Housing (Agriculture)

The Rural Area Population Act aims to update and standardize the definition of "rural area" used across various federal programs, including those for rural development, electrification, and housing. The bill modifies the existing definition, primarily by changing the term "urbanized" to "urban," which could broaden the eligibility for communities seeking federal assistance. It also grants the Secretary of Agriculture new authority to designate areas as rural, even if they are located within an urban area, if they demonstrate persistent poverty, a high concentration of farmworker households, or significant infrastructure gaps. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary to prioritize certain "high-need rural pockets" - small, isolated settlements within urban areas that lack services and have high poverty rates - for rural designation, while ensuring current rural designations remain valid until 2030.

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.

HR 6433, the Rural Uplift and Revitalization Assistance Act, requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide technical assistance directly or through partners to help local groups - including governments, nonprofits, and healthcare providers - in rural areas designated as "geographically underserved and distressed." These areas are defined as those with high poverty, social vulnerability, economic distress, or lacking basic services like water or housing near the U.S.-Mexico border. The bill mandates that the USDA publish annual reports on this assistance’s impact for Congress. It focuses on improving access to existing USDA rural development programs, not creating new funding or altering program eligibility.

This bill amends the Farm Credit Act to expand rural home loan eligibility. It adds "accessory dwelling units" (like guest houses or converted garages) to the definition of qualifying property features and increases the maximum property size for loans from 2,500 to 10,000 square feet. These changes directly affect rural homebuyers and lenders by allowing more property types and larger homes to qualify for Farm Credit loans. The policy change specifically modifies existing loan criteria without altering funding levels or creating new programs.

S 885 establishes a permanent program to preserve rural affordable housing by protecting low-income residents in properties financed under USDA rural housing loans (sections 514, 515, or 516). It requires annual notices to owners about maturing loans and to tenants about housing security options, including rental assistance renewal for up to 20 years. Key mechanisms include adjusting loan terms (reducing interest or deferring payments), requiring binding agreements to maintain affordability, and providing technical assistance to prevent loss of housing. The bill directly affects rural low-income tenants, farm laborers, and property owners, with $200 million annually authorized for 2026-2030 to support these efforts.