Bill Summary
The "HOME Investment Partnerships Program Expansion Act" aims to enhance the existing HOME Investment Partnerships Program, which facilitates affordable housing initiatives across the United States.
Key provisions of the legislation include:
1. **Infrastructure Improvements**: The act allows certain jurisdictions that do not receive federal assistance under the Housing and Community Development Act to use HOME funds for critical infrastructure improvements, such as water and sewer lines, sidewalks, and roads, directly related to affordable housing projects.
2. **Affordable Homeownership Qualifications**: The legislation modifies the income qualifications for affordable homeownership. It raises the income limit from 95% to 110% of the area median income and introduces mechanisms to ensure long-term affordability through models like shared equity ownership and community land trusts.
3. **Exceptions for Military Members and Heirs**: The act provides specific exceptions to income qualifications for military members deployed away from their homes and for heirs of deceased owners of affordable housing, allowing them to maintain their affordable housing status under certain conditions.
Overall, the bill is designed to improve access to affordable housing by expanding funding opportunities for infrastructure and adjusting criteria to support homeownership, particularly for military families and heirs.
Possible Impacts
The **HOME Investment Partnerships Program Expansion Act** (referred to as the "HOME Expansion Act") could affect people in the following ways:
1. **Improved Infrastructure in Underserved Areas**: By allowing jurisdictions that do not receive assistance under the Housing and Community Development Act to use HOME funds for infrastructure improvements, residents in non-entitlement areas may see better access to essential services. This could mean improved water and sewer systems, safer sidewalks, and better roads, which would enhance the quality of life for those living in these communities.
2. **Increased Access to Affordable Homeownership**: The Act expands the criteria for affordable homeownership by allowing a shared equity model and options for community land trusts. This could help more low- to moderate-income families secure homes and maintain long-term affordability, making homeownership a reality for those who might otherwise be priced out of the market.
3. **Support for Military Families**: The Act provides exceptions for military members regarding income qualifications for affordable housing. This means that service members who are deployed or relocating due to military orders can still access affordable housing options without being burdened by stringent income requirements. This support can ease the transition for military families facing unique challenges due to their service commitments.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3901 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3901
To expand the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 24, 2026
Mr. Budd introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To expand the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``HOME Investment Partnerships Program
Expansion Act'' or the ``HOME Expansion Act''.
SEC. 2. USE OF AMOUNTS BY CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE
IMPROVEMENTS.
(a) In General.--Section 212(a) of the Cranston-Gonzalez National
Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12742(a)) is amended by inserting
after paragraph (3) the following:
``(4) Infrastructure improvements in nonentitlement
areas.--
``(A) In general.--A participating jurisdiction may
use funds provided under this subtitle for
infrastructure improvements, including the installation
or repair of water and sewer lines, sidewalks, roads,
and utility connections, if--
``(i) such participating jurisdiction does
not receive assistance under title I of the
Housing and Community Development Act of 1974
(42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.); and
``(ii) such improvements are directly
related to, and located within or immediately
adjacent to--
``(I) housing assisted under this
subtitle; or
``(II) housing assisted under
section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986.
``(B) Application of labor standards.--The labor
standards and requirements set forth in section 110 of
the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42
U.S.C. 5310) shall apply to any infrastructure
improvement conducted using funds provided under this
subtitle.
``(C) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this
paragraph may be construed to impose any requirements
of the HOME Investment Partnerships program on housing
that benefits from an infrastructure improvement
conducted using funds provided under this subtitle but
was not otherwise assisted under the HOME Investment
Partnerships program.''.
(b) Rulemaking.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall issue
rules to carry out the amendment made by subsection (a).
SEC. 3. AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP HOUSING QUALIFICATIONS.
Subtitle A of title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable
Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12741 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 215 (42 U.S.C. 12745);
(A) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``95
percent'' and inserting ``110 percent''; and
(ii) in paragraph (3)--
(I) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by
striking ``or'' at the end;
(II) in subparagraph (B), by
striking ``and'' at the end and
inserting ``or''; and
(III) by adding at the end the
following:
``(C) maintain long-term affordability through a
shared equity ownership model, a community land trust,
a limited equity cooperative, a community development
corporation, or other mechanism approved by the
Secretary, that preserves affordability for future
eligible homebuyers and ensures compliance with the
purposes of this title, including through the use of
purchase options, rights of first refusal, or other
preemptive rights to purchase housing; and''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Qualification Exceptions for Homeownership.--
``(1) Military members.--A participating jurisdiction, in
accordance with terms established by the Secretary, may suspend
or waive the income qualifications described in subsection
(b)(2) with respect to housing that otherwise meets the
criteria described in subsection (b) if the owner of the
housing--
``(A) is a member of a regular component of the
armed forces or a member of the National Guard on full-
time National Guard duty, active Guard and Reserve
duty, or inactive-duty training (as those terms are
defined in section 101(d) of title 10, United States
Code); and
``(B) has received--
``(i) temporary duty orders to deploy with
a military unit or military orders to deploy as
an individual acting in support of a military
operation, to a location that is not within a
reasonable distance from the housing, as
determined by the Secretary, for a period of
not less than 90 days; or
``(ii) orders for a permanent change of
station.
``(2) Heirs and beneficiaries of deceased owners.--Housing
that meets the criteria described in subsection (b)(3) prior to
the death of an owner of such housing shall continue to qualify
as affordable housing under this title if--
``(A) the housing is the principal residence of an
heir or beneficiary of the deceased owner, as defined
by the Secretary; and
``(B) the heir or beneficiary, in accordance with
terms established by the Secretary, assumes the duties
and obligations of the deceased owner with respect to
funds provided under this title.''; and
(2) in section 245(b)(2) (42 U.S.C. 12785(b)(2)), by
striking ``95 percent'' and inserting ``110 percent''.
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