Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act of 2024

HR 9181, the Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act of 2024, requires new single-family homes, townhouses, and ground-floor units in small buildings (max 3 units) to include basic accessibility features if they receive federal funding for design or construction. It mandates that these "covered dwelling units" meet ANSI visitability standards - such as zero-step entries, wide doorways, and accessible bathroom doors - ensuring they are usable for people with mobility challenges. Developers must submit plans for approval to state or local agencies to verify compliance before construction begins. The law applies only to homes first occupied more than one year after the bill's enactment and does not override stricter state accessibility laws.