Sponsors (28)
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Amends paragraph (3) of section 514(f) (42 U.S.C. 1437f note) to revise language in subparagraph (A) and to add a new subparagraph (D) establishing outreach and technical assistance grants, eligibility criteria, Secretary-provided assistance, expedited interagency funding with the Corporation for National and Community Service (not less than $1,000,000), flexible grants, multi-year availability of amounts, and quarterly reporting requirements.
Adds a new paragraph (23) to 42 U.S.C. 1437f(o) establishing a tenant 'right to organize' for tenants receiving assistance under section 8, requirements for public housing agencies and owners to recognize and engage with legitimate tenant organizations, protections against interference and retaliation, notice and meeting-space requirements, and definitions (including a 180-day rebuttable-presumption period for retaliation).
Adds a new paragraph (10) to 26 U.S.C. 42(g) establishing rules on LIHTC tenant organizations, including tenant rights, owner and State housing credit agency responsibilities, notice requirements, and authorization of appropriations.
Creates a federal right for people living in HUD-assisted housing and certain low‑income tax‑credit properties to form and run tenant organizations without retaliation. It requires public housing agencies and property owners to recognize legitimate tenant groups, provide meeting space on request, include notices or lease language about the right to organize, and forbids interference or punishment for organizing. Assigns enforcement and implementation duties to HUD (with Treasury involvement for tax-related rules), establishes an administrative complaint process plus a private right of action, creates a grant program and an immediate $1,000,000 interagency funding action for tenant outreach and technical assistance, and requires annual resident council payments of $40 per housing unit (indexed for inflation) to be distributed within one year of enactment.
Declares that all members of a household receiving tenant-based rental assistance have the right to decent, safe, stable, and sanitary housing.
Adds a new paragraph (23) "Right to organize" to Section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)).
Tenants have the right to establish, operate, and participate in a legitimate tenant organization to address living-environment issues, including terms and conditions of tenancy and housing/community development activities; tenants have the right to speak to the public, media, elected officials, and government agencies about their right to decent, safe, and sanitary housing; tenants may not be retaliated against for asserting these rights.
Public housing agencies (PHAs) must recognize legitimate tenant organizations, give reasonable consideration to concerns raised by such organizations, solicit feedback from legitimate tenant organizations, and seek resident advisory board appointments from legitimate tenant organizations after receiving feedback.
Owners of units must recognize legitimate tenant organizations, give reasonable consideration to concerns raised by such organizations, and allow tenant organizers to assist tenants in establishing and operating legitimate tenant organizations.
Directly affected groups
Tenants in HUD‑assisted housing and in covered low‑income tax‑credit projects: Gain an explicit federal right to form tenant organizations, protections from retaliation, access to meeting space, annual notices about the right to organize, and the ability to use administrative complaints or civil suits to enforce rights. Resident councils receive a recurring $40 per unit annually (inflation‑adjusted).
Public housing agencies (PHAs) and building owners/property managers of covered properties: Must recognize legitimate tenant organizations, provide meeting space when requested, include notices or lease language affirming organizing rights, refrain from interference or retaliation, and respond to administrative complaints and potential litigation. They will bear compliance, recordkeeping, and possible legal costs.
State housing credit agencies and owners of tax‑credit or other defined low‑income projects: Subject to new tax‑code–related requirements including tenant notice and lease affirmation obligations and cooperation with enforcement tied to Treasury/HUD rulemaking; may face compliance costs and administrative duties tied to notices and documentation.
Department of Housing and Urban Development and Treasury: Tasked with implementing rules, standing up an enforcement protocol, administering grants and resident council payments, coordinating on tax‑related implementation, and filing quarterly enforcement reports to Congress, increasing administrative workload.
Tenant advocacy groups, legal services, and community organizations: Likely to see increased demand for outreach, training, technical assistance, and legal support; also potential grant funding availability to support organizing and training efforts.
Potential benefits
Potential costs and risks
Distributional considerations
Net effect
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Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced April 28, 2025 by Delia Ramirez · Last progress April 28, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House