Housing: Wisconsin Congressional Delegation

in committee · United States · House Jul 30, 2026

HR 9994: Family Poverty is Not Child Neglect Act

The Family Poverty is Not Child Neglect Act requires states to ensure that children are not separated from their parents solely because of poverty. It mandates that states develop or improve services, such as housing and unemployment assistance, to help low-income families stay together safely. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to submit a report within two years detailing how poverty influences child welfare investigations, removals, and foster care placements. This legislation aims to prevent the separation of families due to financial hardship and to gather data on the link between poverty and child neglect cases.

Topics ✓ Housing

Tags Children

in committee · United States · House Jul 23, 2026

HR 9942: House Our Heroes Act

The House Our Heroes Act expands support for veterans struggling with guaranteed housing loans by allowing the Department of Veterans Affairs to offer educational courses on credit improvement, financial management, and loss mitigation options. Additionally, the bill permits the agency to make partial claims and modify loan terms, such as interest rates and payment schedules, for specific loans that go into default between May 1, 2025, and November 28, 2026. These measures aim to provide more flexible assistance tools to help veterans avoid foreclosure or manage their debts without strictly following previous mandatory procedures.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Mortgages Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 23, 2026

SRES 814: A resolution recognizing the importance of independent living and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities made possible by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and calling to protect the right of individuals with disabilities to live in their own homes and communities.

This Senate resolution recognizes the importance of independent living and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities, emphasizing their right to live in their own homes and communities. It calls on the Department of Justice to rescind a recent opinion that the Senate views as undermining the legal requirement to provide community-based services instead of institutional care. The document also urges various federal agencies to improve funding for home and community-based services, increase accessible housing and transportation, and promote competitive employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Additionally, the resolution pledges bipartisan efforts to address barriers faced by individuals with disabilities, including those of color, and opposes cuts to the Medicaid program that could limit access to essential support services.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Medicaid Tags People with Disabilities

in committee · United States · House Jun 30, 2026

HR 9535: Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act of 2026

The Securing Agriculture's Workforce Act of 2026 modernizes the H-2A visa program by transferring administrative authority to the Department of Homeland Security and introducing a unified online platform to streamline applications for employers and workers. Key provisions include establishing new housing standards with mandatory inspections, creating a system for staggered worker entry and exit, and allowing workers to transfer between employers without losing their status. The bill also defines specific job classifications for wage calculations, expands the scope of covered agricultural activities, and provides legal protections for employers who document the employment of workers seeking visa status. Additionally, it requires agencies to develop a heat illness prevention plan and allows for contract termination due to natural disasters.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Professional Licensing

in committee · United States · House Jun 23, 2026

HR 9401: Latonya Reeves Freedom Act of 2026

The Latonya Reeves Freedom Act of 2026 strengthens the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure individuals with long-term service and support needs have a federally protected right to live in their communities rather than institutions. It requires states and insurance providers to offer community-based services that allow people to maintain independence, control their own care, and access affordable, integrated housing. The bill mandates that public entities and insurers create enforceable transition plans to move people out of institutions, conduct self-evaluations to identify barriers, and establish clear grievance procedures for resolving complaints. Enforcement is handled by the Department of Justice, which can investigate violations, while individuals may also file civil lawsuits to seek damages or court orders preventing institutionalization.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing

in committee · United States · House Jun 23, 2026

HR 9404: VA Home Loan Navigator Act

The VA Home Loan Navigator Act establishes a free, voluntary program to help veterans and eligible borrowers navigate VA home loan benefits. The Department of Veterans Affairs will fund independent, neutral organizations to provide education, counseling on loan processes, and assistance with issues like foreclosure prevention and understanding costs. To ensure fairness, the law strictly prohibits these service providers from receiving payments from lenders or real estate agents and requires them to remain operationally separate from any mortgage or brokerage businesses. Designated entities must meet specific criteria, including HUD approval and a primary mission of serving military families, while individual counselors must be certified and recertified every three years. The program will be monitored through regular reports to Congress evaluating borrower satisfaction and outcomes such as foreclosure prevention rates.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Mortgages Veteran Housing

in committee · United States · House Jun 18, 2026

HR 9380: Expanding Access to Credit through Consumer-Permissioned Data Act

This bill requires mortgage lenders to consider alternative credit information, such as rental payments and bank statements, when evaluating applicants who request it. It specifically targets individuals who lack a traditional credit history with major reporting agencies, a group that disproportionately includes low-income consumers, younger people, and people of color. Under the new rules, lenders must treat this permissioned data with the same weight as standard credit reports if the applicant authorizes its use and confirms it better reflects their financial standing. The legislation also mandates that underwriting systems be updated to automatically identify and include this data, while creditors must provide clear notices in eight common languages explaining the applicant's rights.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Homeownership Mortgages Renters

in committee · United States · House Jun 25, 2026

HR 9461: Working Families Home Construction Act of 2026

The Working Families Home Construction Act of 2026 allows Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy and securitize specific construction loans designed to help build owner-occupied homes. These loans, which can cover costs like land acquisition and construction, are limited to $100,000 per unit and $2.4 million per project, and must be issued by approved lenders to builders who contribute at least 10% of the project's capital. To qualify, projects must receive local government approval and be sold to families earning between 90% and 130% of the area median income, with buyers required to live in the home for at least one year. The bill also directs that 22% of the available capital for these enterprises be allocated specifically to purchasing these qualifying construction loans.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Homeownership Housing Finance Mortgages

in committee · United States · House Jun 25, 2026

HR 9459: Home Affordability Through Mortgage Simplification Act

This bill, known as the Home Affordability Through Mortgage Simplification Act, aims to simplify rules for mortgage lenders and reduce costs for borrowers by updating regulations under the Truth in Lending Act. It introduces a new standard that allows closing costs to vary by up to $500 or 5 percent of third-party fees without penalty, while protecting borrowers from increases in interest rates, loan types, or origination charges. The legislation also permits lenders to issue up to two revised loan estimates for minor changes and allows borrowers to waive the mandatory three-day waiting period for corrected disclosures if they choose. Additionally, it limits lender liability for errors made by settlement agents if the lender exercised reasonable oversight and provides a one-time opportunity for lenders to fix violations without facing civil penalties.

Topics ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Mortgages

in committee · United States · Senate Jun 23, 2026

S 4865: Latonya Reeves Freedom Act of 2026

The Latonya Reeves Freedom Act of 2026 strengthens the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure individuals with long-term care needs have a federally protected right to live in their own homes or integrated community settings rather than institutions. It mandates that states and insurance providers offer community-based services, provide maximum control over care choices to individuals, and establish enforceable plans to transition people out of institutional facilities. The bill also creates new enforcement mechanisms, including a task force to study barriers to community living, requirements for public participation in planning, and the ability for individuals to sue for damages if they are denied these community-based options.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

All housing bills