of Environmental Reviews
This section requires closer coordination between HUD and the Department of Agriculture on environmental reviews for jointly funded housing projects. Not later than 180 days after enactment, the two Secretaries must sign a memorandum of understanding to evaluate categorical exclusions for housing projects funded by both agencies, create a process to name a lead agency between the two and streamline acceptance of each other's environmental impact statements and assessments, keep complying with existing HUD environmental regulations (24 CFR part 58, as of January 1, 2025), and study whether a joint physical inspection process is feasible for jointly funded projects. Within that same 180 days, the Secretaries must also set up an advisory working group to help implement the memorandum, with members including rural and non-rural affordable housing nonprofits, State housing finance agencies, nonprofit and for-profit home builders and developers, property management companies, multifamily property owners and operators, public housing agencies, residents of HUD- or USDA-assisted housing and their representatives, and housing contract administrators. Not later than 1 year after enactment, the two Secretaries must report to the House Financial Services Committee and Senate Banking Committee with recommendations for legislative, regulatory, or administrative changes to improve the efficiency of jointly funded housing projects, as long as those changes do not materially reduce residents' safety, shift long-term costs onto residents, or weaken environmental standards that protect them.
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105. Federal Housing Agency Application of Environmental Reviews. Sec.
Sec. 106Multifamily loan limits
This section updates the dollar-amount limits used to calculate the maximum mortgage amounts the Federal Housing Administration can insure for several types of multifamily housing under the National Housing Act. Starting January 1, 2026, the per-unit dollar amounts in section 206A will be adjusted each year based on the percentage change in the Census Bureau's Price Deflator Index for Multifamily Residential Units Under Construction from the previous March to the current March, or, if that index becomes unavailable, based on an alternative indicator the Secretary picks after publishing it in the Federal Register for public comment. Any such adjustment will be rounded down to the next whole dollar, and the Secretary must publish each adjustment in the Federal Register. The section also directly replaces the specific per-unit dollar-cost limits written into sections 207(c)(3)(A), 213(b)(2), 220(d)(3)(B)(iii)(I), 221(d)(4)(ii)(I), 231(c)(2)(A), and 234(e)(3)(A) of the National Housing Act with new, substantially higher dollar figures for each housing type and cost category listed in those sections. Nothing in this section limits the Secretary's existing authority to revise the separate statutory exceptions that allow higher cost limits in high-cost areas.
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106. Multifamily loan limits. Sec.
Sec. 107GAO studies
This section requires two GAO studies. Not later than 1 year after enactment, the Comptroller General must study and report to Congress on the obstacles middle-income households (those earning more than 80 percent but not more than 120 percent of the area median family income, adjusted for family size) face in finding affordable housing, the geographic areas where housing is least affordable and available for them, which federal housing programs, including tax credits, grants, and loans, exclude them because of their income, recommended income and other criteria for a consistent federal definition of "workforce housing," and how federal housing programs could be modified or created to serve workforce housing if enough funding were available. Separately, not later than 1 year after enactment, the Comptroller General must study and report to Congress on the costs and benefits of creating a federal uniform residential building code, including whether such a code could reduce the time local governments take to approve new construction, reduce residential construction costs, or improve the quality of affordable housing available in the United States.
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107. GAO studies. Title II—Modernizing Local Development and Rural Housing Programs Sec.
Sec. 201HOME Reform
This section makes many changes to the HOME Investment Partnerships program under the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act. It removes the word "significant" from an existing definition in section 104(6)(B) of that Act; the text provided does not show the rest of that definition, so the exact practical effect of removing that word is not clear from this bill alone. It adds a new definition of "infill housing project": a residential project within a municipality's limits, adequately served by existing utilities and public services, on no more than 5 acres of previously disturbed land, substantially surrounded by residential or commercial development, as the Secretary determines. In several eligibility provisions of the Act (sections 214, 215, and 271), it replaces the old standard of qualifying as a "low-income family" with a specific income test: a household or family income that does not exceed 100 percent of the area median family income, as determined by the Secretary; in most, but not all, of these provisions the new standard also includes adjustments for smaller and larger families. It bars the Secretary from restricting a participating jurisdiction's choice among rehabilitation, substantial rehabilitation, new construction, reconstruction, acquisition, or other authorized eligible housing uses, unless a restriction is explicitly authorized under section 223(2) of the Act. It lets a participating jurisdiction that does not receive Community Development Block Grant funding under title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 use HOME funds for infrastructure improvements, such as water and sewer lines, sidewalks, roads, and utility connections, if those improvements are directly related to and located in or next to housing assisted under the HOME program or housing that uses the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit; labor standards under section 110 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 apply to any such infrastructure work, though this does not make the housing itself subject to HOME program requirements if it was not otherwise HOME-assisted, and the Secretary must issue rules to carry this out within 1 year of enactment. It removes the second sentence of the Act's existing per-unit HOME investment limitation in section 212(e)(1); the bill text does not show what that removed sentence said. It adds a new exception letting a rental unit count as affordable housing even if it does not meet the normal test, as long as the tenant receives Section 8 tenant-based rental assistance, the tenant's rent contribution does not exceed what that assistance allows, and the total rent does not exceed the amount the local public housing agency approved. For homeownership housing, it raises a percentage threshold used in one of the qualification tests in section 215(b)(1) from 95 percent to 110 percent (the bill text does not show what that percentage measures), and it adds a new way for homeownership housing to qualify as affordable: maintaining long-term affordability through a shared equity model, community land trust, limited equity cooperative, community development corporation, or other Secretary-approved mechanism that preserves affordability for future buyers, including through purchase options or rights of first refusal. It adds two new qualification exceptions for homeownership housing: a participating jurisdiction may suspend or waive the income qualification for an owner who is an active-duty service member or National Guard member on qualifying duty who has received deployment orders to a location not within a reasonable distance of the housing for at least 90 days, or permanent-change-of-station orders; and housing that qualified as affordable before an owner's death continues to qualify if it becomes the principal residence of an heir or beneficiary who takes on the deceased owner's obligations under terms the Secretary sets. It eliminates an expiration deadline that previously applied to the right to draw down HOME investment trust funds. It changes the rule for recapturing HOME funds set aside for community housing development organizations: if funds reserved for those organizations sit uninvested for 24 months, the Secretary must make them available to the participating jurisdiction for any eligible HOME activity, regardless of whether a community housing development organization is involved. It raises, from 95 percent to 110 percent, a percentage figure used in a provision about disseminating information on asset recycling (again, the bill text does not show what that percentage measures). It makes several HOME-funded activities, specifically new-construction infill housing projects, acquisition of real property for affordable housing, rehabilitation projects done under section 212(a)(1), and new-construction projects of 15 units or fewer, exempt from environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act. It also directs the Secretary to prevent duplicate environmental reviews of a project solely because other federal funding was added, substituted, or reallocated, as long as the project's scope, scale, and location stay substantially the same, to coordinate environmental review responsibilities with other federal agencies by regulation, and to recognize substantially similar reviews already completed by another authorized entity, again as long as the project stays substantially the same; the Secretary must issue rules to carry this out within 1 year of enactment. It adds a new rule limiting Build America, Buy America requirements, for HOME-related activities, to apply only to the new infrastructure-improvement authority described above. It also exempts certain small HOME-funded projects (50 or fewer assisted units, undertaken by a State recipient or by a participating jurisdiction that received less than $3,000,000 in the most recent fiscal year) from the labor and equal-opportunity requirements of section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968. Finally, it makes technical corrections throughout the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, replacing outdated references to the "Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act" with "McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act" and to the "Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs" with "Committee on Financial Services."
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201. HOME Reform. Sec.
Sec. 202Community Development Fund Amendments
This section changes the Community Development Block Grant program under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. Starting 1 year after enactment, before a grantee can receive certain Community Development Fund grants each year, it must have submitted, at least once in the preceding 5 years, a description of whether its jurisdiction adopted land-use policies from a list that includes expanding by-right multifamily zoning, allowing duplexes, triplexes, or fourplexes and manufactured homes in single-family zones, allowing multifamily housing in retail, office, or light-manufacturing zones, allowing single-room occupancy housing wherever multifamily is allowed, reducing minimum lot sizes, coordinating historic preservation rules to encourage housing in historic buildings, increasing allowable floor area ratios, creating transit-oriented development zones, streamlining permitting, reducing or eliminating parking requirements, ensuring impact and utility fees reflect actual infrastructure costs, allowing off-site or prefabricated construction, reducing minimum unit sizes, allowing office-to-apartment conversions, allowing subdivision of single-family homes into duplexes, allowing accessory dwelling units on all single-family lots, creating density bonuses, easing height limits, using property tax abatements to enable denser mixed-income development, donating vacant land for affordable housing, and any other high-density zoning policy the grantee chooses to report, along with its plans to adopt such policies and the expected benefits. Submitting this description does not bind how the grantee uses or receives its Community Development Fund grant, does not count as HUD endorsing or rejecting the grantee's plans or policies, and cannot be used by HUD as the basis for an enforcement action. The section also adds new construction of affordable housing (as defined in the HOME program) as an eligible Community Development Block Grant activity, and updates the program's low-and-moderate-income benefit test to include new construction alongside rehabilitation; these two changes apply only to funds appropriated after this Act is enacted. Finally, starting October 1, 2026, every Community Development Block Grant recipient must maintain a public, searchable website database identifying all the undeveloped land parcels it owns.
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202. Community Development Fund Amendments. Sec.
Sec. 203Planning and implementation grants for affordable housing
This section creates two new competitive HUD grant programs to support housing planning and implementation. Not later than 1 year after enactment, the Secretary must award planning grants to regional planning agencies or consortia, using criteria the Secretary sets, to help them develop housing plans, improve State or local housing strategies, develop new zoning-related regulations and processes, reform zoning codes, build capacity for housing inspections, build capacity to reduce barriers to housing supply and affordability, develop local or regional community development plans, and improve community development strategies aimed at increasing affordable housing availability and access, increasing access to public transportation, and advancing sustainable or location-efficient development. Within the same 1-year deadline, the Secretary must also award implementation grants to eligible entities, meaning States, insular areas, metropolitan cities, or urban counties, to implement housing strategies and plans, fund community investments supporting those plans, implement reformed zoning regulations, build inspection and capacity-building capabilities, implement local or regional community development plans, and fund planning that increases affordable housing access, transit access, or location-efficient development. For this section, a "housing plan" means a plan to increase available housing to meet current and projected demand, increase affordability, increase accessibility including for people with disabilities, preserve or improve housing quality, reduce barriers to development, and coordinate with transportation agencies; a "housing strategy" means the strategy required under section 105 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act. The Secretary must, where practicable, coordinate with the Federal Transit Administrator. Grant recipients may not spend more than 15 percent of their grant on administrative costs. These grants are otherwise subject to the standard Community Development Block Grant program rules, except that new housing construction is an eligible expense under this section, and spending on government buildings (other than federal buildings) is eligible when necessary as part of a natural hazard mitigation project.
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203. Planning and implementation grants for affordable housing. Sec.
Sec. 204Rural housing service program improvements
This section changes several rural housing programs run by the Department of Agriculture's Rural Housing Service. It expands the Housing Act of 1949's section 504 home-repair loan program so the Secretary may also make loans to eligible low-income applicants, not only very-low-income applicants, while requiring that at least 60 percent of the funds available under that section go to very-low-income applicants; it also raises a dollar limit in that section from $7,500 to $15,000. It requires the Secretary to submit an annual report to the House Financial Services Committee and Senate Banking Committee, and publish it on USDA's website, on the health of Rural Housing Service programs, including raw loan-performance data sortable by program and region, a description of the housing stock in these programs, why properties leave the programs (loan maturity and prepayment, foreclosure, or other servicing issues), and risk ratings for assisted properties, though the data may be aggregated or anonymized to protect participants' personal and financial information. It states the sense of Congress that, within 90 days of receiving an application for a loan or grant under section 502 or 504 of the Housing Act of 1949, the Secretary of Agriculture should review it, complete underwriting, determine eligibility, and notify the applicant, and it requires the Secretary to report annually, starting 90 days after enactment and continuing until the Secretary meets that 90-day goal for every application over a full 5-year period, on how timely these determinations actually are and how to speed them up. Finally, it requires the Comptroller General to report to Congress, not later than 1 year after enactment, on how the Rural Housing Service's outdated technology affects program participants, how much funding is needed to modernize it, and how many new employees would be needed to do so.
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204. Rural housing service program improvements. Sec.
Sec. 205Choice in Affordable Housing
This section changes Section 8 housing choice voucher rules under the United States Housing Act of 1937 to make it easier for new landlords to participate and to reduce duplicate inspections. It lets a public housing agency, at the request of a "new landlord" (an owner of a dwelling unit who has not previously entered into a housing assistance payment contract with any public housing agency, for any dwelling unit, under this voucher program), inspect a unit for housing quality before any voucher-holding family selects it; if the unit passes and the landlord signs a lease with an assisted family within 60 days of the inspection, that inspection satisfies the program's normal inspection requirements, and the agency must give newly selected voucher families a list of units that have already passed this kind of inspection. It also lets a unit satisfy Section 8's inspection requirement without a separate Section 8 inspection if the unit was physically inspected and passed within the preceding 12 months under the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, the HOME Investment Partnerships program, or a Rural Housing Service program, as long as the public housing agency can obtain those inspection results. For units in rural or small areas, the Secretary may let a grantee use a remote or video inspection instead of an in-person one, as long as it reviews the same relevant aspects of the unit, does not misrepresent the unit's condition, and gives enough information to fully and accurately judge whether the unit meets the required standards. None of these changes affects how the referenced housing programs otherwise operate.
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205. Choice in Affordable Housing. Title III—Expanding Manufactured and Affordable Housing Finance Opportunities Sec.
Sec. 301Manufactured Housing Innovations
This section updates federal law on manufactured housing to cover homes built without a permanent steel chassis. It changes the legal definition of "manufactured home" so that homes built without a permanent chassis are covered the same as those built with one. It directs the Secretary to work with the manufactured housing consensus committee to issue revised construction and safety standards for chassis-less manufactured homes, including a distinct label, a distinguishing data plate, and a distinguishing notation on manufacturer invoices, so they can be told apart from traditional chassis-built manufactured homes. Not later than 1 year after enactment (2 years for States with legislatures that meet only every other year), each State must certify to the Secretary that its own laws and regulations treat chassis-less manufactured homes the same as regular manufactured homes for financing, title, insurance, manufacture, sale, taxes, transportation, installation, and other areas the Secretary identifies, and must recertify this every year; the Secretary may not waive the consequences of a late certification unless the Secretary approves the late filing, though nothing stops a State from certifying late. The Secretary must publish and maintain a list of which States are current on these certifications. If a State fails to certify on time, it (and, in States where the Secretary directly administers manufactured home installation, the Secretary as well) must prohibit the manufacture, installation, or sale within that State of any home that counts as a manufactured home under the federal definition but not under that State's own law because it lacks a permanent chassis. The Secretary may coordinate with other federal agencies to keep the treatment of manufactured homes consistent across federal law, and may provide States with model guidance to help them file the required certification. Nothing in this section narrows HUD's existing authority to preempt conflicting State or local manufactured-housing rules. The section adds energy efficiency to the list of factors federal manufactured home standards must address, and it gives HUD's Secretary the primary authority to set federal manufactured home construction and safety standards: any other federal agency wanting to set such a standard must first submit a proposal to the Secretary and get the Secretary's approval, and the Secretary must reject a proposed standard that would significantly raise the cost of producing manufactured homes, that conflicts with the Secretary's existing standards, or for any other reason the Secretary decides is appropriate. Nothing in this section requires the Secretary to issue new or revised standards.
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301. Manufactured Housing Innovations. Sec.
Sec. 302FHA small-dollar mortgages study
This section requires a HUD study on small-dollar mortgages, meaning mortgages of $100,000 or less secured by a 1-to-4-unit home that is the borrower's main residence. Not later than 1 year after enactment, the Secretary must report to the House Financial Services Committee and Senate Banking Committee with a proposed pilot program, lasting no more than 4 years, to expand access to FHA-insured small-dollar mortgages, potentially including direct payments to lenders to encourage originating them, adjusted FHA terms and costs for them, direct grants to borrowers for down payments, closing costs, appraisals, and title insurance, and technical assistance and outreach to lenders and borrowers. The report must also analyze how to track the pilot's outcomes and its financial impact on borrowers, the risk the pilot poses to the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund's solvency, and the appropriations needed both to cover the pilot's mortgage costs and to administer and oversee it, including for technology, financial reporting, research, fair housing and lending compliance, and audits. It must include data on how many small-dollar mortgages, federally backed or not, were made in the past 10 years, their original loan balances, borrower demographics, how many lenders offer them, the fixed costs that make it hard for lenders to profit from small loans, and which regions, including rural regions, have the greatest need for and could benefit most from more small-dollar mortgages.
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302. FHA small-dollar mortgages study. Title IV—Protecting Borrowers and Assisted Families Sec.
Sec. 401Exclusion of certain disability benefits
This section changes how certain veterans' disability benefits count toward income for housing assistance. For the HUD supported housing program under section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937, and when a household getting rental assistance under that program is being considered for other types of housing assistance, this section excludes from countable income any disability benefits a veteran receives under chapters 11 or 15 of title 38 of the U.S. Code, except that this exclusion does not apply when calculating "adjusted income." Separately, when States, local governments, or Indian tribes determine whether someone counts as low or moderate income under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, they must now exclude any VA service-connected disability compensation the person receives. For any future HUD housing assistance program (not yet created when this Act is enacted) covering residential units built on Department of Veterans Affairs property after enactment, the Secretary must exclude a veteran's chapter 11 or 15 disability benefits from income when deciding whether that veteran can rent such a unit. Not later than 1 year after enactment, the Comptroller General must report to Congress on how service-connected disability compensation is treated for eligibility purposes across all HUD programs, flag any programs that treat it inconsistently with the new rules in this section, and recommend legislative changes for those programs to better serve veterans and underserved communities.
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401. Exclusion of certain disability benefits. Sec.
Sec. 402Military service question
This section requires Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's regulator to add a disclaimer to the standard mortgage application. Not later than 6 months after enactment, the Director must require both enterprises to add, below the military-service question on the Uniform Residential Loan Application, a statement telling applicants that if they answer yes, they may qualify for a VA home loan and should consult their lender about eligibility. Not later than 18 months after enactment, the Comptroller General must study and report to Congress on whether fewer than 80 percent of lenders using that application form have actually included this disclaimer.
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402. Military service question. Sec.
Sec. 403HUD-USDA-VA Interagency Coordination
This section requires HUD, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Veterans Affairs to coordinate more closely on housing. Not later than 180 days after enactment, the three Secretaries must sign a memorandum of understanding or similar agreement to share housing-related research and market data to support evidence-based policymaking. Not later than 1 year after enactment, the three Secretaries must jointly report to the relevant Senate and House committees on banking, agriculture, and veterans' affairs, describing opportunities for the three agencies to collaborate more and run housing programs more efficiently; before submitting that report, they must publish it in the Federal Register and accept public comment for 30 days.
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403. HUD–USDA–VA Interagency Coordination. Sec.
Sec. 404Family self-sufficiency escrow expansion pilot program
This section creates a 10-year pilot program letting up to 25 selected organizations hold rent-increase savings in escrow for up to 5,000 low-income families receiving public housing or Section 8 assistance. A "covered family" is one that receives assistance under section 8 or 9 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, is enrolled in the pilot, and had an adjusted income at enrollment of no more than 80 percent of the area median income. Not later than 1 year after enactment, the Secretary must select up to 25 eligible entities to run the program, choosing a geographically and organizationally diverse mix of public housing agencies and private owners in both urban and rural areas. Each participating entity must open an interest-bearing escrow account and deposit into it the amount by which a covered family's rent rises because of increases in the family's earned income, and may use its existing section 8 or 9 funds to make that deposit as long as the family's higher rent offsets it. A family can withdraw its escrow funds, plus interest, once it stops receiving welfare assistance, and, generally, only after 5 years of participation, though it may withdraw earlier if it leaves section 8 or 9 assistance sooner, if the funds support an approved self-sufficiency goal, or for other good cause the Secretary allows, and it may keep participating for up to 7 years before it must withdraw. Families must recertify their income at least once a year, and entities cannot require families to sign a separate contract or training plan as a condition of participating. Any increase in a family's earned income while it is in the pilot, and until it withdraws all its escrow funds, does not count as income or a resource for eligibility or benefit amounts under any other HUD program. Participating entities must notify families of their enrollment, explain how the program affects their rent and finances, tell them they cannot be in both this pilot and the regular Family Self-Sufficiency program at the same time, and let them opt out at least 2 weeks before their escrow account is set up or at any later point. A family's rent during the pilot is still calculated under the normal rules in section 3 or 8(o) of the Housing Act, and a family that opts out, or opts in, cannot be delayed, denied, or have its housing assistance terminated because of that choice. The Secretary must select participating entities within 18 months of enactment; each selected entity must set up its escrow accounts within 6 months of being selected and keep them open for at least 5 years. Not later than 8 years after the Secretary selects entities, the Secretary must study and report to Congress on how the pilot affected participating families' economic independence and self-sufficiency. The Secretary may waive the section's requirements to help entities administer the program and make escrow deposits, and the entire pilot program ends 10 years after enactment.
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404. Family self-sufficiency escrow expansion pilot program. Sec.
Sec. 405Reforms to housing counseling and financial literacy programs
This section changes several rules for HUD's housing counseling and financial literacy programs under the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968. It requires that counseling grant recipients be geographically diverse and include organizations serving both urban and rural areas. It requires the Secretary to conduct performance reviews of all participating counseling agencies, checking their compliance with program requirements and, where relevant, factoring in each counselor's performance measured against the default rate of all counseled borrowers of a covered mortgage loan (an FHA-insured or HUD-guaranteed 1-to-4-unit mortgage) in comparable markets, along with any other factors the Secretary finds appropriate to further the counseling program's purposes. If, based on that comparison, the Secretary finds a counselor lacks competence, and suspending that counselor would not significantly reduce counseling capacity in the area, the Secretary may require continuing education and a probationary period, require retesting if problems continue, and permanently revoke the counselor's certification if the counselor fails at least two retests. The Secretary may deny renewal of assistance to a counseling organization found out of compliance based on its performance review, but must give the organization at least 60 days' written notice first, during which the organization may request an informal conference with HUD's Deputy Assistant Secretary of Housing Counseling to explain factors beyond its control, such as poor lender or servicer coordination. Finally, the section requires that a borrower who is 30 or more days delinquent on a covered mortgage, meaning an FHA-insured, HUD-guaranteed, VA-guaranteed, or USDA-guaranteed 1-to-4-unit or co-op mortgage, be offered the chance to get housing counseling, with the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund covering the fair-market cost of that counseling for FHA-insured loans if certain existing statutory conditions are met.
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405. Reforms to housing counseling and financial literacy programs. Sec.
Sec. 406Establishment of eviction helpline
This section requires HUD, not later than 1 year after enactment, to set up a helpline giving tenants of federally assisted rental housing counseling, resources, and referrals on eviction-related matters. This covers rental units assisted under, or part of a project assisted under, HUD's public housing program, Section 8 rental assistance, the HOME Investment Partnerships program, the McKinney-Vento homelessness program, the Housing Trust Fund, supportive housing for the elderly, supportive housing for people with disabilities, the AIDS Housing Opportunities program, and Native American and Native Hawaiian housing programs, as well as any rental property that has a federally backed mortgage loan as defined in the CARES Act.
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406. Establishment of eviction helpline. Sec.
Sec. 407Temperature Sensor Pilot Program
This section directs HUD to run a 3-year pilot program that gives grants to public housing agencies and owners of certain federally assisted rental units, specifically those helped through Section 8 project-based assistance, public housing, elderly supportive housing, or disability supportive housing, to install and test internet-connected temperature sensors that measure air temperature to a tenth of a degree. Not later than 180 days after enactment, the Secretary must set eligibility criteria ensuring the pilot includes a geographically, climate-wise, and unit-type diverse group of participants and must address the sensors' functionality, including internet connectivity needs. Participants must get written permission from residents before installing sensors, must monitor the resulting data, and must collect and keep records of temperature-related complaints and violations, terms the Secretary must define within 180 days of enactment. Sensor data must be kept until the Secretary says the pilot and its evaluation are finished, and the Secretary must set privacy standards for this data within 180 days of enactment. Not later than 12 months after the pilot starts, the Secretary must publish and send Congress a report comparing temperature complaints and violations before and after sensor installation, by sensor technology and climate region, and identifying barriers such as lack of broadband or tenant participation. Not later than 36 months after the pilot ends, the Secretary must publish and send Congress a final report with the same before-and-after comparison, the same barriers analysis, and a comparison of different sensor technologies by climate zone, cost, and features.
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407. Temperature Sensor Pilot Program. Sec.
Sec. 408GAO studies
This section requires two more GAO studies. Not later than 1 year after enactment, the Comptroller General must study and report to Congress on options to remove barriers to, and improve, housing for elderly and disabled people, including the potential effects of providing capital advances for HUD's supportive housing programs for the elderly and for people with disabilities. Separately, not later than 1 year after enactment, the Comptroller General must study and report to Congress on how many residential units, and how many public housing units specifically, sit less than one mile from a site on the National Priorities List of Superfund sites.
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408. GAO studies. Title V—Enhancing Oversight of Housing Providers Sec.
Sec. 501Requirement to testify
This section requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to testify once a year before the House Financial Services Committee and the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee about the Department's operations over the past year, covering its current programs and operations, the physical condition of public housing and other HUD-assisted housing, the financial health of the FHA's mortgage insurance funds, how the Department oversees grantees and sub-grantees to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse, federal progress toward ending the affordable housing and homelessness crises, the Department's capacity to carry out its mission, and any other activities the Secretary considers relevant.
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501. Requirement to testify. Sec.
Sec. 502Disclosure required
This section requires the Secretary, not later than 1 year after enactment, to make every public housing agency publicly post on its own website, for each contract it entered into in the past year, all material information about the contract and the goods or services involved, which vendor won the contract, when the contract was solicited, which bids or quotes were sought, and the name of the official who solicited it.
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502. Disclosure required. Sec.
Sec. 503Investigation and report to Congress
This section directs HUD's Inspector General to investigate the New York City Housing Authority, covering its compliance with the January 31, 2019 agreement among the Authority, HUD, and New York City (including specific deficiencies and progress), the actions and any oversight gaps of the federal monitor appointed under that agreement, the physical condition of the Authority's housing, any waste, fraud, abuse, or federal law violations by its employees or contractors, and any other issues the Inspector General finds relevant. Not later than 180 days after enactment, the Inspector General must report the investigation's results to the House Financial Services Committee and Senate Banking Committee, along with a summary of actions HUD could take to compel the Authority to fix its problems and any other recommendations.
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503. Investigation and report to Congress. Sec.
Sec. 504Federal monitor and receiver testimony
This section requires any federal monitor or receiver who oversaw a public housing agency during the previous year to appear before the House Financial Services Committee and the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee by October 1 of each year and testify about their ongoing oversight of that agency.
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504. Federal monitor and receiver testimony. Sec.
Sec. 505Annual testimony
This section adds a new duty to the existing list of responsibilities in section 203(a) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, requiring annual testimony before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee; the text provided does not show which entity holds the duties listed in that section.
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505. Annual testimony. I Building Smarter for the 21st Century 101. Housing Supply Frameworks (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Affordable housing The term affordable housing means housing for which the monthly payment is not more than 30 percent of the monthly income of the household. (2) Assistant Secretary The term Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. (3) Local zoning framework The term local zoning framework means the local zoning codes and other ordinances, procedures, and policies governing zoning and land-use at the local level. (4) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. (5) State zoning framework The term State zoning framework means the State legislation or State agency and department procedures, or such legislation or procedures in an insular area of the United States, enabling local planning and zoning authorities and establishing and guiding related policies and programs. (b) GUIDELINES ON STATE AND LOCAL ZONING FRAMEWORKS (1) In general Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall publish documents outlining guidelines and best practices to support production of adequate housing to meet the needs of communities and provide housing opportunities for individuals at every income level across communities with respect to— (A) State zoning frameworks; and (B) local zoning frameworks. (2) Consultation; public comment During the 2-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, in developing the guidelines and best practices required under paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary shall— (A) publish draft guidelines and best practices in the Federal Register for public comment; and (B) establish a task force for the purpose of providing consultation to draft the guidelines and best practices published under subparagraph (A), the members of which shall include— (i) urban planners and architects; (ii) housing developers, including affordable and market-rate housing developers, manufactured housing developers, and other business interests; (iii) community engagement experts and community members impacted by zoning decisions; (iv) public housing agencies and transit authorities; (v) members of local zoning and planning boards and local and regional transportation planning organizations; (vi) State officials responsible for housing or land use, including members of State zoning boards of appeals; (vii) academic researchers; and (viii) home builders. (3) Contents The guidelines and best practices required under paragraph (1) shall— (A) with respect to State zoning frameworks, outline potential models for updated State enabling legislation or State agency and department procedures; (B) include recommendations regarding— (i) the reduction or elimination of parking minimums; (ii) the increase in maximum floor area ratio requirements and maximum building heights and the reduction in minimum lot sizes and set-back requirements; (iii) the elimination of restrictions against accessory dwelling units; (iv) increasing by-right uses, including duplex, triplex, or quadplex buildings, across cities or metropolitan areas; (v) mechanisms, including proximity to transit, to determine the appropriate scope for rezoning and ensure development that does not disproportionately burden residents of economically distressed areas; (vi) provisions regarding review of by-right development proposals to streamline review and reduce uncertainty, including— (I) nondiscretionary, ministerial review; and (II) entitlement and design review processes; (vii) the reduction of obstacles, regulatory or otherwise, to a range of housing types at all levels of affordability, including manufactured and modular housing; (viii) State model zoning regulations for directing local reforms, including mechanisms to encourage adoption; (ix) provisions to encourage transit-oriented development, including increased permissible units per structure and reduced minimum lot sizes near existing or planned public transit stations; (x) potential reforms to strengthen the public engagement process; (xi) reforms to protest petition statutes; (xii) the standardization, reduction, or elimination of impact fees; (xiii) cost effective and appropriate building codes; (xiv) models for community benefit agreements; (xv) mechanisms to preserve affordability, limit disruption of low-income communities, and prevent displacement of existing residents; (xvi) with respect to State zoning frameworks— (I) State model codes for directing local reforms, including mechanisms to encourage adoption; (II) a model for a State zoning appeals process, which would— (aa) create a process for developers or builders requesting a variance, conditional use, special permit, zoning district change, similar discretionary permit, or otherwise petitioning a local zoning or planning board for a project including a State-defined amount of affordable housing to appeal a rejection to a State body or regional body empowered by the State; and (bb) establish qualifications for communities to be exempted from the appeals process based on their available stock of affordable housing; and (III) streamlining of State environmental review policies; (xvii) with respect to local zoning frameworks— (I) the simplification and standardization of existing zoning codes; (II) maximum review timelines; (III) best practices for the disposition of land owned by local governments for affordable housing development; (IV) differentiations between best practices for rural, suburban, and urban communities, and communities with different levels of density or population distribution; and (V) streamlining of local environmental review policies; and (xviii) other land use measures that promote access to new housing opportunities identified by the Secretary; and (C) consider— (i) the effects of adopting any recommendation on eligibility for Federal discretionary grants and tax credits for the purpose of housing or community development; (ii) coordination between infrastructure investments and housing planning; (iii) local housing needs, including ways to set and measure housing goals and targets; (iv) a range of affordability for rental units, with a prioritization of units attainable to extremely low-, low-, and moderate-income residents; (v) a range of affordability for homeownership; (vi) accountability measures; (vii) the long-term cost to residents and businesses if more housing is not constructed; (viii) barriers to individuals seeking to access affordable housing in growing communities and communities with economic opportunity; (ix) with respect to State zoning frameworks— (I) distinctions between States providing constitutional or statutory home rule authority to municipalities and States operating under the Dillon Rule, as articulated in Hunter v. Pittsburgh, 207 U.S. 161 (1907); and (II) statewide mechanisms to preserve existing affordability over the long term, including support for land banks and community land trusts; and (x) public comments elicited under paragraph (2)(A); and (xi) other considerations, as identified by the Assistant Secretary. (c) ABOLISHMENT OF THE REGULATORY BARRIERS CLEARINGHOUSE (1) In general The Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse established pursuant to section 1205 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 ( 42 U.S.C. 12705d ) is abolished. (2) Repeal Section 1205 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 ( 42 U.S.C. 12705d ) is repealed. (d) Reporting Not later than 5 years after the date on which the Assistant Secretary publishes the final guidelines and best practices for State and local zoning frameworks under this section, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report describing— (1) the States that have adopted recommendations from the guidelines and best practices, pursuant to section 4 of this Act; (2) a summary of the localities that have adopted recommendations from the guidelines and best practices, pursuant to Section 4 of this Act; (3) a list of States that adopted a State zoning framework; (4) a summary of the modifications that each State has made in their State zoning framework; and (5) a general summary of the types of updates localities have made to their local zoning framework. 102. Accelerating home building grant program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Affordable housing The term affordable housing means housing for which the total monthly housing cost payment is not more than 30 percent of the monthly household income for a household earning not more than 80 percent of the area median income. (2) Covered structure The term covered structure means— (A) a low-rise or mid-rise structure with not more than 25 dwelling units; and (B) includes— (i) an accessory dwelling unit; (ii) infill development; (iii) a duplex; (iv) a triplex; (v) a fourplex; (vi) a cottage court; (vii) a courtyard building; (viii) a townhouse; (ix) a multiplex; and (x) any other structure with not less than 2 dwelling units that the Secretary considers appropriate. (3) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means— (A) a unit of general local government, as defined in section 102(a) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5302(a) ); (B) a municipal membership organization; and (C) an Indian tribe, as defined in section 102(a) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5302(a) ). (4) High opportunity area The term high opportunity area has the meaning given the term in section 1282.1 of title 12, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation. (5) Infill development The term infill development means residential development on small parcels in previously established areas for replacement by new or refurbished housing that utilizes existing utilities and infrastructure. (6) Mixed-income housing The term mixed-income housing means a housing development that is comprised of housing units that promote differing levels of affordability in the community. (7) Pre-reviewed designs The term pre-reviewed designs , also known as pattern books, means sets of construction plans that are assessed and approved by localities for compliance with local building and permitting standards to streamline and expedite approval pathways for housing construction. (8) Rural area The term rural area means any area other than a city or town that has a population of less than 50,000 inhabitants. (9) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. (b) Authority The Secretary may award grants to eligible entities to select pre-reviewed designs of covered structures of mixed-income housing for use in the jurisdiction of the eligible entity, except that such grant awards may not be used for construction, alteration, or repair work. (c) Considerations In reviewing applications submitted by eligible entities for a grant under this section, the Secretary shall consider— (1) the need for affordable housing by the eligible entity; (2) the presence of high opportunity areas in the jurisdiction of the eligible entity; (3) coordination between the eligible entity and a State agency; and (4) coordination between the eligible entity and State, local, and regional transportation planning authorities. (d) Set-Aside for rural areas Of the amount made available in each fiscal year for grants under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that not less than 10 percent shall be used for grants to eligible entities that are located in rural areas. (e) Reports The Secretary shall require eligible entities receiving grants under this section to report on— (1) the impacts of the activities carried out using the grant amounts in improving the production and supply of affordable housing; (2) the pre-reviewed designs selected using the grant amounts in their communities; (3) the number of permits issued for housing development utilizing pre-reviewed designs; and (4) the number of housing units produced in developments utilizing the pre-reviewed designs. (f) Availability of information The Secretary shall— (1) to the extent possible, encourage localities to make publicly available through a website information on the pre-reviewed designs selected and submitted to the Secretary by eligible entities receiving grants under this section, including information on the benefits of use of those designs; and (2) collect, identify, and disseminate best practices regarding such designs and make such information publicly available on the website of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. (g) Design adoption and repayment The Secretary may require an eligible entity to return to the Secretary any grant funds received under this section if the selected pre-reviewed designs submitted under this section have not been adopted during the 5-year period following receipt of the grant, unless that period is extended by the Secretary. 103. Federal guidelines for point-access block buildings (a) In general Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall issue guidelines to provide States, territories, Tribes, and localities with model code language, best practices, and technical guidance that could be used to facilitate the permitting of point-access block residential buildings. (b) Contents When developing the guidelines under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider— (1) fire safety considerations, including sprinkler coverage, smoke detection, ventilation, and building egress performance; (2) construction costs and potential impacts on housing affordability, including the potential for increasing housing supply in high-cost jurisdictions; (3) flexibility for diverse consumer needs, including family sizes, unit configurations, and accessibility; (4) examples of single-stair codes adopted or considered by States and cities in the United States; (5) examples single-stair codes used in relevant international standards; (6) research and model language relating to single-stair codes produced by organizations that focus on point-access block building design and building-code reform; (7) consulting with experts, including developers, architects, fire marshals, researchers, economists, housing authorities, and officials in States that have enacted or piloted single-stair codes; and (8) alternative methods of safety compliance, including options that utilize additional passive or active safety features. (c) Coordination with the International Code Council The Secretary shall coordinate with the International Code Council to encourage the International Code Council to incorporate provisions about point-access block buildings into the International Building Code. (d) Grants The Secretary may award competitive grants to eligible entities to implement pilot projects that evaluate, demonstrate, or validate the safety, feasibility, or cost-effectiveness of point-access block residential buildings. (e) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed to preempt a State or local building code. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Point-access block building The term point-access block building means a Group R-2 occupancy residential structure, as such term is defined by the International Building Code, in which a single internal stairway provides access and egress for all dwelling units in a building that is not greater than 5 stories in height. (2) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means a State, unit of local government, Tribal government, public housing agency, nonprofit housing organization, community development organization, private developer, construction firm, qualified design firm, engineering firm, academic institution, research institution, or any partnership or consortium comprised of 2 or more such types of entities. 104. Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews (a) NEPA streamlining for HUD housing-Related activities (1) In general The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall, in accordance with section 553 of title 5, United States Code, and section 103 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4333 ), expand and reclassify housing-related activities under the necessary administrative regulations as follows: (A) The following housing-related activities shall be subject to regulations equivalent or substantially similar to the regulations entitled exempt activities as set forth in section 58.34 of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on January 1, 2025: (i) Tenant-based rental assistance, as defined in section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f(o) ). (ii) Supportive services, including health care, housing services, permanent housing placement, day care, nutritional services, short-term payment for rent, mortgage, or utility costs, and assistance in gaining access to Federal Government and State and local government benefits and services. (iii) Operating costs, including maintenance, security, operation, utilities, furnishings, equipment, supplies, staff training, and recruitment and other incidental costs. (iv) Economic development activities, including equipment purchases, inventory financing, interest subsidies, operating expenses, and similar costs not associated with construction or expansion of existing operations. (v) Activities to assist homebuyers to purchase existing dwelling units or dwelling units under construction, including closing costs and down payment assistance, interest rate buydowns, and similar activities that result in the transfer of title. (vi) Affordable housing pre-development costs related to obtaining site options, project financing, administrative costs and fees for loan commitment, zoning approvals, and other related activities that do not have a physical impact. (vii) Approval of supplemental assistance, including insurance or guarantee, to a project previously approved by the Secretary. (viii) Emergency homeowner or renter assistance for HVAC, hot water heaters, and other necessary uses of existing utilities required under applicable law. (B) The following housing-related activities shall be subject to regulations equivalent or substantially similar to the regulations entitled, (i) categorical exclusions not subject to section 58.5 and (ii) categorical exclusions not subject to the Federal laws and authorities cited in sections 50.4 in section 58.35(b) and section 50.19, respectively of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on January 1, 2025, if such activities do not materially alter environmental conditions and do not materially exceed the original scope of the project: (i) Acquisition, repair, improvement, reconstruction, or rehabilitation of public facilities and improvements (other than buildings) if the facilities and improvements are in place and will be retained in the same use without change in size or capacity of more than 20 percent, including replacement of water or sewer lines, reconstruction of curbs and sidewalks, and repaving of streets. (ii) Rehabilitation of 1-to-4 unit residential buildings, and existing housing-related infrastructure, such as repairs or rehabilitation of existing wells, septics, or utility lines that connect to that housing. (iii) New construction, development, demolition, acquisition, or disposition on up to 4 scattered site existing dwelling units where there is a maximum of 4 units on any 1 site. (iv) Acquisitions (including leasing) or disposition of, or equity loans on an existing structure, or acquisition (including leasing) of vacant land if the structure or land acquired, financed, or disposed of will be retained for the same use. (C) The following housing-related activities shall be subject to regulations equivalent or substantially similar to the regulations entitled, (i) categorical exclusions subject to section 58.5 and (ii) categorical exclusions subject to the Federal laws and authorities cited in sections 50.4 in section 58.35(a) and section 50.20, respectively, of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on January 1, 2025, if such activities do not materially alter environmental conditions and do not materially exceed the original scope of the project: (i) Acquisitions of open space or residential property, where such property will be retained for the same use or will be converted to open space to help residents relocate out of an area designated as a high-risk area by the Secretary. (ii) Conversion of existing office buildings into residential development, subject to— (I) a maximum number of units to be determined by the Secretary; and (II) a limitation on the change in building size to not more than 20 percent. (iii) New construction, development, demolition, acquisition, or disposition on 5 to 15 dwelling units where there is a maximum of fifteen units on any 1 site. The units can be 15 1-unit buildings or 1 15-unit building, or any combination in between. (iv) New construction, development, demolition, acquisition, or disposition on 15 or more housing units developed on scattered sites when there are not more than 15 housing units on any 1 site, and the sites are more than a set number of feet apart as determined by the Secretary. (v) Rehabilitation of buildings and improvements in the case of a building for residential use with 5 to 15 units, if the density is not increased beyond 15 units and the land use is not changed. (vi) Infill projects consisting of new construction, rehabilitation, or development of residential housing units. (vii) Buyouts, defined as the voluntary acquisition of properties located in a— (I) floodway; (II) floodplain; or (III) other area, clearly delineated by the grantee, that has been impacted by a predictable environmental threat to the safety and wellbeing of program beneficiaries caused or exacerbated by a Federally declared disaster. (2) Report The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives annual reports during the 5-year period beginning on the date that is 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act that provide a summary of findings of reductions in review times and administrative cost reduction, with a particular focus on the affordable housing sector, as a result of the actions set forth in this subsection, and any recommendations of the Secretary for future congressional action with respect to revising categorical exclusions or exemptions under title 24, Code of Federal Regulations. (b) Better Use of Intergovernmental and Local Development for Housing (1) Designation of environmental review procedure The Department of Housing and Urban Development Act ( 42 U.S.C. 3531 et seq. ) is amended by inserting after section 12 ( 42 U.S.C. 3537a ) the following: 13. Designation of environmental review procedure (a) In general Except as provided in subsection (b), the Secretary may, for purposes of environmental review, decision making, and action pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. ), and other provisions of law that further the purposes of such Act, designate the treatment of assistance administered by the Secretary as funds for a special project for purposes of section 305(c) of the Multifamily Housing Property Disposition Reform Act of 1994 ( 42 U.S.C. 3547 ). (b) Exception The designation described in subsection (a) shall not apply to assistance for which a procedure for carrying out the responsibilities of the Secretary under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. ), and other provisions of law that further the purposes of such Act, is otherwise specified in law. . (2) Tribal assumption of environmental review obligations Section 305(c) of the Multifamily Housing Property Disposition Reform Act of 1994 ( 42 U.S.C. 3547 ) is amended— (A) by striking State or unit of general local government each place it appears and inserting State, Indian Tribe, or unit of general local government ; (B) in paragraph (1)(C), in the heading, by striking State or unit of general local government and inserting State, Indian Tribe, or unit of general local government ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (5) Definition of Indian Tribe For purposes of this subsection, the term Indian Tribe means a federally recognized tribe, as defined in section 4(13)(B) of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 ( 25 U.S.C. 4103(13)(B) ). . (c) Infill project defined In this section, the term infill project means a project that— (1) occurs within the geographic limits of a municipality; (2) is adequately served by existing utilities and public services as required under applicable law; (3) is located on a site of previously disturbed land of not more than 5 acres and substantially surrounded by residential or commercial development; (4) will repurpose a vacant or underutilized parcel of land, or a dilapidated or abandoned structure; and (5) will serve a residential or commercial purpose. 105. Federal Housing Agency Application of Environmental Reviews (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Secretary of Agriculture shall enter into a memorandum of understanding to— (1) evaluate categorical exclusions (as defined in section 111 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4336e )) for housing projects funded by amounts from the Department of the Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Agriculture; (2) develop a process to designate a lead agency among the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Agriculture and streamline the adoption of environmental impact statements and environmental assessments approved by the other agency to construct housing projects funded by amounts from both agencies; (3) maintain compliance with environmental regulations under part 58 of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on January 1, 2025; and (4) evaluate the feasibility of a joint physical inspection process for housing projects funded by amounts from the Department of the Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Agriculture. (b) Advisory working group (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish an advisory working group for the purpose of consulting on the implementation of the memorandum of understanding entered into under subsection (a). (2) Members The advisory working group established under paragraph (1) shall consist of rural and non-rural stakeholders, including— (A) affordable housing nonprofit organizations; (B) State housing and housing finance agencies; (C) nonprofit and for-profit home builders and housing developers; (D) property management companies; (E) owners of multifamily properties, including nonprofit and for-profit owners and operators; (F) public housing agencies; (G) residents in housing assisted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development or the Department of Agriculture and representatives of those residents; and (H) housing contract administrators. (c) Report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives a report that includes recommendations for legislative, regulatory, or administrative actions— (1) to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of housing projects funded by amounts from the Department of the Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Agriculture; and (2) that do not materially, with respect to residents of housing projects described in paragraph (1)— (A) reduce the safety of those residents; (B) shift long-term costs onto those residents; or (C) undermine the environmental standards of those residents. 106. Multifamily loan limits (a) In general Title II of the National Housing Act ( 12 U.S.C. 1707 et seq. ) is amended— (1) in section 206A ( 12 U.S.C. 1712a )— (A) in subsection (a), in the matter following paragraph (7), by striking (commencing in 2004 and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting the following: , commencing on January 1, 2026. The adjustment of the Dollar Amounts shall be calculated by the Secretary using the percentage change in the Price Deflator Index of Multifamily Residential Units Under Construction released by the Bureau of the Census from March of the previous year to March of the year in which the adjustment is made, or calculated by the Secretary using an alternative indicator after publishing information about such alternative indicator in the Federal Register for public comment if the Price Deflator Index of Multifamily Residential Units Under Construction is not available or published. ; (B) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows: (b) Rounding The dollar amount of any adjustment described in subsection (a) shall be rounded to the next lower dollar. (c) Publication The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register any adjustments made to the Dollar Amounts. ; (2) in section 207(c)(3)(A) ( 12 U.S.C. 1713(c)(3)(A) )— (A) by striking $38,025 and inserting $167,310 ; (B) by striking $42,120 and inserting $185,328 ; (C) by striking $50,310 and inserting $221,364 ; (D) by striking $62,010 and inserting $272,844 ; (E) by striking $70,200 and inserting $308,880 ; (F) by striking , or not to exceed $17,460 per space ; (G) by striking $43,875 and inserting $193,050 ; (H) by striking $49,140 and inserting $216,216 ; (I) by striking $60,255 and inserting $265,122 ; (J) by striking $75,465 and inserting $332,046 ; and (K) by striking $85,328 and inserting $375,443 ; (3) in section 213(b)(2) ( 12 U.S.C. 1715e(b)(2) )— (A) by striking $41,207 and inserting $181,311 ; (B) by striking $47,511 and inserting $209,048 ; (C) by striking $57,300 and inserting $252,120 ; (D) by striking $73,343 and inserting $322,709 ; (E) by striking $81,708 and inserting $359,515 ; (F) by striking $43,875 and inserting $193,050 ; (G) by striking $49,710 and inserting $218,724 ; (H) by striking $60,446 and inserting $265,962 ; (I) by striking $78,197 and inserting $344,067 ; and (J) by striking $85,836 and inserting $377,678 ; (4) in section 220(d)(3)(B)(iii)(I) ( 12 U.S.C. 1715k(d)(3)(B)(iii)(I) )— (A) by striking $38,025 and inserting $167,310 ; (B) by striking $42,120 and inserting $185,328 ; (C) by striking $50,310 and inserting $221,364 ; (D) by striking $62,010 and inserting $272,844 ; (E) by striking $70,200 and inserting $308,880 ; (F) by striking $43,875 and inserting $193,050 ; (G) by striking $49,140 and inserting $216,216 ; (H) by striking $60,255 and inserting $265,122 ; (I) by striking $75,465 and inserting $332,046 ; and (J) by striking $85,328 and inserting $375,443 ; (5) in section 221(d)(4)(ii)(I) ( 12 U.S.C. 1715l(d)(4)(ii)(I) )— (A) by striking $37,843 and inserting $166,509 ; (B) by striking $42,954 and inserting $188,997 ; (C) by striking $51,920 and inserting $228,448 ; (D) by striking $65,169 and inserting $286,744 ; (E) by striking $73,846 and inserting $324,922 ; (F) by striking $40,876 and inserting $179,854 ; (G) by striking $46,859 and inserting $206,180 ; (H) by striking $56,979 and inserting $250,708 ; (I) by striking $73,710 and inserting $324,324 ; and (J) by striking $80,913 and inserting $356,017 ; (6) in section 231(c)(2)(A) ( 12 U.S.C. 1715v(c)(2)(A) )— (A) by striking $35,978 and inserting $166,509 ; (B) by striking $40,220 and inserting $188,997 ; (C) by striking $48,029 and inserting $228,448 ; (D) by striking $57,798 and inserting $286,744 ; (E) by striking $67,950 and inserting $324,922 ; (F) by striking $40,876 and inserting $179,854 ; (G) by striking $46,859 and inserting $206,180 ; (H) by striking $56,979 and inserting $250,708 ; (I) by striking $73,710 and inserting $324,324 ; and (J) by striking $80,913 and inserting $356,017 ; and (7) in section 234(e)(3)(A) ( 12 U.S.C. 1715y(e)(3)(A) )— (A) by striking $42,048 and inserting $185,011 ; (B) by striking $48,481 and inserting $213,316 ; (C) by striking $58,469 and inserting $257,263 ; (D) by striking $74,840 and inserting $329,296 ; (E) by striking $83,375 and inserting $366,850 ; (F) by striking $44,250 and inserting $194,700 ; (G) by striking $50,724 and inserting $223,186 ; (H) by striking $61,680 and inserting $271,392 ; (I) by striking $79,793 and inserting $351,089 ; and (J) by striking $87,588 and inserting $385,387 . (b) Rule of construction Nothing in this section or the amendments made by this section may be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to revise the statutory exceptions for high-cost percentage and high-cost areas annual indexing. 107. GAO studies (a) Workforce housing study (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study and submit to the Congress a report that— (A) identifies obstacles middle-income households face when looking to secure affordable housing; (B) identifies geographic areas where housing is the most unaffordable and unavailable for middle-income households; (C) includes a list of Federal housing programs, including Federal tax credits, grants, and loan programs, that are not available to middle-income households due to their income status, including Federal housing programs designed to promote affordability; (D) recommends income and other parameters for a clear and consistent Federal definition for the term workforce housing for use when describing the segment of housing that could be made available to such middle-income households in Federal housing programs; and (E) analyzes how to modify or newly develop new Federal housing programs and incentives to include workforce housing if funding commensurate with the additional eligibility were to be made available. (2) Middle-income household defined In this subsection, the term middle income household means a household with an income above 80 percent but that does not exceed 120 percent of the median family income of the area, as determined by the Secretary with adjustments for smaller and larger families. (b) Uniform building code study Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study and submit a report to the Congress that examines the costs and benefits that could be associated with establishing a Federal uniform residential building code, including whether such a code could— (1) reduce the amount of time required for units of local government to approve new construction; (2) reduce the cost of residential construction in the United States; or (3) increase the quality of available and affordable residential housing in the United States. II Modernizing Local Development and Rural Housing Programs 201. HOME Reform (a) In general Section 104 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12704 ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (6)(B), by striking significant ; and (2) by adding at end the following new paragraph: (26) The term infill housing project means a residential housing project that— (A) is located within the geographic limits of a municipality; (B) is adequately served by existing utilities and public services as required under applicable law; (C) is located on a site of previously disturbed land of not more than 5 acres; and (D) is substantially surrounded by residential or commercial development, as determined by the Secretary. . (b) Assistance for low-Income families Title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12721 et seq. ) is amended— (1) in section 214(2), by striking households that qualify as low-income families and inserting families with a household income that does not exceed 100 percent of the median family income of the area, as determined by the Secretary ; (2) in section 215— (A) in subsection (b)(2), by striking whose family qualifies as a low-income family and inserting with a family income that does not exceed 100 percent of the median family income of the area as determined by the Secretary with adjustments for smaller and larger families ; and (B) in subsection (b)(3)(A)(ii), by striking low-income homebuyers and inserting homebuyers with a household income that does not exceed 100 percent of the median family income of the area, as determined by the Secretary with adjustments for smaller and larger families ; and (3) in section 271(c)— (A) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking low-income and inserting families with a household income that does not exceed 100 percent of the median family income of the area as determined by the Secretary with adjustments for smaller and larger families ; and (B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking low-income families and inserting families with a household income that does not exceed 100 percent of the median family income of the area as determined by the Secretary with adjustments for smaller and larger families . (c) Choices made by participating jurisdictions Section 212(a)(2) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12742 ) is amended to read as follows: (2) Limitation The Secretary may not restrict a participating jurisdiction’s choice of rehabilitation, substantial rehabilitation, new construction, reconstruction, acquisition, or other eligible housing uses authorized in paragraph (1) unless such restriction is explicitly authorized under section 223(2). . (d) Use of amounts by certain jurisdictions for infrastructure improvements (1) In general Section 212(a) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12742(a) ) is amended by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: (4) Infrastructure improvements in nonentitlement areas (A) In general A participating jurisdiction may use funds provided under this subtitle for infrastructure improvements, including the installation or repair of water and sewer lines, sidewalks, roads, and utility connections if— (i) such participating jurisdiction does not receive assistance under title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974; and (ii) such improvements are directly related to, and located within or immediately adjacent to— (I) housing assisted under this subtitle; or (II) housing assisted under section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (B) Application of labor standards The labor standards and requirements set forth in section 110 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5310 ) shall apply to any infrastructure improvement conducted using funds provided under this subtitle. (C) Rule of construction Nothing in this paragraph may be construed to impose any requirements of the HOME Investment Partnerships program on housing that benefits from an infrastructure improvement conducted using funds provided under this subtitle but was not otherwise assisted under the HOME Investment Partnerships program. . (2) Rulemaking Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall issue rules to carry out the amendment made by paragraph (1). (e) Per unit investment limitations Section 212(e)(1) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12742(e)(1) ) is amended by striking the second sentence. (f) Affordable rental housing qualifications Section 215(a) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12745(a) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (7) Qualification Exception Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(A), a rental unit shall be considered to qualify as affordable housing under this title if— (A) the unit is occupied by a tenant receiving tenant-based rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f ); (B) the tenant’s contribution toward rent does not exceed the amount permitted under such section 8 assistance; and (C) the total rent for the unit does not exceed the amount approved by the public housing agency administering the assistance under that program. . (g) Affordable homeownership housing qualifications Section 215 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12745(b) ) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking 95 percent and inserting 110 percent ; (B) in paragraph (3)— (i) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking or at the end; (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking and at the end and inserting or ; and (iii) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (C) maintain long-term affordability through a shared equity ownership model, a community land trust, a limited equity cooperative, a community development corporation, or other mechanism approved by the Secretary, that preserves affordability for future eligible homebuyers and ensures compliance with the purposes of this title, including through the use of purchase options, rights of first refusal or other preemptive rights to purchase housing; and ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (c) Qualification exceptions for homeownership (1) Military members A participating jurisdiction, in accordance with terms established by the Secretary, may suspend or waive the income qualifications described in subsection (b)(2) with respect to housing that otherwise meets the criteria described in subsection (b) if the owner of the housing— (A) is a member of a regular component of the armed forces or a member of the National Guard on full-time National Guard duty, active Guard and Reserve duty, or inactive-duty training (as those terms are defined in section 101(d) of title 10, United States Code); and (B) has received— (i) temporary duty orders to deploy with a military unit or military orders to deploy as an individual acting in support of a military operation, to a location that is not within a reasonable distance from the housing, as determined by the Secretary, for a period of not less than 90 days; or (ii) orders for a permanent change of station. (2) Heirs and beneficiaries of deceased owners Housing that meets the criteria described in subsection (b)(3) prior to the death of an owner of such housing shall continue to qualify as affordable housing under this title if— (A) the housing is the principal residence of an heir or beneficiary of the deceased owner, as defined by the Secretary; and (B) the heir or beneficiary, in accordance with terms established by the Secretary, assumes the duties and obligations of the deceased owner with respect to funds provided under this title. . (h) Elimination of expiration of right To draw home investment trust funds Section 218 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12748 ) is amended— (1) by striking subsection (g); and (2) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (g). (i) Adjusted recapture and reuse of set-Aside for community housing developmental organizations Section 231(b) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12771(b) ) is amended to read as follows: (b) Recapture and reuse If any funds reserved under subsection (a) remain uninvested for a period of 24 months, the Secretary shall make such funds available to the participating jurisdiction for any eligible activities under title II of this Act without regard to whether a community housing development organization materially participates in the use of such funds. . (j) Asset recycling information dissemination expansion Section 245(b)(2) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12785(b)(2) ) is amended by striking 95 percent and inserting 110 percent . (k) Environmental review requirements (1) In general Section 288 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12838 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (e) Categorical exemptions The following categories of activities carried out under this title shall be statutorily exempt from environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. ), and shall not require further review under such Act— (1) new construction infill housing projects; (2) acquisition of real property for affordable housing purposes; (3) rehabilitation projects carried out pursuant to section 212(a)(1); and (4) new construction projects of 15 units or less. (f) Removing duplicative reviews (1) In general To the extent practicable and permitted by law, the Secretary shall ensure that a project that has undergone an environmental review under this section shall not be subject to a duplicative environmental review solely due to the addition, substitution, or reallocation of other sources of Federal assistance, if the scope, scale, and location of the project remain substantially unchanged. (2) Coordination of environmental review responsibilities The Secretary shall, by regulation, provide for coordination of environmental review responsibilities with other Federal agencies to streamline inter-agency compliance and avoid unnecessary duplication of effort under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. ) and other applicable laws. (3) Recognition of prior reviews by responsible entities A project may not be subject to an environmental review under this section if a substantially similar review has already been completed by an entity designated under section 104(g)(1) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5304(g)(1) ) or by another entity the Secretary determines to have equivalent authority, if the scope, scale, and location of the project remain substantially unchanged. . (2) Rulemaking Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue such rules as the Secretary determines necessary to carry out the amendment made by this subsection. (l) Application of other specified statutory requirements Title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12721 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following new sections: 291. Application of build America, buy America requirements With respect to activities assisted under this title, requirements under the Build America, Buy America Act ( 41 U.S.C. 8301 note) and any implementing regulations or guidance, shall only apply to infrastructure improvements conducted under section 212(a)(4) using funds provided under subtitle A. 292. Nonapplicability of certain requirements for small projects Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the requirements of section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 ( 12 U.S.C. 1701u ), and any implementing regulations or guidance, shall not apply to an activity assisted under this title that involves rehabilitation, construction, or other development of housing if— (1) the recipient of assistance under this title is— (A) a State recipient pursuant to section 216; or (B) a participating jurisdiction that received a total allocation of less than $3,000,000 in the most recent fiscal year pursuant to section 216; and (2) the total number of dwelling units assisted as a part of such activity is 50 or fewer. . (m) Technical amendments The Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12701 et seq. ) is amended— (1) by striking Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act each place it appears and inserting McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ; and (2) by striking Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs each place it appears and inserting Committee on Financial Services . 202. Community Development Fund Amendments (a) Identifying Regulatory Barriers to Housing Supply Section 104 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5304 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (n) Plan To track and reduce overly burdensome land use policies (1) In general Beginning 1 year after the date of the enactment of this subsection, prior to receipt in any fiscal year of a grant from the Secretary under subsection (b), (d)(1), or (d)(2)(B) of section 106, each recipient shall have prepared and submitted, not less frequently than once during the preceding 5-year period, a description of— (A) whether the jurisdiction served by the recipient has adopted any of the types of land use policies described in paragraph (2) during the preceding 5-year period; (B) the plans the jurisdiction served by the recipient has to adopt and implement any of the types of land use policies described in paragraph (2); and (C) any ways in which the jurisdiction served by the recipient expects the planned adoption of any of the types of land use policies described in paragraph (2) would benefit the jurisdiction. (2) Types of land use policies The types of policies to be considered for the purposes of the submission of information required under paragraph (1) include the following: (A) Expanding by-right multifamily zoned areas. (B) Allowing duplexes, triplexes, or fourplexes in areas zoned primarily for single-family residential homes. (C) Allowing manufactured homes in areas zoned primarily for single-family residential homes. (D) Allowing multifamily development in retail, office, and light manufacturing zones. (E) Allowing single-room occupancy development wherever multifamily housing is allowed. (F) Reducing minimum lot size. (G) Ensuring historic preservation requirements and other land use policies or requirements are coordinated to encourage creation of housing in historic buildings and historic districts. (H) Increasing the allowable floor area ratio by allowing a higher ratio of total floor area in a building in comparison to its lot size. (I) Creating transit-oriented development zones. (J) Streamlining or shortening permitting processes and timelines, including through one-stop and parallel-process permitting. (K) Eliminating or reducing off-street parking requirements. (L) Ensuring impact and utility investment fees accurately reflect required infrastructure needs and related impacts on housing affordability are otherwise mitigated. (M) Allowing off-site construction, including prefabricated construction. (N) Reducing or eliminating minimum unit square footage requirements. (O) Allowing the conversion of office units to apartments. (P) Allowing the subdivision of single-family homes into duplexes. (Q) Allowing accessory dwelling units, including detached accessory dwelling units, on all lots with single-family homes. (R) Establishing density bonuses. (S) Eliminating or relaxing residential property height limitations. (T) Using property tax abatements to enable higher density and mixed-income communities. (U) Donating vacant land for affordable housing development. (V) Enacting other relevant high-density single-family and multifamily zoning policies that the recipient chooses to report. (3) Effect of submission A submission under this subsection shall not be binding with respect to the use or distribution of amounts received under section 106. (4) Acceptance or nonacceptance of plan The acceptance or nonacceptance of any plan submitted under this subsection in which the information required under this subsection is provided may not be considered an endorsement or approval of the plan, policies, or methodologies, or lack thereof. (5) Prohibition on use of information for enforcement Information provided by a recipient to the Secretary under this subsection may not be used as the basis for any enforcement action. . (b) Addition of affordable housing construction as an eligible activity (1) Eligible activity Section 105(a) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5305(a) ) is amended— (A) in paragraph (25)(D), by striking and at the end; (B) in paragraph (26), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (27) the new construction of affordable housing, within the meaning given such term under section 215 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12745 ). . (2) Low and moderate income requirement Section 105(c)(3) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5305(c)(3) ) is amended by striking or rehabilitation and inserting , rehabilitation, or new construction . (3) Applicability The amendments made by this subsection shall apply with respect only to amounts appropriated after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Databases of publicly owned land (1) In general Section 104(b) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5304(b) ) is amended— (A) in paragraph (5), by striking and at the end; (B) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (7) the grantee maintains, on a publicly accessible website, a searchable database that identifies all parcels of undeveloped land owned by the grantee. . (2) Effective date The amendments made by this subsection shall take effect on October 1, 2026. 203. Planning and implementation grants for affordable housing (a) Planning grants Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment if this section, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall, using selection criteria determined by the Secretary, award grants on a competitive basis to regional planning agencies or consortia to use to assist planning activities with respect to affordable housing, including— (1) the development of housing plans; (2) the substantial improvement of State or local housing strategies; (3) the development of new regulatory requirements and processes; (4) the reforming of zoning codes; (5) increasing the capacity to conduct housing inspections; (6) increasing the capacity to reduce barriers to housing supply elasticity and housing affordability; (7) the development of local or regional plans for community development; and (8) the substantial improvement of community development strategies, including strategies designed to— (A) increase the availability of affordable housing and access to affordable housing; (B) increase access to public transportation; and (C) advance sustainable or location-efficient community development goals. (b) Implementation and livable community investment grants (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment if this section, the Secretary shall award implementation grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to use to— (A) implement and administer housing strategies and housing plans; (B) fund any community investments that support goals identified in a housing strategy or housing plan; (C) implement and administer regulatory requirements and processes with respect to reformed zoning codes; (D) increase the capacity to conduct housing inspections; (E) increase the capacity to reduce barriers to housing supply elasticity and housing affordability; (F) implement and administer local or regional plans for community development; and (G) fund any planning to increase— (i) the availability of affordable housing and access to affordable housing; (ii) access to public transportation; and (iii) any location-efficient community development goals. (2) Definitions In this subsection: (A) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means a State, insular area, metropolitan city, or urban county, as such terms are defined in section 102 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. (B) Housing plan The term housing plan means a plan to, with respect to an area within the jurisdiction of an eligible entity— (i) increase the amount of available housing to meet the demand for such housing and any projected increase in the demand for such housing; (ii) increase the affordability of housing; (iii) increase the accessibility of housing for people with disabilities, including location-efficient housing; (iv) preserve or improve the quality of housing; (v) reduce barriers to housing development; and (vi) coordinate with transportation-related agencies. (C) Housing strategy The term housing strategy means a housing strategy required under section 105 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act. (c) Coordination To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall coordinate with the Federal Transit Administrator in carrying out this section. (d) Use for administrative costs Any entity that receives a grant under this section may not use more than 15 percent of such grant amounts for administrative costs. (e) Rules of construction (1) In general Except as otherwise provided by this section, amounts appropriated or otherwise made available under this section shall be subject to the community development block grant program requirements under subsection (a)(1). (2) Exceptions (A) Housing construction Expenditures on new construction of housing shall be an eligible expense under this section. (B) Buildings for general conduct of government Expenditures on building for the general conduct of government, other than the Federal Government, shall be eligible under this section when necessary and appropriate as a part of a natural hazard mitigation project. 204. Rural housing service program improvements (a) In general Section 504(a) of the Housing Act of 1949 ( 42 U.S.C. 1474(a) ) is amended— (1) in the first sentence, by inserting and may make a loan to an eligible low-income applicant after applicant ; (2) by inserting Not less than 60 percent of loan funds made available under this section shall be reserved and made available for very low-income applicants. after the first sentence; and (3) by striking $7,500 and inserting $15,000 . (b) Annual report on rural housing programs Title V of the Housing Act of 1949 ( 42 U.S.C. 1471 et seq. ), as amended by this section, is amended by adding at the end the following: 545. Annual report (a) In general The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and publish on a website of the Department of Agriculture an annual report on the rural housing programs carried out under this title. (b) Contents The report required under subsection (a) shall include shall include significant details on the information about the health of the programs carried out by the Rural Housing Service, including— (1) raw data about loan performance that can be sorted by program and region; (2) a description of the housing stock of such programs; (3) information about why properties end participation in such programs, including maturation prepayment, foreclosure, or other servicing issues; and (4) risk ratings for properties assisted under such programs. (c) Protection of information Data included in a report required under subsection (a) may be aggregated or anonymized to protect the financial information and personal information of program participants. . (c) Application review (1) Sense of Congress It is the sense of the Congress, not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary of Agriculture receives an application for a loan, grant or combined loan and grant under section 502 or 504 of the Housing Act of 1949 ( 42 U.S.C. 1472 , 1474), the Secretary of Agriculture should— (A) review the application; (B) complete the underwriting; (C) make a determination of eligibility with respect to the application; and (D) notify the applicant of determination. (2) Report (A) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until the date described in subparagraph (B), the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives a report that— (i) details the timeliness of eligibility determinations and final determinations with respect to applications under section 502 and 504 of the Housing Act of 1949 ( 42 U.S.C. 1472 , 1474), including justifications for any eligibility determinations taking longer than 90 days; and (ii) includes recommendations to shorten the timeline for notifications of eligibility determinations described in subparagraph (A) to not more than 90 days. (B) Date described The date described in this paragraph is the date on which, during the preceding 5-year period, the Secretary of Agriculture provides each eligibility determination described in subparagraph (A) during the 90-day period beginning on the date on which each application is received. (d) GAO report on Rural Housing Service technology Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Congress a report that includes— (1) an analysis of how the outdated technology used by the Rural Housing Service impacts participants in the programs of the Rural Housing Service; (2) an estimate of the amount of funding that is needed to modernize the technology used by the Rural Housing Service; and (3) an estimate of the number and type of new employees the Rural Housing Service needs to modernize the technology used by the Rural Housing Service. 205. Choice in Affordable Housing (a) Pre-Approval of units Section 8(o)(8)(A) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(8)(A) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (iv) Initial inspection prior to lease agreement (I) Definition In this clause, the term new landlord means an owner of a dwelling unit who has not previously entered into a housing assistance payment contract with a public housing agency under this subsection for any dwelling unit. (II) Early inspection Upon the request of a new landlord, a public housing agency may inspect the dwelling unit owned by the new landlord to determine whether the unit meets the housing quality standards under subparagraph (B) before the unit is selected by a family assisted under this subsection. (III) Effect An inspection conducted under subclause (II) that determines that the dwelling unit meets the housing quality standards under subparagraph (B) shall satisfy the requirements in this subparagraph and subparagraph (C) if the new landlord enters into a lease agreement with a family assisted under this subsection not later than 60 days after the date of the inspection. (IV) Information when family is selected When a public housing agency selects a family to participate in the tenant-based assistance program under this subsection, the public housing agency shall include in the information provided to the family a list of dwelling units that have been inspected under subclause (II) and determined to meet the housing quality standards under subparagraph (B). . (b) Satisfaction of inspection requirements through participation in other housing programs Section 8(o)(8) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(8) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (I) Satisfaction of inspection requirements through participation in other housing programs (i) Low-income housing tax credit-financed buildings A dwelling unit shall be deemed to meet the inspection requirements under this paragraph if— (I) the dwelling unit is in a building, the acquisition, rehabilitation, or construction of which was financed by a person who received a low-income housing tax credit under section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in exchange for that financing; (II) the dwelling unit was physically inspected and passed inspection as part of the low-income housing tax credit program described in subclause (I) during the preceding 12-month period; and (III) the applicable public housing agency is able to obtain the results of the inspection described in subclause (II). (ii) Home investment partnerships program A dwelling shall be deemed to meet the inspection requirements under this paragraph if— (I) the dwelling unit is assisted under the HOME Investment Partnerships Program under title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act; (II) the dwelling unit was physically inspected and passed inspection as part of the program described in subclause (I) during the preceding 12-month period; and (III) the applicable public housing agency is able to obtain the results of the inspection described in subclause (II). (iii) Rural Housing Service A dwelling unit shall be deemed to meet the inspection requirements under this paragraph if— (I) the dwelling unit is assisted by the Rural Housing Service of the Department of Agriculture; (II) the dwelling unit was physically inspected and passed inspection in connection with the assistance described in subclause (I) during the preceding 12-month period; and (III) the applicable public housing agency is able to obtain the results of the inspection described in subclause (II). (iv) Remote or video inspections When complying with inspection requirements for a housing unit located in a rural or small area using assistance under this subtitle, the Secretary may allow a grantee to conduct a remote or video inspection of a unit provided that the remote or video inspection— (I) covers a substantially similar review of the relevant aspects of the unit compared to an in-person inspection; (II) does not misrepresent the condition of the unit; and (III) provides the information necessary to fully and accurately evaluate the conditions of the unit to ensure that the unit meets the applicable standards. (v) Rule of construction Nothing in clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) may be construed to affect the operation of a housing program described in, or authorized under a provision of law described in, that clause. . III Expanding Manufactured and Affordable Housing Finance Opportunities 301. Manufactured Housing Innovations (a) In general Section 603(6) of the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5402(6) ) is amended by striking on a permanent chassis and inserting with or without a permanent chassis . (b) Standards for manufactured homes built without a permanent chassis Section 604(a) of the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5403 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (7) Standards for manufactured homes built without a permanent chassis (A) In general The Secretary shall issue revised standards for manufactured homes built without a permanent chassis and shall consult with the consensus committee in the development of such revised standards, using the process described in paragraph (4). (B) Creating final standards The Secretary shall, after consulting and conferring with the consensus committee, establish standards to include manufactured homes without a permanent chassis have— (i) a distinct label to be issued by the Secretary distinguishing manufactured homes built without a permanent chassis from manufactured homes built on a permanent chassis; (ii) a data plate, as described in section 3280.5 of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, distinguishing manufactured homes built without a permanent chassis from manufactured homes built on a permanent chassis; and (iii) a notation on any invoice produced by the manufacturer of a manufactured home that is distinguishable from the invoice for a manufactured home constructed with a permanent chassis. . (c) Manufactured home standards and certifications Section 604 of the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5403 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (i) Manufactured home standards and certifications (1) In general (A) Initial certification Subject to subparagraph (B), not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection, a State shall submit to the Secretary an initial certification that the laws and regulations of the State— (i) treat a manufactured home without a chassis in parity with a manufactured home (as defined and regulated by the State); and (ii) subject a manufactured home without a permanent chassis to the same laws and regulations of the State as a manufactured home built on a permanent chassis with respect to financing, title, insurance, manufacture, sale, taxes, transportation, installation, and other areas as the Secretary determines, after consultation with and approval by the consensus committee, are necessary to give effect to the purpose of this section. (B) State plan submission Any State plan submitted under subparagraph (C) shall contain the required State certification under subparagraph (A) or paragraph (3) and, if contained therein, no additional or State certification under subparagraph (A) or paragraph (3). (C) Extended deadline With respect to a State with a legislature that meets biennially, the deadline for the submission of the initial certification required under subparagraph (A) shall be 2 years after the date of enactment of this subsection. (D) Late certification (i) No waiver The Secretary may not waive the prohibition described in paragraph (5)(B) with respect to a certification submitted after the deadline under subparagraph (A) or paragraph (3) unless the Secretary approves the late certification. (ii) Rule of construction Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent a State from submitting the initial certification required under subparagraph (A) after the required deadline under that subparagraph. (2) Form of State certification not presented in a State plan The initial certification required under paragraph (1)(A), if not submitted with a State plan under paragraph (1)(B), shall contain, in a form prescribed by the Secretary, an attestation by an official that the State has taken the steps necessary to ensure the veracity of the certification required under paragraph (1)(A), including, as necessary, by— (A) amending the definition of manufactured home in the laws and regulations of the State; and (B) directing State agencies to amend the definition of manufactured home in regulations. (3) Annual recertification Not later than a date to be determined by the Secretary each year, a State shall submit to the Secretary an additional certification that— (A) confirms the accuracy of the initial certification submitted under subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1); and (B) certifies that any new laws or regulations enacted or adopted by the State since the date of the previous certification do not change the veracity of the initial certification submitted under paragraph (1)(A). (4) List The Secretary shall publish and maintain in the Federal Register and on the website of the Department of Housing and Urban Development a list of States that are up-to-date with the submission of initial and subsequent certifications required under this subsection. (5) Prohibition (A) Definition In this paragraph, the term covered manufactured home means a home that is— (i) not considered a manufactured home under the laws and regulations of a State because the home is constructed without a permanent chassis; (ii) considered a manufactured home under the definition of the term in section 603; and (iii) constructed after the date of enactment of this subsection. (B) Building, installation, and sale If a State does not submit a certification under paragraph (1)(A) or paragraph (3) by the date on which those certifications are required to be submitted— (i) with respect to a State in which the State administers the installation of manufactured homes, the State shall prohibit the manufacture, installation, or sale of a covered manufactured home within the State; and (ii) with respect to a State in which the Secretary administers the installation of manufactured homes, the State and the Secretary shall prohibit the manufacture, installation, or sale of a covered manufactured home within the State. . (d) Other Federal laws regulating manufactured homes The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may coordinate with the heads of other Federal agencies to ensure that Federal agencies treat a manufactured home (as defined in Federal laws and regulations other than section 603 of the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5402 )) in the same manner as a manufactured home (as defined in section 603 of the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5402 ), as amended by this Act). (e) Assistance to States Section 609 of the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5408 ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking and at the end; (2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (3) model guidance to support the submission of the certification required under section 604(i). . (f) Preemption Nothing in this section or the amendments made by this section may be construed as limiting the scope of Federal preemption under section 604(d) of the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5403(d) ). (g) Primary authority To establish manufactured home construction and safety standards The National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5401 et seq. ) is further amended— (1) in section 603(7), by inserting energy efficiency, after design, ; and (2) in section 604, by adding at the end the following: (j) Primary authority To establish standards (1) In general The Secretary shall have the primary authority to establish Federal manufactured home construction and safety standards. (2) Approval from Secretary (A) In general The head of any Federal agency that seeks to establish a manufactured home construction and safety standard on or after the date of the enactment of this subsection— (i) shall submit to the Secretary a proposal describing such standard; and (ii) may not establish such standard without approval from the Secretary. (B) Rejection of standards The Secretary shall reject a standard submitted to the Secretary for approval under subparagraph (A)— (i) if the standard would significantly increase the cost of producing manufactured homes, as determined by the Secretary; (ii) if the standard would conflict with existing manufactured home construction and safety standards established by the Secretary; or (iii) for any other reason as determined appropriate by the Secretary. (C) Rule of construction Nothing in this subsection may be construed to require the Secretary to establish new or revised Federal manufactured home construction and safety standards. . 302. FHA small-dollar mortgages study (a) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives a report about small-dollar mortgages that— (1) provides a proposal for a pilot program, to last not longer than 4 years, to increase access for individuals to small-dollar mortgages insured or guaranteed by the Secretary under title II of the National Housing Act to be established by the Federal Housing Administration that may include— (A) authorizing direct payments to lenders to incentivize the origination of small-dollar mortgages; (B) adjustments to the terms and costs the Federal Housing Administration requires with respect to such small-dollar mortgages; (C) providing direct grants for mortgagors obtaining such small-dollar mortgages to cover costs associated with— (i) down payments; (ii) closing costs; (iii) appraisals; and (iv) title insurance; and (D) technical assistance for lenders and financial institutions that originate such small-dollar mortgages and outreach to borrowers about the availability of such small-dollar mortgages; (2) provides a detailed analysis and projections about— (A) a methodology for tracking and evaluating the outcomes of small-dollar mortgages insured or guaranteed by the Secretary under title II of the National Housing Act to which access is provided through the pilot program, including the financial impact of such loans on the economic status of the mortgagors associated with such small-dollar mortgages; (B) potential risks of pilot program to the solvency of the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund; (C) the amount of appropriations required to cover the costs associated with insuring, guaranteeing, and modifying small-dollar mortgages over the length of the pilot program; and (D) the amount of appropriations necessary for the Secretary to administer and oversee the pilot program, including amounts to be used for information technology, financial reporting, research and evaluations, fair housing and fair lending compliance, audits, and for such other activities the Secretary determines necessary to increase access to small-dollar mortgages; and (3) includes data and analysis relating to small-dollar mortgages, including— (A) the number of small-dollar mortgages originated in the 10-year period preceding the date of the enactment of this section, including small-dollar mortgages insured or guaranteed by the Federal Government and small-dollar mortgages not insured by the Federal Government; (B) the original principal balance of each small-dollar mortgage identified under subparagraph (A); (C) demographic information about the mortgagors associated with each such small-dollar mortgages; (D) the number of financial institutions that offer small-dollar mortgages; (E) a description of the fixed costs that are associated with mortgages and the impact of such costs on the ability of lenders to earn a market rate return on small-dollar mortgages; and (F) analysis by regions of the United States, including rural regions, that identifies regions with the greatest need for, and the highest likelihood of, the origination of small-dollar mortgages and regions that could benefit the most from increased availability of small-dollar mortgages. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Small-dollar mortgage defined The term small-dollar mortgage means a mortgage that— (A) has an original principal balance of $100,000 or less; and (B) is secured by a 1- to 4-unit property that is the principal residence of the mortgagor. (2) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. IV Protecting Borrowers and Assisted Families 401. Exclusion of certain disability benefits (a) In general Section 3(b)(4)(B) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)(4)(B) ) is amended— (1) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as clauses (vi) and (vii), respectively; and (2) by inserting after clause (iii) the following: (iv) with respect to the supported housing program under section 8(o)(19), any disability benefits received under chapter 11 or chapter 15 of title 38, United States Code, received by a veteran, except that this exclusion may not apply to the definition of adjusted income; (v) with respect to any household receiving rental assistance under the supported housing program under section 8(o)(19) as it relates to eligibility for other types of housing assistance, any disability benefits received under chapter 11 or chapter 15 of title 38, United States Code, received by a veteran, except that this exclusion may not apply to the definition of adjusted income; . (b) Service-Connected disability compensation Section 102(a)(20) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5302(a)(20) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (C) Service-connected disability compensation When determining whether a person is a person of low and moderate income, a person of low income, or a person of moderate income under this paragraph, a State, unit of general local government, or Indian tribe shall exclude any service-connected disability compensation received by such person from the Department of Veterans Affairs. . (c) Treatment of certain disability benefits When determining the eligibility of a veteran to rent a residential dwelling unit constructed on Department property on or after the date of the enactment of this Act, for which assistance is provided as part of a housing assistance program administered by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and not yet in existence at the time of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall exclude from income any disability benefits received under chapter 11 or chapter 15 of title 38, United States Code, by such person. (d) Report The Comptroller General of the United States shall, not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, submit to the Congress a report that— (1) examines how service-connected disability compensation is treated for the purposes of determining eligibility for all programs administered by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; (2) identifies any instances where service-connected disability compensation is treated in a manner inconsistent with the amendments made by subsections (a) and (b); and (3) with respect to each program administered by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in which service-connected disability compensation is treated inconsistently, provides legislative recommendations relating to how such program could better serve veteran populations, and under-served communities. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. (2) Department property The term Department property has the meaning given the term in section 901 of title 38, United States Code. 402. Military service question (a) In general Subpart A of part 2 of the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 ( 12 U.S.C. 4541 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: 1329. Uniform residential loan application Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this section, the Director shall, by regulation or order, require each enterprise to include a disclaimer below the military service question on the form known as the Uniform Residential Loan Application stating, If yes, you may qualify for a VA Home Loan. Consult your lender regarding eligibility. . . (b) GAO study Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study and submit to the Congress a report on whether or not less than 80 percent of lenders using the Uniform Residential Loan Application have included on that form the disclaimer required under section 1329 of the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992, as added by subsection (a). 403. HUD–USDA–VA Interagency Coordination (a) Memorandum of understanding Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a memorandum of understanding, or other appropriate interagency agreement, to share relevant housing-related research and market data that facilitates evidence-based policymaking. (b) Interagency report (1) Report Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services, the Committee on Agriculture, and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report that describes opportunities for increased collaboration between the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve efficiencies in housing programs. (2) Publication The report required under paragraph (1) shall, prior to submission, be published in the Federal Register and open for comment for a period of 30 days. 404. Family self-sufficiency escrow expansion pilot program Title I of the of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: 39. Escrow expansion pilot program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Covered family The term covered family means a family that— (A) receives assistance under section 8 or 9 of this Act; (B) is enrolled in the pilot program; and (C) has an adjusted income that does not exceed 80 percent of the area median income at the time of enrollment in the pilot program. (2) Eligible entity The term eligible entity means an entity described in subsection (c)(2) of section 23. (3) Pilot program The term pilot program means the pilot program established under this section. (4) Welfare assistance The term welfare assistance has the meaning given the term in section 984.103 of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation. (b) Program establishment The Secretary shall, not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, establish a pilot program under which the Secretary shall select not more than 25 eligible entities to establish and manage escrow accounts for not more than 5,000 covered families, in accordance with this subsection. (c) Escrow accounts (1) In general An eligible entity selected to participate in the pilot program— (A) shall establish an interest-bearing escrow account and place into the account an amount equal to any increase in the amount of rent paid by each covered family in accordance with the provisions of section 3, 8(o), or 8(y), as applicable, that is attributable to increases in earned income by the covered families during the participation of each covered family in the pilot program; and (B) notwithstanding any other provision of law, may use existing funds it controls under section 8 or 9 for purposes of making the escrow deposit for covered families assisted under, or residing in units assisted under, section 8 or 9, respectively, provided such funds are offset by the increase in the amount of rent paid by the covered family. (2) Withdrawls A covered family may withdraw funds, including any interest earned, from an escrow account established by an eligible entity under the pilot program for such covered family— (A) after the covered family ceases to receive welfare assistance; and (B) (i) not earlier than the date that is 5 years after the date on which the eligible entity establishes the escrow account under this subsection; (ii) not later than the date that is 7 years after the date on which the eligible entity establishes the escrow account under this subsection, if the covered family chooses to continue to participate in the pilot program after the date that is 5 years after the date on which the eligible entity establishes the escrow account; (iii) on the date the covered family ceases to receive housing assistance under section 8 or 9, if such date is earlier than 5 years after the date on which the eligible entity establishes the escrow account; (iv) earlier than 5 years after the date on which the eligible entity establishes the escrow account, if the covered family is using the funds to advance a self-sufficiency goal as approved by the eligible entity; or (v) under other circumstances in which the Secretary determines an exemption for good cause is warranted. (3) Interim recertification For the purposes of the pilot program established under this section, a covered family shall recertify income not less than once each year. (4) Contract or plan A covered family may not be required by an eligible entity to complete a contract that requires the participation of the covered family in the pilot program established under this section or any individual training or services plan as a condition for participating in the pilot program. (d) Effect of increases in family income The amount equal to any increase in the earned income of a covered family from the date of enrollment of the covered family in the pilot program established under this section through the date all funds are withdrawn from the escrow account may not be considered as income or a resource for purposes of eligibility of the covered family for other benefits, or amount of benefits payable to the family, under any program administered by the Secretary. (e) Application (1) In general An eligible entity seeking to participate in the pilot program shall submit to the Secretary an application— (A) at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require by notice; and (B) that includes the number of covered families to which the eligible entity intends to provide escrow accounts under this subsection. (2) Geographic and entity variety The Secretary shall ensure that eligible entities selected to participate in the pilot program— (A) are located across various States and in both urban and rural areas; and (B) vary by size and type, including both public housing agencies and private owners of projects receiving project-based rental assistance under section 8. (f) Notification and opt-Out An eligible entity participating in the pilot program shall— (1) notify each covered family of their enrollment in the pilot program; (2) provide each covered family with a detailed description of the pilot program, including how the pilot program will impact their rent and finances; (3) inform each covered family that the family may not simultaneously participate in the pilot program and the Family Self-Sufficiency program under this section; and (4) provide each covered family with the ability to elect not to participate in the pilot program— (A) not less than 2 weeks before the date on which the escrow account is established under subsection (c); and (B) at any point during the duration of the pilot program. (g) Maximum rents During the term of participation by a covered family in the pilot program, the amount of rent paid by the covered family shall be calculated under the rental provisions of section 3 or 8(o), as applicable. (h) Pilot program timeline (1) Awards Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall select the eligible entities to participate in the pilot program. (2) Establishment and terms of accounts An eligible entity selected to participate in the pilot program shall— (A) not later than 6 months after selection, establish escrow accounts under subsection (c) for covered families; and (B) maintain those escrow accounts for not less than 5 years, or until the date the family ceases to receive assistance under section 8 or 9, and, at the discretion of the covered family, not more than 7 years after the date on which the escrow account is established. (i) Nonparticipation and housing assistance (1) In general A family that elects not to participate in the pilot program may not be delayed or denied assistance under section 8 or 9 for reason of such election. (2) No termination Housing assistance may not be terminated as a consequence of participating, or not participating, in the pilot program under this subsection for any period of time. (j) Study Not later than 8 years after the date the Secretary selects eligible entities to participate in the pilot program under this subsection, the Secretary shall conduct a study and submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives a report on outcomes for covered families that participated in the pilot program, which shall evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot program in assisting families to achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency, and the impact coaching and supportive services (this does not seem to be part of this pilot program), or the lack thereof, had on individual incomes. (k) Waivers To allow selected eligible entities to effectively administer the pilot program and make the required escrow account deposits under this subsection, the Secretary may waive requirements under this section. (l) Termination The pilot program established under this subsection shall terminate on the date that is 10 years after the date of enactment of this section. . 405. Reforms to housing counseling and financial literacy programs (a) In general Section 106 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 ( 12 U.S.C. 1701x ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(4)(C), by striking adequate distribution and all that follows through foreclosure rates and inserting that the recipients are geographically diverse and include organizations that serve urban or rural areas ; (2) in subsection (e), by adding at the end the following: (6) Performance review The Secretary— (A) may conduct periodic on-site reviews; and (B) shall conduct performance reviews of all participating agencies that— (i) consist of a review of the participating agency’s compliance with all program requirements; and (ii) may take into account the agency’s aggregate counselor performance under paragraph (7)(B). (7) Considerations (A) Covered mortgage loan defined In this paragraph, the term covered mortgage loan means any loan which is secured by a first or subordinate lien on residential real property (including individual units of condominiums and cooperatives) designed principally for the occupancy of between 1 and 4 families that is— (i) insured by the Federal Housing Administration under title II of the National Housing Act ( 12 U.S.C. 1707 et seq. ); or (ii) guaranteed under section 184 or 184A of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 1715z–13a, 1715z–13b). (B) Comparison For each counselor employed by an organization receiving assistance under this section for pre-purchase housing counseling, the Secretary may consider the performance of the counselor compared to the default rate of all counseled borrowers of a covered mortgage loan in comparable markets and such other factors as the Secretary determines appropriate to further the purposes of this section. (8) Certification If, based on the comparison required under paragraph (7)(B), the Secretary determines that a counselor lacks competence to provide counseling in the areas described in subsection (e)(2) and such action will not create a significant loss of capacity for housing counseling services in the service area, the Secretary may— (A) require continued education coupled with successful completion of a probationary period; (B) require retesting if the counselor continues to demonstrate a lack of competence under paragraph (7)(B); and (C) permanently suspend an individual certification if a counselor fails to demonstrate competence after not fewer than 2 retesting opportunities under subparagraph (B). ; (3) in subsection (i)— (A) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and (B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: (3) Termination of assistance (A) In general The Secretary may deny renewal of covered assistance to an organization or entity receiving covered assistance if the Secretary determines that the organization or entity, or the individual through which the organization or entity provides counseling, is not in compliance with program requirements— (i) based on the performance review described in subsection (e)(6); and (ii) in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary. (B) Notice The Secretary shall give an organization or entity receiving covered assistance not less than 60 days prior written notice of any denial of renewal under this paragraph, and the determination of renewal shall not be finalized until the end of that notice period. (C) Informal conference If requested in writing by the organization or entity within the notice period described in subparagraph (B), the organization or entity shall be entitled to an informal conference with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Housing Counseling on behalf of the Secretary at which the organization or entity may present for consideration specific factors that the organization or entity believes were beyond the control of the organization or entity and that caused the failure to comply with program requirements, such as a lack of lender or servicer coordination or communication with housing counseling agencies and individual counselors. ; and (4) by adding at the end the following: (j) Offering foreclosure mitigation counseling (1) Covered mortgage loan defined In this subsection, the term covered mortgage loan means any loan which is secured by a first or subordinate lien on residential real property (including individual units of condominiums and housing cooperatives) or stock or membership in a cooperative ownership housing corporation designed principally for the occupancy of between 1 and 4 families that is— (A) insured by the Federal Housing Administration under title II of the National Housing Act ( 12 U.S.C. 1707 et seq. ); (B) guaranteed under section 184 or 184A of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 1715z–13a, 1715z–13b); (C) made, guaranteed, or insured by the Department of Veterans Affairs; or (D) made, guaranteed, or insured by the Department of Agriculture. (2) Opportunity for borrowers A borrower with respect to a covered mortgage loan who is 30 days or more delinquent on payments for the covered mortgage loan shall be given an opportunity to participate in available housing counseling. (3) Cost If the requirements of sections 202(a)(3) and 205(f) of the National Housing Act ( 12 U.S.C. 1708(a)(3) , 1711(f)) are met, the fair market rate cost of counseling for delinquent borrowers described in paragraph (2) with respect to a covered mortgage loan described in paragraph (1)(A) shall be paid for by the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund, as authorized under section 203(r)(4) of the National Housing Act ( 12 U.S.C. 1709(r)(4) ). . 406. Establishment of eviction helpline (a) In general The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall, not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, establish a helpline to provide tenants of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units with counseling, resources, and referrals to available assistance relating to eviction-related matters. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Assistance The term assistance means any grant, loan, subsidy, contract, cooperative agreement, or other form of financial assistance, but such term does not include the insurance or guarantee of a loan, mortgage, or pool of loans or mortgages. (2) Covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit The term covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit means a residential dwelling unit that— (A) is made available for rental; and (B) (i) for which assistance is provided, or that is part of a housing project for which assistance is provided, under any program administered by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, including— (I) the public housing program under the United States Housing Act of 1937 21 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq. ); (II) the program for rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f ); (III) the HOME Investment Partnerships program under title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12721 et seq. ); (IV) title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 11360 et seq. ); (V) the Housing Trust Fund program under section 1338 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 ( 12 U.S.C. 4568 ); (VI) the program for supportive housing for the elderly under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 ( 12 U.S.C. 1701q ); (VII) the program for supportive housing for persons with disabilities under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 8013 ); (VIII) the AIDS Housing Opportunities program under subtitle D of title VIII of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 12901 et seq. ); (IX) the program for Native American housing under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 ( 25 U.S.C. 4101 et seq. ); and (X) the program for housing assistance for Native Hawaiians under title VIII of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 7 ( 25 U.S.C. 4221 et seq. ); or (ii) is a property, or is on or in a property, that has a federally backed mortgage loan or federally backed multifamily mortgage loan, as 11 such terms are defined in section 4024(a) of the CARES Act ( 15 U.S.C. 9058(a) ). 407. Temperature Sensor Pilot Program (a) In general The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall establish a temperature sensor 3-year pilot program to provide grants to public housing agencies and owners of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units to install and test the efficacy of temperature sensors in residential dwelling units to ensure such units remain in compliance with temperature requirements. (b) Eligibility (1) In general The Secretary shall, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, establish eligibility criteria for participation in the pilot program established pursuant to subsection (a). (2) Criteria In establishing the eligibility criteria described in paragraph (a), the Secretary shall ensure— (A) the pilot program includes a diverse range of participants that represent different geographic regions, climate regions, unit sizes and types of housing; and (B) that the functionality of the temperature sensors that will be installed and tested using amounts awarded under this section, including internet connectivity requirements. (c) Installation Each public housing agency or owner of a covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit that receives 1 or more temperature sensors under this section shall, after receiving written permission from the resident of a dwelling unit, install such temperature sensor and monitor the data from such temperature sensor. (d) Collection of complaint records (1) In general Each public housing agency or owner of a covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit that receives 1 or more temperature sensors under this section shall collect and retain information about temperature-related complaints and violations. (2) Definitions The Secretary shall, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, define the terms temperature-related complaints and temperature-related violations for the purposes of this section. (e) Data collection (1) In general Data collected from temperature sensors provided to public housing agencies and owners of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units under this section shall be retained until the Secretary notifies the public housing agency or owner that the pilot program and the evaluation of the pilot program are complete. (2) Personally identifiable information The Secretary shall, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, establish standards for the protection of personally identifiably information collected during the pilot program by public housing agencies, owners of federally assisted rental dwelling units, and the Secretary. (f) Pilot program evaluation (1) Interim evaluation Not later than 12 months after the establishment of the pilot program under this section, the Secretary shall publicly publish and submit to the Congress a report that— (A) examines the number of temperature-related complaints and violations in Federally assisted rental dwelling units with temperature sensors, disaggregated by temperature sensor technology and climate region— (i) that occurred before the installation of such sensor, if known; and (ii) that occurred after the installation of such sensor; and (B) identifies any barriers to full utility of temperature sensor capabilities, including broadband internet access and tenant participation. (2) Final evaluation Not later than 36 months after the conclusion of the pilot program established by the Secretary under this section, the Secretary shall publicly publish and submit to the Congress a report that— (A) examines the number of temperature-related complaints and violations in federally assisted rental dwelling units with temperature sensors, disaggregated by temperature sensor technology and climate region— (i) that occurred before the installation of such sensor; and (ii) that occurred after the installation of such sensor; (B) identifies any barriers to full utility of temperature sensor capabilities, including broadband internet access and tenant participation; and (C) compare the utility of various temperature sensor technologies based on— (i) climate zones; (ii) cost; (iii) features; and (iv) any other factors identified by the Secretary. (g) Definitions For the purposes of this section: (1) Temperature sensor The term temperature sensor means an internet capable temperature reporting device able to measure ambient air temperature to the tenth degree Fahrenheit and Celsius. (2) Covered federally assisted housing The term covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit means a residential dwelling unit that is made available for rental and for which assistance is provided, or that is part of a housing project for which assistance is provided, under— (A) the program for project-based rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f ); (B) the public housing program under the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq. ); (C) the program for supportive housing for the elderly under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 ( 12 U.S.C. 1701q ); or (D) the program for supportive housing for persons with disabilities under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 8013 ). (3) Owner The term owner means— (A) with respect to the program for project-based rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437f ), any private person or entity, including a cooperative, an agency of the Federal Government, or a public housing agency, having the legal right to lease or sublease dwelling units; (B) with respect to public housing program under the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq. ), a public housing agency or an owner entity of public housing units as defined in section 905.108 of title 24, Code of Federal Regulations; (C) with respect to the program for supportive housing for the elderly under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 ( 12 U.S.C. 1701q ), a private nonprofit organization as defined under section 202(k)(4) of the Housing Act of 1959; and (D) with respect to the program for supportive housing for persons with disabilities under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 8013 ), a private nonprofit organization as defined under section 811(k)(5) of section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act. 408. GAO studies (a) Report to Congress Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this act, the Comptroller General of the United States carry out a study and submit to the Congress a report that identifies options to remove barriers and improve housing for persons who are elderly or disabled, including any potential impacts of providing capital advances for— (1) the program for supportive housing for the elderly under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959; and (2) the program for supportive housing for persons with disabilities under section 811 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act. (b) GAO study To determine proximity of housing to Superfund sites Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Comptroller General of the United States shall carry out a study and submit to the Congress a report that identifies how many residential dwelling units, and how many dwelling units that are a part of public housing (as such term is defined in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(B))), are located less than one mile from a site that is included on the National Priorities List established pursuant to section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 ( 42 U.S.C. 9605 ). V Enhancing Oversight of Housing Providers 501. Requirement to testify Section 7 of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act ( 42 U.S.C. 3535 ) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (u) Annual testimony The Secretary shall appear before the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate at an annual hearing and present testimony regarding the operations of the Department during the preceding year, including— (1) the current programs and operations of the Department; (2) the physical condition of all public housing and other housing assisted by the Department; (3) the financial health of the mortgage insurance funds of the Federal Housing Agency; (4) oversight by the Department of grantees and sub-grantees for purposes of preventing waste, fraud, and abuse; (5) the progress made by the Federal Government in ending the affordable housing and homelessness crises; (6) the capacity of the Department to deliver on its statutory mission; and (7) other ongoing activities of the Department, as appropriate. . 502. Disclosure required The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall, not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, require each public housing agency (as such term is defined in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437a(b) )) to publicly disclose, on the website of the public housing agency, with respect to each contract entered into by such public housing agency in the preceding year the following: (1) All material information about the contract, including the goods and service provided. (2) The vendor selected to receive the contract. (3) The date of the solicitation of the contract. (4) The bids and quotes solicited. (5) The name of official who solicited the contract. 503. Investigation and report to Congress (a) Investigation The Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development shall conduct an investigation of the New York City Housing Authority, which shall include— (1) the status of the New York City Housing Authority’s compliance with the agreement entered into between the New York City Housing Authority, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the City of New York on January 31, 2019, including specific areas of deficiency and progress towards compliance; (2) a review of actions taken by the monitor of the New York City Housing Authority pursuant to such Agreement, including any gaps in oversight by the Monitor; (3) a survey of the physical conditions of housing provided by the New York City Housing Authority for residents of the City of New York; (4) an examination of any waste, fraud, abuse and violations of Federal law committed by employees or contractors of the New York City Housing Authority; and (5) information on other issues and areas, as deemed necessary and appropriate by the Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. (b) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development shall provide to the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate a report that includes— (1) the results of the investigation conducted under subsection (a); (2) a summary of actions that the Department of Housing and Urban Development may take to compel the New York City Housing Authority to remedy any deficiencies; and (3) any other recommendations of the Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. 504. Federal monitor and receiver testimony Not later than October 1 of each year, any Federal monitor or receiver that has provided oversight of a public housing agency (as such term is defined in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437a(b) )) in the previous year shall appear before the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and present testimony on the ongoing management and oversight activities of the public housing agency by the Federal monitor or receiver. 505. Annual testimony Section 203(a) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act ( 42 U.S.C. 11313(a) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (12) by striking and at the end; (2) in paragraph (13) striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (14) testify annually before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate. .
Where it is
In the House.