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)

The Ledger is Closed,

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