This bill amends the Community Development Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994 to require the Treasury Secretary to testify annually before Congress about the Fund's operations. It also strengthens the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program by adjusting guarantee limits and extending the program's authorization period. Additionally, the bill expands capital assistance options for community development financial institutions and creates a new lending program specifically for Native community development financial institutions to support homeownership in Tribal and Native communities.
This bill requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Economic Development Administration to create an agreement to better coordinate their joint housing and economic development projects. The agreement would streamline application processes, standardize language in funding notices, reduce duplicate reporting requirements, and establish clear contact points for applicants. Additionally, the two agencies must share research and market data to support evidence-based decision-making. Within one year of enactment, the agencies must submit a report to Congress with recommendations for further improving their collaboration and removing barriers to joint projects.
This bill modifies tax rules for qualified opportunity funds, which are investment vehicles designed to encourage capital investment in designated economically distressed areas. It extends the time period for designating qualified opportunity zones from 10 to 20 years and allows taxpayers to make qualifying investments through December 31, 2036, instead of the previous December 31, 2026 deadline. The legislation also adds specific requirements for residential rental projects within these funds, including income limits for tenants, a cap on annual rent increases of 3 percent, and a 60-day advance notice requirement for rent hikes. These changes aim to provide more flexibility for investors while maintaining certain protections for low-income residents in the projects.
This bill, titled the Rental Housing Investment Act, would allow property owners to claim an immediate tax deduction for long-term residential rental buildings they place in service after enactment. The measure directly affects taxpayers who own or develop rental housing with at least two dwelling units, enabling them to deduct up to 100% of the building's value in the first year rather than spreading deductions over multiple years. Owners of affordable housing projects that meet specific requirements would receive an increased deduction limit of $250,000 per unit instead of the standard $150,000. The bill includes rules requiring properties to remain in rental use for 10 years to retain the full deduction, with a 15-year requirement for affordable housing, and prohibits revoking the election once made.
This bill, known as the Rural Housing Regulatory Relief Act, would exempt certain federal housing assistance programs from the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements when used to build or modify homes on infill sites. It directly affects rural communities and housing agencies that currently must complete environmental reviews before approving construction projects on existing developed land. The exemption applies specifically to assistance under the Housing Act of 1949 and defines infill sites as locations with access to existing water, sewer, and road infrastructure, while excluding greenfield sites and areas at high risk for wildfires or flooding. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to submit a report to Congress within five years evaluating whether the exemption reduced review times and administrative costs, and to assess its impact on affordable housing in rural America.
This bill, known as the Stop Post-Disaster Vultures Act, would ban institutional investors from buying properties in areas affected by major disasters for six months after a federal disaster declaration. It defines institutional investors as individuals or entities owning at least 75 single-family homes and prohibits them from making purchase offers through mail, wire communications, or any other contact method during this period. The law aims to prevent large-scale property acquisitions by wealthy investors while communities are still recovering from disasters. It amends the existing Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to add this new restriction. The bill would directly affect large real estate investors and homeowners in disaster zones who might otherwise receive unsolicited purchase offers.
The READY Accounts Act (S 1940) creates a new tax-advantaged savings account that allows individuals to deduct up to $4,500 annually (adjusted for inflation) for contributions to accounts specifically designed for home disaster mitigation and recovery expenses. These accounts can be used to pay for qualified measures like reinforcing roofs, installing impact-resistant windows, or repairing damage from disasters when insurance doesn't cover the costs. Funds used for qualified expenses aren't included in gross income, but funds used for non-qualified purposes are included in income with a 20% additional tax. The bill directly affects homeowners who want to save tax-effectively for disaster-related home improvements and repairs. It establishes specific rules for how these accounts can be set up, managed by banks or approved institutions, and distributed, with strict limits on what expenses qualify.
This bill, known as the First Look for First-time Homebuyers Act of 2026, requires federal housing agencies and mortgage corporations to give first-time homebuyers priority access to foreclosed single-family homes for a 15-day period after they are listed for sale. During this window, properties must be priced based on independent appraisals or disclosed valuation models, listed on public websites with clear eligibility information, and cannot be bundled with other properties. The legislation also mandates regular reporting to Congress on sales data and requires internal audits to ensure compliance with these new requirements.
This bill creates a new type of tax-advantaged savings account specifically designed for first-time homebuyers. It allows individuals who have not owned a home in the past three years to make tax-deductible contributions to a special savings account, with a contribution limit based on income and capped at 20% of the national average home price. Money withdrawn from the account is tax-free if used for qualified expenses like purchasing a home or making major repairs, but taxable with a 10% penalty if used for other purposes. The bill also permits limited tax-free withdrawals for emergencies such as job loss, major health events, or marriage, and allows contributions to be rolled over into a new account within 60 days.
The NFIP Extension Act of 2026 extends the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through September 30, 2026, by updating two key deadlines in the law: the funding authorization (Section 1309(a)) and the program's expiration date (Section 1319). This directly affects homeowners, renters, and businesses in flood-prone areas who rely on NFIP policies for coverage. The bill changes the existing 2023 expiration dates to 2026, preventing program shutdown and ensuring continued access to federally backed flood insurance. If passed after September 30, 2025, the changes apply retroactively as if enacted on that date.
