The NO TOD Act prohibits the use of federal transportation funding for transit-oriented development projects, which are commercial or residential developments located near public transit. This legislation removes eligibility for the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program and eliminates certain planning initiatives that previously supported such developments. The changes apply to projects applying for funding after the bill is enacted, directly affecting developers, transit agencies, and local governments seeking federal assistance for mixed-use projects near transit stations.
This bill establishes a demonstration program that provides up to 15 competitive grants to local governments and public housing agencies to help develop workforce and affordable housing in areas where the workforce is expanding. To receive funding, recipients must submit applications that outline existing and proposed zoning reforms, such as upzoning, expedited permitting, and removal of parking minimums, along with implementation timelines. The grants can be used for converting commercial spaces to housing, developing new units, providing technical assistance, and acquiring properties, with at least 30 percent of created units required to be affordable housing. The program prioritizes jurisdictions that have already reduced regulatory barriers and aims to include urban, suburban, and rural areas, while requiring a study to evaluate the program's effectiveness on housing timelines and production.
The American Homes First Act redirects $1 billion in previously appropriated funds from the State Department to the Department of Health and Human Services. These funds will be used to support the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps low-income households pay for heating and cooling costs. The bill prevents the use of these funds for the Board of Peace, an international organization designated by a previous executive order. This change directly affects low-income families who rely on energy assistance and alters how specific federal budget allocations are distributed.
The VA Appraisal Modernization Act establishes a new system for setting and adjusting appraisal fees for Department of Veterans Affairs home loans. It creates two special categories of counties - high-demand and remote - to address appraiser shortages and long wait times. High-demand counties, where appraisal delays exceed standards or appraiser availability is low, will see fees increase annually starting in 2027, with higher rates for counties facing persistent shortages. Remote counties, defined by low appraiser density or long travel distances, will receive mileage reimbursements for appraisers. The bill also requires the VA to publish fee schedules, notify appraisers of changes, and submit reports on the program's financial impact and effectiveness.
The Military Financial Literacy Act of 2026 expands personalized financial and housing counseling services for members of the Armed Forces. It requires the Department of Defense to establish a one-on-one counseling program within one year that covers credit management, budgeting, anti-predatory lending, rental planning, VA home loans, and legal protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. The program must partner with HUD-approved, tax-exempt Veteran Service Organizations that have expertise in financial literacy and housing stability. The Secretary of Defense must submit a report to Congress within two years detailing the number of service members who received counseling, completion rates, and indicators of financial stress or housing instability among participants.
The FARM Stability Act proposes changes to wage requirements for H-2A temporary agricultural workers in the United States. It would require the Secretary of Labor to establish a two-tiered wage system based on skill levels, with higher pay for workers who have formal training or significant experience compared to entry-level workers. The bill also mandates that wages account for housing costs by calculating an hourly adjustment factor based on average fair market rent for four-bedroom units, limited to 30 percent of the base wage rate. These provisions would directly affect employers hiring H-2A workers and the workers themselves by modifying how minimum wages are determined and adjusted annually.
This bill directs the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on workforce housing within one year of enactment. The study will identify barriers middle-income households face in securing affordable housing, pinpoint areas with the highest unaffordability, and list federal programs currently unavailable to this group due to income limits. The GAO will also propose a clear federal definition for workforce housing and analyze how to modify or create new housing programs to include this category. The bill defines middle-income households as those earning between 80 and 120 percent of the median family income in their area.
This joint resolution seeks to overturn a rule from the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection that would have removed certain ability-to-repay requirements for loans made to successors-in-interest, such as family members who inherit a home. The measure directly affects lenders and borrowers by restoring the previous regulations that required financial assessments for these specific loan situations. If enacted, the resolution would nullify the Bureau's proposed changes, keeping the existing regulatory framework in place. The bill is a procedural action that uses Congress's authority to disapprove federal agency rules without creating new policy itself.
This bill, known as the Housing Supply and Affordability Act, creates a federal grant program to help states, cities, counties, and regional planning agencies develop and implement plans to increase housing supply and affordability. The program provides competitive grants that can be used for activities such as updating zoning codes, improving housing strategies, reducing development barriers, and coordinating with transportation agencies, but cannot be used for construction or repairs. Local governments receiving funds must limit administrative costs to no more than 10 percent of the grant amount and must coordinate with federal transit authorities where possible. The authority to award these grants is limited to a five-year period, after which the program will end.
This bill, titled the Housing Tariff Exclusion Act, creates a formal process for U.S. companies to request that certain building materials used in home construction be exempt from specific tariffs. The legislation requires the Secretary of Commerce to establish a system where entities can apply for duty exclusions on products classified as critical homebuilding materials or other items whose tariffs would increase home construction costs. The bill mandates that exclusion requests for critical products be decided within 15 days and other requests within 60 days, with results published online and quarterly reports submitted to Congress. Additionally, it allows for retroactive refunds on duties paid for entries made before exclusions were issued, provided requests are filed within 180 days of the exclusion decision.
