1. Executive Summary
This legislation amends federal housing statutes to expand housing-related program eligibility, modifies regulatory review procedures for specific development activities, and implements new performance-based oversight for housing counselors and institutional property owners.
2. What this bill would do
Modify Program Eligibility: Establishes the "Whole-Home Repairs" and "RESIDE" pilot programs to provide funding for the rehabilitation of units occupied by low-income residents and the conversion of vacant structures into residential housing.
Alter Regulatory Review: Amends the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) so that specific activities, such as tenant-based rental assistance and supportive services, are not subject to specified environmental review requirements.
Implement Performance Oversight: Mandates that HUD conduct performance reviews of housing counseling agencies by comparing individual counselor data against borrower default rates in comparable markets.
Regulate Asset Ownership: Establishes a framework requiring institutional investors to dispose of portions of their single-family residential inventories, subject to civil money penalties for non-compliance.
Adjust Financial Thresholds: Increases statutory loan limits for manufactured housing and property improvements and modifies the appraisal process to allow for the participation of trainee appraisers.
3. Who is affected
Low-Income Homeowners and Renters: Eligible for rehabilitation grants and impacted by changes to the supply of converted affordable units.
Small-Scale Landlords: Owners of fewer than 10 properties are eligible for repair loans, provided they adhere to fixed 30% rent-to-income caps and federal accessibility standards.
Capital Markets and Lenders: Subject to increased compliance costs for small-dollar mortgage reporting and potential shifts in risk profiles due to modified appraisal standards and FHA "safety and soundness" audits.
Housing Counseling Organizations: Subject to new certification requirements and the potential loss of federal assistance based on data-driven performance metrics.
Institutional Investors: Subject to mandatory divestment requirements and restricted from specific single-family residential holdings.
4. What existing law says vs. what would change
Environmental Review (NEPA): Currently requires procedural reviews for most federal housing actions; the bill stipulates that specific assistance activities are not subject to these specified environmental review requirements.
RAD Authorization: Currently set to expire on September 30, 2029; the bill removes the sunset date, making the program a permanent statutory authority.
Counselor Certification (12 U.S.C. 1701x): Current law focuses on the general distribution of counseling; the bill introduces a "competence" standard where certification is linked to the historical default rates of counseled borrowers.
Loan Limits: Amends Title I of the National Housing Act to increase the maximum dollar amounts for property improvement loans (e.g., to $75,000 for single-family structures).
Topic | Existing Law | Proposed Change (H.R. 6644) | Statutory Citation |
Environmental Review | NEPA requires procedural reviews for most federal housing actions. | Specific assistance activities are not subject to specified environmental review requirements. | Title II, Sec. 208 |
RAD Authorization | The program is currently set to expire on September 30, 2029. | Removes the sunset date, establishing the program as a permanent statutory authority. | Title II, Sec. 201 |
Counselor Certification | 12 U.S.C. 1701x focuses on the general distribution of counseling services. | Introduces a "competence" standard linking certification to the historical default rates of counseled borrowers. | Title I, Sec. 101 |
Loan Limits | Fixed limits on FHA Title I property improvement and manufactured home loans. | Increases maximum dollar amounts (e.g., to $75,000 for single-family structures) to account for cost increases. | Title III, Sec. 303 |
Appraisal Standards | Strict requirements for certified appraiser site visits and valuations. | Allows for the participation of trainee appraisers to perform work under the liability of a certified appraiser. | Title IV, Sec. 403 |
Digital Currency | No existing statutory prohibition on Federal Reserve digital currency issuance. | Prohibits the Federal Reserve from issuing a CBDC to individuals through December 31, 2030. | Title X, Sec. 1001 |
5. Fiscal impact summary
CBO Score: A formal CBO cost estimate is not currently available for the Senate amendment.
Funding Clause: Section 1102 states "No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated," indicating the requirements are to be met using existing departmental resources.
H.R. 6644 Summary: Statutory Citation & Cross-Reference Table
This table provides the specific section numbers and statutory references for the claims made in the non-partisan summary.
Summary Claim | Statutory Citation (H.R. 6644) | Legal/U.S.C. Reference (if applicable) |
"Whole-Home Repairs" Pilot | Title II, Sec. 203 | N/A (New Pilot Program) |
"RESIDE" Pilot (Vacant Structures) | Title II, Sec. 212 | N/A (New Pilot Program) |
NEPA Review Modifications | Title II, Sec. 208 | Amends 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. |
RAD Permanent Authorization | Title II, Sec. 201 | Amends P.L. 112-55 (125 Stat. 673) |
Counselor Performance Metrics | Title I, Sec. 101 | Amends 12 U.S.C. 1701x |
Counselor "Competence" Standard | Title I, Sec. 101(e)(9) | Amends 12 U.S.C. 1701x(e) |
Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling | Title I, Sec. 101(j) | Amends 12 U.S.C. 1701x |
Institutional Investor Divestment | Title IX, Sec. 901 | N/A (New Regulatory Framework) |
CBDC Prohibition & Sunset | Title X, Sec. 1001 | Sunset: Sec. 1001(d) (Dec 31, 2030) |
Increased Loan Limits ($75k) | Title III, Sec. 303 | Amends 12 U.S.C. 1703(b)(1) |
Trainee Appraiser Participation | Title IV, Sec. 403 | Amends 12 U.S.C. 3331 et seq. |
"Build Now" Zoning Incentives | Title II, Sec. 205 | N/A (New Grant Program) |
Annual Regulator Testimony | Title VII, Sec. 701 | N/A (New Oversight Requirement) |
No Additional Funds Authorized | Title XI, Sec. 1102 | N/A (General Provision) |
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