Housing

HR 2710, the People Over Parking Act of 2025, removes requirements for developers to provide a set number of parking spots for new or substantially rebuilt residential, retail, commercial, or industrial buildings located within 0.5 miles of a qualifying public transit point. It directly affects property owners and local governments by giving developers sole discretion over parking provision in these areas, overriding conflicting state or local parking mandates. The bill defines "covered public transit points" as fixed guideway access (like train stations) or bus stops with two or more frequent routes (15-minute peak interval), excluding most standard bus stops. This policy change aims to reduce parking requirements near transit, potentially lowering development costs and land use for parking.

The Thriving Communities Act of 2025 establishes a federal grant program to help fast-growing communities develop infrastructure projects, particularly those connecting housing with public transit. It authorizes $100 million annually for the Transportation Secretary and $5.5 million for the Housing Secretary to provide technical assistance and capacity-building support. The program requires regular reports to Congress on funding methods, coordination between agencies, and metrics used to distribute grants. This directly affects local governments in rapidly expanding areas seeking to improve transportation and housing infrastructure through federal support.

HR 585, the Supporting Veteran Families in Need Act, amends Section 2044(e) of Title 38, U.S. Code, to establish permanent funding authority for financial assistance to very low-income veteran families living in permanent housing. It adds a new provision (paragraph (9)) ensuring that funding for these supportive services continues automatically for fiscal year 2027 and all subsequent years, without requiring annual congressional appropriations. This change directly affects eligible veteran families by securing ongoing access to financial aid for housing-related support. The bill does not create new benefits but ensures the continuation of existing assistance programs through a permanent funding mechanism.

This bill clarifies the "public charge" rule for immigration, defining it as an immigrant likely to receive public benefits for more than 12 months in any 36-month period. It specifically lists benefits to count - including Medicaid (excluding emergency care for children/pregnant women), food stamps, housing aid, and health subsidies - and requires sponsors to prove financial ability at 125% of the federal poverty line. Applicants deemed likely to become a public charge may need to post a $10,000 bond, forfeitable if they receive benefits within 10 years. The rule applies to all visa and status applications filed after the effective date, excluding refugees, asylees, and military families.

The HELPER Act of 2025 creates a new FHA mortgage insurance program specifically for first responders and teachers, allowing them to purchase homes with no down payment. It defines "first responders" as full-time law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and K-12 teachers employed by government or accredited schools. The program requires applicants to be first-time homebuyers with 4 years of recent employment in their field, complete housing counseling, and intend to remain in their role for at least one year after closing. Mortgages under this program must be used for a primary residence, cover 100% of the home's appraised value, and exclude monthly insurance premiums.

This bill, the Women’s and Family Protection Act of 2025, updates homelessness definitions under the McKinney-Vento Act to explicitly include women, women with children, survivors of gender-based violence, and people living in indigenous, rural, or marginalized communities. It creates a dedicated funding set-aside for emergency shelter grants targeting nonprofits serving high-need groups, including homeless women and children, victims of gender-based violence, chronically homeless individuals, and seniors with trauma histories. Grantees must provide services like mental health care, housing stabilization, childcare, and trauma counseling, while tracking outcomes through mandatory evaluations of people served and housing placements. The bill also requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development to offer technical assistance for trauma-informed care and coordination with other agencies.

# Summary of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 This comprehensive appropriations act provides funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies for fiscal year 2026. Key elements include: ## Major Funding Areas - **Rural Development**: Significant funding for rural housing, water and waste disposal systems, broadband access, and business development programs - **Food and Nutrition**: Funding for school meal programs, food assistance, and child nutrition initiatives - **Agricultural Programs**: Support for crop insurance, conservation, research, and marketing - **Food Safety**: Resources for FDA inspections and enforcement ## Key Provisions 1. **New Programs**: - $2 million for a Bison Production and Marketing Grant Program - $4 million for a new Energy Circuit Rider pilot program - $6 million to continue the Institute for Rural Partnerships - $700,000 for tribal meat inspection fee coverage 2. **Restrictions**: - Prohibits using funds to close or consolidate USDA laboratory locations without congressional approval - Bans funds for horse inspections under certain acts - Limits use of funds for certain travel and administrative activities - Requires specific notification for large grant terminations ($1 million+) 3. **Program Changes**: - Updates to hemp definitions and regulations (Section 781) - Modifications to the Rural Business Program (Section 760) - Changes to the definition of "hemp" and "cannabis" for regulatory purposes - Updates to the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard 4. **Allocation Requirements**: - Requires at least 10% of certain funds to be allocated for persistent poverty counties - Mandates specific reporting for FDA user fee programs - Requires notification for certain program changes 5. **Specific Restrictions**: - Prohibits using funds to procure poultry or seafood from China for school meal programs - Limits funds for certain FDA activities related to e-cigarettes - Prohibits funds for certain types of enforcement actions until specific data is available This act also includes numerous technical amendments to existing laws and establishes new reporting requirements for various programs across the Department of Agriculture.

This bill requires lenders in federally backed manufactured home community loan programs to include specific tenant protections in lease agreements. It mandates 1-year lease terms with renewal options, 60-day written notice for rent increases (with extended notice for larger hikes), grace periods for payments, and rights for homeowners to sell their homes in place without relocation. Violations trigger penalties like refunding rent with interest or paying damages to affected tenants, while a new Commission will propose stronger future protections. The law applies specifically to communities receiving federal loans under programs like HUD’s manufactured home park financing.

The Farmhouse-to-Workforce Housing Act of 2025 establishes a program to fund accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on existing single-family homes that are at least 25 years old. It provides grants and loans covering up to 50% of an ADU’s cost, with a maximum of $100,000 (adjusted annually for inflation), for homeowners earning no more than 150% of the area median income. Homeowners must reside in the main house or an ADU, maintain ownership, and lease ADUs for at least six months, with these requirements lasting for five years or until the owner’s death. The program is funded with $200 million to support workforce housing access through modifications to existing housing preservation grants.

This bill expands a pilot program allowing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to accept donated facilities and related improvements. It specifically adds "minor construction or nonrecurring maintenance projects" to the types of donations the VA can accept, broadening the scope beyond just property. The program, originally set to expire in 2026, is extended through December 2031. This change directly affects the VA and potential donors (like community organizations) seeking to support veterans' facilities through donations of property or small-scale projects.