Moratorium on Coronavirus Evictions Act

Bill: 116-s-3585
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Jones, Doug [D-AL]
Introduced: 2020-03-25
Policy area: Housing and Community Development
Subjects: Civil actions and liability

Government lending and loan guarantees

Homelessness and emergency shelter

Housing and community development funding

Housing supply and affordability

Landlord and tenant

Low- and moderate-income housing

Rural conditions and development
Latest action: action_date: 2020-03-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-03-25
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Moratorium on Coronavirus Evictions Act</b></p> <p>This bill establishes a 120-day moratorium on eviction proceedings and fees, penalties, and other charges&nbsp;related to the nonpayment of rent&nbsp;with respect to&nbsp;certain federally assisted housing.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3585 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 25, 2020 Mr. Jones (for himself and Mr. Brown ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs A BILL To place a moratorium on evictions during the coronavirus emergency.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Moratorium on Coronavirus Evictions Act . 2. Temporary moratorium on eviction filings (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Covered dwelling The term covered dwelling means a dwelling that— (A) is occupied by a tenant— (i) pursuant to a residential lease; or (ii) without a lease or with a lease terminable under State law; and (B) is on or in a covered property. (2) Covered property The term covered property means any property that— (A) participates in— (i) a covered housing program (as defined in section 41411(a) of the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 ( 34 U.S.C. 12491(a) )); or (ii) the rural housing voucher program under section 542 of the Housing Act of 1949 ( 42 U.S.C. 1490r ); or (B) has a— (i) federally backed mortgage loan; or (ii) federally backed multifamily mortgage loan. (3) Dwelling The term dwelling — (A) has the meaning given the term in section 802 of the Fair Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 3602 ); and (B) includes houses and dwellings described in section 803(b) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 3603(b) ). (4) Federally backed mortgage loan The term federally backed mortgage loan includes any loan (other than temporary financing such as a construction loan) that— (A) is secured by a first or subordinate lien on residential real property (including individual units of condominiums and cooperatives) designed principally for the occupancy of from 1 to 4 families, including any such secured loan, the proceeds of which are used to prepay or pay off an existing loan secured by the same property; and (B) is made in whole or in part, or insured, guaranteed, supplemented, or assisted in any way, by any officer or agency of the Federal Government or under or in connection with a housing or urban development program administered by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development or a housing or related program administered by any other such officer or agency, or is purchased or securitized by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation or the Federal National Mortgage Association. (5) Federally backed multifamily mortgage loan The term federally backed multifamily mortgage loan includes any loan (other than temporary financing such as a construction loan) that— (A) is secured by a first or subordinate lien on residential multifamily real property designed principally for the occupancy of 5 or more families, including any such secured loan, the proceeds of which are used to prepay or pay off an existing loan secured by the same property; and (B) is made in whole or in part, or insured, guaranteed, supplemented, or assisted in any way, by any officer or agency of the Federal Government or under or in connection with a housing or urban development program administered by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development or a housing or related program administered by any other such officer or agency, or is purchased or securitized by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation or the Federal National Mortgage Association. (b) Moratorium During the 120-day period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the lessor of a covered dwelling may not— (1) make, or cause to be made, any filing with the court of jurisdiction to initiate a legal action to recover possession of the covered dwelling from the tenant for nonpayment of rent or other fees or charges; or (2) charge fees, penalties, or other charges to the tenant related to such nonpayment of rent. (c) Notice The lessor of a covered dwelling unit— (1) may not require the tenant to vacate the covered dwelling unit before the date that is 30 days after the date on which the lessor provides the tenant with a notice to vacate; and (2) may not issue a notice to vacate under paragraph (1) until after the expiration of the period described in subsection (b).