Last progress July 31, 2025 (4 months ago)
Introduced on July 31, 2025 by Adam Schiff
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
This bill gives people with federally backed mortgages relief if they live in an area hit by a declared disaster. During the disaster period, you can ask your loan servicer to pause your mortgage payments (called “forbearance”) even if you were already behind. You can make the request by phone, online, in writing, or any method your servicer allows, and you only need to say you’re facing financial hardship. The servicer must quickly grant 180 days of forbearance, with up to one 180‑day extension if you ask. You can stop the pause at any time. During the pause, no extra fees or interest beyond what you would have normally paid can pile up. This applies to disasters declared on or after January 1, 2025.
“Federally backed” includes many common home loans (like those backed by FHA, VA, USDA, or bought by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac) and certain multifamily loans. The relief is available if the property is in the declared disaster area and lasts for the period that the disaster is officially declared.
| Key point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Who is affected | Homeowners and landlords with federally backed mortgages on properties in a declared disaster area |
| What changes | You can pause mortgage payments with quick approval from your servicer after you affirm financial hardship |
| How to request | By phone, online, in writing, or other methods your servicer accepts |
| How long | 180 days, plus one extension up to 180 more days; you can end it early |
| Costs during pause | No fees or extra interest beyond normal amounts accrue |
| When it applies | For disasters declared on or after January 1, 2025; for the duration of the disaster declaration |