Local Zoning and Property Rights Protection Act of 2015

Summary: Local Zoning and Property Rights Protection Act of 2015 This bill requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to withdraw:   the proposed HUD rule entitled &quot;Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH),&quot; any final rule based on it (including the rule with the Regulation Identifier Number RIN 2501-AD33), and any successor rule that is substantially similar to them; and the HUD notice relating to the AFFH Assessment Tool, any proposed or final rule issued pursuant to such notice, and any successor notice or rule substantially similar to them.  HUD is required to consult with state, local government, and public housing agency officials to develop recommendations, consistent with applicable rulings of the U.S. Supreme Court, to further the Fair Housing Act's purposes and policies.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Local Zoning and Property Rights 
Protection Act of 2015''.

SEC. 2. WITHDRAWAL OF RULES AND NOTICES.

    (a) Proposed Rule.--Not later than 30 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
shall withdraw the proposed rule of the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development described in the notice of proposed rule entitled 
``Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing'', published in the Federal 
Register on July 19, 2013 (78 Fed. Reg. 43710; Docket No. FR-5173-P-
01), any final rule based on such proposed rule (including the rule 
having the Regulation Identifier Number RIN 2501-AD33), and any 
successor rule that is substantially similar to such proposed or final 
rule.
    (b) Notice.--Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall withdraw 
the notice of the Department of Housing and Urban Development relating 
to the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Assessment Tool, published 
in the Federal Register on September 26, 2014 (79 Fed. Reg. 57949; 
Docket No. FR-5173-N-02), any proposed or final rule issued pursuant to 
such notice, and any successor notice or rule substantially similar to 
such notice or proposed or final rule.

SEC. 3. FEDERALISM CONSULTATION AND REPORT.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development 
shall jointly consult with State officials, local government officials, 
and officials of public housing agencies to develop recommendations, 
consistent with applicable rulings of the Supreme Court of the United 
States, to further the purposes and policies of the Fair Housing Act.
    (b) Consultation Requirements.--In developing the recommendations 
required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
            (1) provide State officials, local government officials, 
        and officials of public housing agencies with notice and an 
        opportunity to participate in the consultation process required 
        under subsection (a);
            (2) seek to consult with State officials, local government 
        officials, and officials of public housing agencies that 
        represent a broad cross-section of regional, economic, and 
        geographic perspectives in the United States;
            (3) emphasize the importance of collaboration with and 
        among the State officials, local government officials, and 
        officials of public housing agencies;
            (4) allow for meaningful and timely input by State 
        officials, local government officials, and officials of public 
        housing agencies;
            (5) promote transparency in the consultation process 
        required under subsection (a); and
            (6) explore with State officials, local government 
        officials, and officials of public housing agencies whether 
        Federal objectives under the Fair Housing Act can be attained 
        by means other than through new regulations.
    (c) Reports.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 12 months after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish in the 
        Federal Register a draft report describing the recommendations 
        developed pursuant to subsection (a).
            (2) Consensus requirement.--The Secretary may include a 
        recommendation in the draft report only if consensus has been 
        reached with regard to the recommendation among the Secretary, 
        the State officials, local government officials, and officials 
        of public housing agencies consulted pursuant to subsection 
        (a).
            (3) Failure to reach consensus.--If the Secretary, State 
        officials, local government officials, and officials of public 
        housing agencies consulted under subsection (a) fail to reach 
        consensus on a regulatory proposal, the draft report shall 
        identify that consensus was not reached and shall describe--
                    (A) the areas and issues with regard to which 
                consensus was reached;
                    (B) the areas and issues of continuing disagreement 
                that resulted in the failure to reach consensus; and
                    (C) the reasons for the continuing disagreements.
            (4) Public review and comment period.--The Secretary shall 
        make the draft report available for public review and comment 
        for a period of not fewer than 180 days.
            (5) Final report.--The Secretary shall, in consultation 
        with the State officials, local government officials, and 
        officials of public housing agencies, address any comments 
        received pursuant to paragraph (4) and shall prepare a final 
        report describing the final results of the consultation process 
        under subsection (a).
    (d) Submission of Final Report.--Not later than 12 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall make publicly 
available online the final report prepared pursuant to subsection 
(c)(5).
    (e) Definitions.--In this Act, the following definitions apply:
            (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Housing and Urban Development.
            (2) Local government official.--The term ``local government 
        official'' means an elected or professional official of a local 
        government or an official of a regional or national 
        organization representing local governments or officials.
            (3) State official.--The term ``State official'' means an 
        elected or professional official of a State government or an 
        official of a regional or national organization representing 
        State governments or officials.
            (4) Public housing agency.--The term ``public housing 
        agency'' has the meaning given such term in section 3(b) of the 
        United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)).