zli12321/Bills huggingface dataset:
Public Housing Tenant Protection and Reinvestment Act of 2015

Public Housing One-for-One Replacement and Tenant Protection Act of 2015

 Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 with respect to: (1) demolition, disposition, or both pursuant to conversion of any public housing unit; and (2) the taking of public housing units through the use of eminent domain.

Exempts from specified requirements for demolition and disposition of public housing any public housing projects removed from a public housing agency (PHA) inventory under the program for conversion of demolished or distressed public housing dwelling units to tenant-based assistance.

Excludes real property containing dwelling units in public housing from federal regulations of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or any substantially similar regulations, with respect to:

 certain real estate; and implementing HUD requirements for demolition or disposition of public housing projects, and conversion of public housing to tenant-based assistance. Public Housing Preservation and Rehabilitation Act of 2015

Reauthorizes for FY2016-FY2025 the public housing Capital and Operating Funds.

Authorizes HUD to guarantee notes or other obligations issued by PHAs to finance: (1) the rehabilitation of PHA public housing; (2) the modernization of such housing through energy efficiency improvements; or (3) the construction, rehabilitation, purchase, or conversion of public housing units to replace any demolished, disposed of, or converted.

Prescribes requirements for PHAs that utilize housing tax credits under the Internal Revenue Code for rental housing units.

Removes a specified limitation on the use of amounts from the Capital Fund or Operation Fund by a PHA to construct new public housing units.

Choice Neighborhoods Initiative Act of 2015

 Requires HUD to make competitive grants to local governments, PHAs, or nonprofit entities owning a major housing project to implement transformational programs in eligible neighborhoods with a concentration of extreme poverty and severely distressed housing.

Together We Care Act of 2015

 Requires HUD to establish a competitive grant pilot program for eligible entities to train public housing residents as home health aides and as providers of home-based health services for residents of public housing or federally-assisted rental housing who are elderly, disabled, or both.

Date: 2015-05-01
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Closing the Digital Divide for Students Act of 2015

Amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to require high-speed Internet service costs to be included in public housing utility allowances for households with children who qualify for free and reduced price school lunches.

Prohibits a dwelling unit's Internet cost allowance from: (1) exceeding the lowest cost available in the area, and (2) including costs for cable or satellite television or for joint packages for Internet service together with cable or satellite television.

Conditions Internet cost allowances on the service including technology to block visual depictions that are obscene or harmful to minors.

Date: 2015-05-15
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Science, technology, communications
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Preservation Enhancement and Savings Opportunity Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) Amends the Low-Income Housing Preservation and Resident Homeownership Act of 1990 (LIHPRHA) with respect to a plan of action the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) may approve for extension of the low-income affordability restrictions on any eligible low-income housing.

Entitles the owner of a property subject to a plan of action or use agreement to distribute:

 annually all surplus cash generated by the property, but only if the owner is in material compliance with the use agreement, including compliance with prevailing physical condition standards established by HUD; and any funds accumulated in a residual receipts account, notwithstanding any conflicting provision in the use agreement, but only if the individual is in material compliance with the use agreement and has completed, or set aside sufficient funds to complete, any capital repairs identified by the most recent third party capital needs assessment. Requires an owner distributing any such amounts to:

 continue to operate the property in accordance with the affordability requirements of its use agreement for its remaining useful life; continue to renew or extend any project-based rental assistance contract for at least 20 years, as required by the property's plan of action; and have the option to extend the contract to a 20-year term, if he or she has an existing multi-year project-based rental assistance contract for less than 20 years. (Sec. 3) Declares that neither LIHPRHA, nor any plan of action or use agreement implementing it, shall restrict an owner from obtaining a new loan or refinancing an existing loan secured by a low-income housing project, or from distributing the proceeds of such a loan, except that, in conjunction with such refinancing:

 the owner shall provide for adequate rehabilitation pursuant to a capital needs assessment to ensure long-term sustainability of the property satisfactory to the lender or bond issuance agency; any resulting budget-based rent increase shall include debt service on the new financing, commercially reasonable debt service coverage, and replacement reserves as required by the lender; and any rent increases resulting from the refinancing transaction for units not covered by a project-based rental subsidy contract shall be limited to 10%, with the following exception. States that any tenant who occupies a dwelling unit as of the time of the refinancing, and gives the owner proof of income, may not be required to pay for rent and utilities, for the duration of the tenancy, any amount exceeding the greater of: (1) 30% of the tenant's income, or (2) the amount the tenant paid for rent and utilities immediately before the refinancing.

(Sec. 4) Directs HUD to issue any guidance necessary to carry out this Act within 120 days after its enactment.

Date: 2015-05-20
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
National Design Services Act of 2015

Amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to authorize the Department of Housing and Urban Development to establish a loan repayment program for eligible architects who provide certain design services on behalf of a Community Design Center (a non-profit organization operated and managed by a licensed architect that conducts research and provides design services for community development projects).

Requires an eligible architect, in order to participate in the loan repayment program, to enter into a written contract with the Department that contains:

 an agreement under which: (1) the architect agrees to provide eligible design services on behalf of a Community Design Center for at least one year, and (2) the Department agrees to pay the principal and interest of the architect's qualifying educational loans for the period of time the architect provides such services; a provision that any U.S. financial obligation arising out of the contract, and any obligation of the architect, is contingent upon appropriations for the loan repayment program; and a statement of the damages to which the United States is entitled if the eligible architect breaches the contract.

Date: 2015-06-25
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Housing Assistance Reform Act of 2015

This bill authorizes the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to increase the number of public housing agencies (PHAs) authorized to participate in the Moving to Work demonstration program by adding to it up to 60 high-performing, high-capacity PHAs, for a total of up to 300,000 housing vouchers and public housing units, over five years, to test and evaluate innovative models for improving economic self-sufficiency, mobility, academic performance, and other outcomes for tenants assisted by HUD.

Selected PHAs may not receive more funding under low-income housing assistance, the Capital Fund, or the Operating Fund of the United States Housing Act of 1937 than they otherwise would have received without designation as a high performer under the public housing assessment system and the Section 8 (low-income housing assistance) management assessment program.

If a PHA participating in the program before enactment of this Act has complied with the terms of its Moving to Work agreement, then HUD:

 must extend the PHA's agreement under the same terms in effect on the agreement's date of expiration, and may not alter the formula allocation for the agency's funding. There shall no longer be any limitation, under the Rental Assistance Demonstration specified in the Department of Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2012 (as amended), on the number of PHA and certain other multifamily housing units receiving Public Housing Capital and Operating Funds assistance or low-income moderate rehabilitation program assistance that may be converted to tenant-based or project-based rental assistance units.

Date: 2015-07-07
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Together We Care Act of 2015

 This bill amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to direct the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to establish a pilot program to make grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities for the training of public housing residents as home health aides and providers of home-based health services to enable them to provide covered home-based health services (services for which medical assistance is available under a state Medicaid plan or for which financial assistance is available under this Act) to residents of:

 public housing who are elderly, disabled, or both; and federally-assisted rental housing who are elderly, disabled, or both, subject to HUD criteria. The grants may be used:

 to establish a program to train public housing residents to provide covered home-based health care services to elderly and disabled public housing residents and to elderly and disabled residents of federally-assisted rental housing, for the transportation and child care expenses of public housing residents in training, and for the administrative expenses of carrying out such a program. For any resident of public housing who is trained as a home health aide or as a provider of home-based health services under the program, any income received for providing covered home-based health services shall apply towards eligibility for benefits under federal housing programs as specified in this Act, based on length of time following completion of the training.

Date: 2015-09-09
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Section 3 Modernization and Improvement Act of 2015

This bill amends the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 to revise the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program for economic opportunities for low- and very low-income persons.

Public and Indian housing agencies that receive HUD development assistance, operating assistance, or modernization grants provided under the program (recipients) must report annually to HUD on their compliance with employment and contracting requirements and on the performance of their contractors and subcontractors.

HUD must develop and implement policies and procedures for imposing a series of administrative sanctions, graduated in severity, on recipients and their contractors and subcontractors for noncompliance with this Act or the program's requirements.

The HUD rental assistance program is exempted from requirements that:

 opportunities for training and employment in connection with a housing rehabilitation, housing construction, or other public construction project be given to low- and very low-income persons residing within the metropolitan area (or nonmetropolitan county) in which the project is located; and contracts awarded for work in connection with such projects be given to businesses providing economic opportunities for such persons in those areas in which the assistance is expended. HUD shall require that public housing agencies (PHAs) and owners of multifamily properties assisted under the rental assistance program, and their contractors and subcontractors, make their best efforts to give low- and very low-income persons all the training and employment opportunities generated by or in such properties, including opportunities: (1) not involving property construction or rehabilitation; and (2) generated by assistance provided under the program.

HUD must also require that such PHAs and owners award work contracts in connection with these properties to businesses that provide economic opportunities for low- and very low-income persons.

Date: 2015-10-07
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Project-Based Voucher Improvement Act of 2015

This bill amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 with respect to the requirement that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) require local governments or other HUD-approved entities to make inspections and rent determinations for leased dwelling units (other than public housing dwelling units) that are owned by a public housing agency (PHA) administering section 8 low-income (voucher) rental assistance.

"Owned by a PHA," for these purposes, means the dwelling unit is in a project owned by:

 the PHA, an entity wholly controlled by the PHA, or a limited liability company or limited partnership in which the PHA (or an entity wholly controlled by it) holds a controlling interest in the managing member or general partner. A dwelling unit shall not be deemed to be owned by a PHA for these purposes, however, merely because the PHA holds:

 a fee interest as ground lessor in the property on which the unit is situated, a security interest under a mortgage or deed of trust on the unit, or a non-controlling interest in an entity which owns the unit or in the managing member or general partner of an entity which owns the unit. In an exception to the prohibition against attaching to a PHA project more than 20% of funding available for tenant-based assistance, a PHA may use up to an additional 10% to provide units that:

 house homeless individuals and families, house families with veterans, provide supportive housing to persons with disabilities or elderly persons, or are located in areas where vouchers are difficult to use. The bill revises the income-mixing requirement for such projects to add to the current assistance limitation of a maximum 25 dwelling units per project an alternative limitation of 25% of such dwelling units. Neither limitation shall apply to dwelling units exclusively made available to elderly families or to households eligible for certain supportive services.

The term of a housing assistance payment contract may increase from 15 to 20 years.

The bill also revises requirements for rent adjustments.

Date: 2015-10-23
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Public Housing Accountability Act of 2015

This bill amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to add a requirement for periodic review of family income with respect to rental assistance for low-income families.

Reviews of family income shall be made at any time the family income changes by an amount estimated to result in an increase of 10% or more in annual adjusted income (or such other amount as the Department of Housing and Urban Development may establish). A public housing agency (PHA) or owner may elect not to conduct such a review in the last three months of a period during which the family is certified eligible for rental assistance.

The bill also revises the authorization for a PHA that owns or operates fewer than 250 units to lease a dwelling unit in a public housing project, on a month-to-month basis, to an over-income family if there are no eligible families applying to the PHA for housing assistance for that month. The PHA must give a 30-day notice-to-vacate, subject to a specified appeal procedure, to any family determined over-income because of an income review.

Date: 2015-11-30
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Fairness in Public Housing Act of 2016 

This bill amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to require public housing agencies to terminate the tenancy of families residing in public housing that have an income exceeding 125% of the area median income. The bill allows an exception to this requirement if, at the time of the termination, there are no families on the waiting list or applying for public housing administered by the agency.

Date: 2016-02-04
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Rural Housing Preservation Act of 2016

This bill amends the Housing Act of 1949 to direct the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to extend rural housing vouchers to any low-income household (including those not receiving rental assistance) residing in a property financed with a loan made or insured for housing and related facilities for elderly or other low-income persons and families which has been prepaid, or which has matured, after September 30, 2005.

No owner of a property financed with such a loan, whether outstanding or fully paid, may refuse to lease an available dwelling unit in the property to a household on behalf of whom a rural housing voucher assistance is provided, and enter into a voucher contract respecting that unit, if a proximate cause of that refusal is the current or prospective tenant's status as a holder of such a voucher.

USDA may contract to make, make, and renew annual assistance payments to owners of projects originally financed with such a loan that has matured on or after enactment of this bill, and at rental rates commensurate to income.

USDA shall establish uniform requirements, terms, and conditions for any sale or transfer of a property financed with such a loan to any entity, including a nonprofit organization, seeking to acquire it with a similar loan and any low-income housing tax credit under the Internal Revenue Code.

USDA may also establish a Multifamily Housing Revitalization Program for the preservation and revitalization of multifamily housing projects funded with such loans, as well as with loans for housing and related facilities for domestic farm labor, to ensure that those projects have sufficient resources to provide safe and affordable housing for low-income residents and farm laborers.

Date: 2016-04-12
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Housing for Homeless Students Act of 2015

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to qualify low-income building units that provide housing for homeless students and veterans who are full-time students for the low-income housing tax credit. To qualify for the credit, the student must have been a homeless child or youth during any portion of the seven-year period prior to occupying the housing unit and the veteran must have been homeless for a similar five-year period.

Date: 2016-05-19
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Taxation
Landlord Accountability Act of 2016

This bill amends the Fair Housing Act to make it unlawful to discriminate in connection with the rental of a dwelling because the current or prospective tenant holds a housing voucher for rental assistance under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937.

An owner of a dwelling unit available for rental may not take any action, or fail to take any action, with the intent to make the unit insufficiently decent, safe, sanitary, or inhabitable so that the dwelling fails to qualify for assistance within the jurisdiction of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

HUD shall increase the staffing level for the Multifamily Housing Complaint Line operated by its Multifamily Housing Clearinghouse to handle the volume of calls received without unreasonable waiting periods.

HUD shall also carry out a Multifamily Housing Complaint Resolution Program to receive and resolve complaints about multifamily housing projects from resident voucher users and local governmental officials.

HUD shall disclose on a departmental website information about each complaint received, identifying the multifamily housing project to which it relates.

The Internal Revenue Code is amended to allow an eligible landlord a low-income housing maintenance credit of $2,500 multiplied by the number of low-income housing units owned up to a certain maximum for the landlord's annual low-income housing maintenance expenses.

An owner of a multifamily housing project in which three or more voucher users reside shall display, at all times and in clear and conspicuous location on every floor, a written notice of tenant rights under federal law and the phone numbers for the Multifamily Housing Complaint Line and for a regional or local HUD office.

HUD may also make grants to states, Indian tribes, local governments, and nonprofit, nongovernmental affordable housing organizations to develop or assist tenant harassment prevention programs meeting specified requirements.

Date: 2016-06-07
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Protect Our Schools from Tax Delinquents Act of 2016

This bill amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to require that each housing assistance payments contract entered into under the Section 8 rental assistance voucher program by a public housing agency (PHA) and the owner of a dwelling unit provide that such owner pay, on a timely basis, all covered taxes validly assessed against the property in which the unit is located.

A "covered tax" is any tax under state or local law assessed upon real property or the revenue of which is dedicated for use only for schools or for costs of education.

The bill allows a contract to provide that, upon notification and identification of a tax delinquency by a taxing authority, the PHA shall abate all of the rental assistance amounts for the property, transferring them monthly to the taxing authority, until the delinquency is eliminated.

The bill does not authorize or establish any cause or grounds for the termination of the tenancy of any tenant from any dwelling unit assisted under the rental assistance voucher program.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development must maintain a database of information regarding owners of dwelling units: (1) assisted under the program whose housing assistance payments contracts have been terminated for noncompliance with the requirements of this bill, and (2) with respect to whom assistance amounts have been abated and transferred to a taxing authority.

Date: 2016-07-13
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Fair Distribution of Affordable Housing Funds Act of 2016

This bill amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 to eliminate the minimum state allocation requirement with respect to amounts allocated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to the Housing Trust Fund to be distributed to each state (including the District of Columbia) to provide affordable housing.

Date: 2016-07-14
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Housing Accountability Act of 2016

This bill amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to require an entity receiving low-income housing assistance payments for existing public housing units to maintain decent, safe, and sanitary conditions for any structure covered under a payment contract.

 The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) shall develop a process by which a Performance-Based Contract Administrator shall, on a semiannual basis, conduct a survey of the tenants of each such structure to identify consistent or persistent problems with the structure's physical condition or its manager's performance.

 A structure shall be referred to HUD for remediation if the Administrator identifies such a problem based on the survey or any other observation made by the Administrator during the normal course of business.

HUD may impose a penalty on the structure's owner if the structure does not satisfactorily meet this bill's requirements or is repeatedly referred to HUD for remediation by an Administrator through the process. Collected amounts shall be used solely for supporting safe and sanitary conditions at applicable structures or for HUD designated tenant relocation, with priority given to tenants of the penalized structure.

This bill shall not apply to voucher program property.

Date: 2016-09-21
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Moving to Work Charter Program Act of 2015

 Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to enter into charter contracts, beginning in FY2014, with up to 250 public housing agencies administering the public housing program or the section 8 housing assistance program under the United States Housing Act of 1937.

States that such charter contracts shall: (1) supersede and have a term commensurate with any annual contributions contract between a public housing agency (PHA) and the Secretary, and (2) provide that a participating PHA shall receive capital and operating assistance allocated to it under specified laws.

Exempts charter contracts from the requirements of the United States Housing Act of 1937, except those for payment of wages prevailing in the community and the demolition and disposition of public housing.

Requires a charter contract to provide that a PHA: (1) may combine section 8 low-income assistance and Public Housing Capital and Operating Fund assistance and use it for housing assistance and related services for activities under this Act; (2) shall ensure that at least 75% of the families assisted are very low-income families; (3) shall establish a reasonable rent policy designed to encourage employment, self-sufficiency, and home ownership by participating families; and (4) meet specified additional requirements.

Directs the Secretary to appoint a federal advisory committee to assess and develop a demonstration program to test standards, criteria, and practices for a national public housing agency accreditation system or other evaluation system.

Date: 2015-01-07
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Permanently Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2015

This bill amends the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009 to repeal its sunset date December 31, 2014 (thus making the Act permanent).

This bill restores and revives such Act, the provisions of law amended or repealed by it, and any regulations promulgated pursuant to it, as were in effect on December 31, 2014, as if the sunset had not taken effect.

Date: 2015-03-12
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the low-income housing tax credit, to make permanent the minimum 9% credit rate for new buildings that are not federally-subsidized and to establish a minimum 4% credit rate for existing buildings that are not federally-subsidized.

Date: 2015-05-05
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Taxation
Healthy Housing Council Act of 2016

This bill establishes in the executive branch an independent Interagency Council on Healthy Housing.

The Council shall:

 review federal programs and services that provide housing, health, energy, or environmental services to families and individuals; monitor, evaluate, and recommend improvements in programs and services administered, funded, or financed by federal, state, and local agencies; recommend ways to reduce duplication among federal programs and services; and ensure collaboration among and within agencies in the provision and availability of such programs and services.

Date: 2016-04-19
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
End Housing Subsidies for the Rich Act of 2016

This bill amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to revise eligibility requirements for assisted housing.

If a public housing agency (PHA) determines that a tenant's income is greater than 120% of the area median income for two consecutive years, the PHA must terminate the family's tenancy within six months.

Such a family may, however, continue to occupy the dwelling unit month-to-month if:

 the PHA charges the family the fair market rent, and there are no eligible families applying for housing assistance from the PHA for that month and the agency provides at least a 30-day public notice of the availability of such assistance. A PHA may not rent a dwelling unit to or assist families with net family assets exceeding $100,000 annually (adjusted for inflation) or an ownership interest in property that is suitable for occupancy. This restriction does not apply to victims of domestic violence, individuals using housing assistance for homeownership opportunities, or a family that is offering a property for sale.

PHAs must require applicants to authorize financial institutions to disclose records necessary to determine eligibility for benefits.

Date: 2016-05-17
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2016 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the low-income housing tax credit, to: (1) expand the credit by increasing the state housing credit ceiling, (2) modify the cost-of-living adjustment required for the state housing credit ceiling, (3) establish a new average income test which may be used to determine if a low-income housing project qualifies for the credit, and (4) establish a minimum credit rate of 4% for certain new or existing buildings.

Date: 2016-05-19
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Taxation
Housing Accountability Act of 2016

This bill amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to require an entity receiving low-income housing assistance payments for existing public housing units to maintain decent, safe, and sanitary conditions for any structure covered under a payment contract.

 The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) shall develop a process by which a Performance-Based Contract Administrator shall, on a semiannual basis, conduct a survey of the tenants of each such structure to identify consistent or persistent problems with the structure's physical condition or its manager's performance.

 A structure shall be referred to HUD for remediation if the Administrator identifies such a problem based on the survey or any other observation made by the Administrator during the normal course of business.

HUD may impose a penalty on the structure's owner if the structure does not satisfactorily meet this bill's requirements or is repeatedly referred to HUD for remediation by an Administrator through the process. Collected amounts shall be used solely for supporting safe and sanitary conditions at applicable structures or for HUD designated tenant relocation, with priority given to tenants of the penalized structure.

This bill shall not apply to voucher program property.

Date: 2016-07-14
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2016 

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the low-income housing credit, to rename the credit "the affordable housing credit" and make several modifications to the credit.

The bill increases state allocations for the credit and modifies the cost-of-living adjustments. It also revises tenant eligibility requirements, with respect to:

 the average income test, income eligibility for rural projects, increased tenant income, student occupancy rules, and tenant voucher payments that are taken into account as rent. The bill revises various requirements to:

 establish a 4% minimum credit rate for certain projects, permit relocation costs to be taken into account as rehabilitation expenditures, repeal the qualified census tract population cap, require state housing credit agencies to make certain determinations regarding community revitalization plans, prohibit local approval and contribution requirements, increase the credit for certain projects designated to serve extremely low-income households, increase the credit for certain bond-financed projects designated by state agencies, and eliminate the basis reduction for low-income housing properties that receive certain energy-related tax credits and deductions. The bill also modifies requirements regarding the reconstruction or replacement period after a casualty loss, rights related to building purchases, the prohibition on claiming acquisition credits for properties placed in service in the previous 10 years, and projects that assist Native Americans.

Date: 2016-07-14
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Taxation
Homeowner Foreclosure Reduction Act of 2016 

This bill requires the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), and the Federal Housing Administration to permit certain nonprofit organizations and local governments to match the highest bids during sales of pools of certain nonperforming loans.

An entity that purchases a pool of loans under this bill may not foreclose on any of the occupied properties that secure loans in the pool during the 12-month period following the purchase.

The entity must also ensure that, within four years of the settlement date, at least 50% of the loans in the pool result in:

 a modified loan that meets specified requirements regarding the loan-to-value ratio, performance over a six-month period, fees and prepayment requirements, and the interest rate; a short sale of the property that secures the loan to an owner-occupant; holding the property that secures the loan for rental for a period of not less than three years, where the rental is affordable to a household with an annual income at or below the area median income; gifting the property that secures the loan to a land bank, a nonprofit organization, or a state or local government, with additional funds provided for demolition and maintenance; or sale of the loan or the property that secures the loan to a nonprofit organization. If the entity purchases a pool that contains a loan secured by a vacant property, the entity must ensure that the servicer of the loan: (1) does not release the lien on the property, and (2) maintains the property in accordance with generally acceptable maintenance standards.

Date: 2016-09-28
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Housing and community development
This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit a census tract that has a population of zero and is contiguous to one or more low-income communities to be treated as a low-income community for the purpose of the new markets tax credit.

Date: 2016-11-17
Topic: Housing (Low-Income Assistance)
Subject: Taxation
Small Business Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) allow self-employed individuals to participate in cafeteria pension plans; (2) allow long-term care insurance under cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements; (3) allow accelerated amortization of certain intangible assets (e.g., good will) acquired from a small business; (4) increase the tax exclusion of gain from the sale of certain small business stock; (5) provide a $2,500 standard tax deduction for home business expenses; (6) permit certain small businesses to elect a taxable year ending in a month from April to November; (7) increase the allowable number of S corporation shareholders; and (8) exempt certain small businesses from withholding of tax requirements for payments made by government entities.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Taxation
National Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act of 2007 - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), acting through the Associate Administrator for Small Business Development Centers, to establish a program to provide regulatory compliance assistance to small businesses through participating Small Business Development Centers (Centers), the Association for Small Business Development Centers (Association), and Federal compliance partnership programs. Requires the Administrator to enter into arrangements with participating Centers to provide: (1) access to regulatory information and resources; (2) training and education activities; (3) confidential counseling to owners and operators of small businesses regarding compliance with Federal and State regulations; and (4) technical assistance. Directs the Administrator to contract with the Association to act as the repository of and clearinghouse for data and information submitted by Centers. Requires the Administrator, giving substantial weight to the Association's recommendations, to select the Centers programs of two States from each of ten groups of States for participation in the program. Authorizes the Administrator to make additional selections after three years, with a preference for programs that have a plan for consulting with Federal and State agencies to ensure that assistance provided under this Act is not duplicated by any other Federal or State program. Sets forth the formula for determining program grant amounts.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt from the penalty tax for prohibited transactions loans from an individual retirement plan to acquire certain small business capital assets. Requires such loans to be repaid within five years.

Date: 2007-01-04
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Taxation
Extends through July 31, 2007, under the same terms and conditions, the authorization for any program, authority, or provision, including any pilot program, that is currently authorized through February 2, 2007, under the Small Business Act or the Small Business Investment Act of 1958.

Date: 2007-01-12
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Amends the Small Business Act to include Campbell County, Virginia, as a qualified nonmetropolitan county for purposes of the HUBZone (heavily underutilized business zone) programs under such Act.

Date: 2007-01-12
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Small Business Paperwork Relief Act - Amends the Paperwork Reduction Act to direct agency heads not to impose civil fines for first-time paperwork violations by small business concerns unless there is potential for serious harm to the public interest, the detection of criminal activity would be impaired, the violation is not corrected within six months, the violation is a violation of internal revenue law or a law concerning the assessment or collection of any tax, debt, revenue, or receipt, or the violation presents a danger to the public health or safety. Permits an agency to determine that a fine should not be imposed for a violation that presents a danger to public health or safety if the violation is corrected within 24 hours after receipt by the small business owner of notification of the violation. Makes this Act inapplicable to any violation by a small business of a requirement regarding the collection of information by an agency if the small business previously violated any requirement concerning the collection of information by that agency.

Date: 2007-01-12
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Government operations and politics
Vocational and Technical Entrepreneurship Development Act of 2007 - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to establish a program under which the Administrator shall make grants to, or may enter into cooperative agreements with, state small business development centers to provide, on a statewide basis, technical assistance to secondary schools, or to post-secondary vocational or technical schools, for the development and implementation of curricula designed to promote vocational and technical entrepreneurship. Provides for the minimum amount of a grant to not be less than $200,000. Directs the association of small business development centers to act as an information clearinghouse regarding vocational and technical entrepreneurship education programs.

Date: 2007-01-18
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Small Business Freedom to Lend Act of 2007 - Directs the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish a three-year pilot program to permit an eligible certified development company (CDC) to make loans (for small business development) in any state that is contiguous to its the state of incorporation. Makes eligible CDCs that are designated as either an accredited or premier certified lender under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958. Removes the requirement that such a CDC maintain, in each state in which it makes or intends to make loans, separate and distinct memberships, officers, boards of directors, and loan committees. Amends the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to allow an officer, director, or manager of one qualified state or local development company to serve as an officer, director, or manager of another qualified state or local development company.

Date: 2007-01-18
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Disadvantaged Business Disaster Eligibility Act - Amends the Small Business Act to provide that if a small business is affected by a catastrophic incident while participating in any section 8(a) business development program, the eligibility period for its participation in such program shall be extended by 18 months. Deems the 2005 Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma, and Rita as catastrophic incidents for purposes of this Act.

Date: 2007-01-18
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow certain investors a business tax credit for 25% of equity investments made in small businesses, up to an annual limit of $500,000. Terminates such credit after 2011.

Date: 2007-01-19
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Taxation
National Small Business Regulatory Assistance Act of 2007 - Amends the Small Business Act to direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish a program to provide regulatory compliance assistance to small businesses through participating Small Business Development Centers (Centers), the Association for Small Business Development Centers (Association), and federal compliance partnership programs. Requires the Administrator to enter into arrangements with participating Centers to provide: (1) access to regulatory information and resources; (2) training and education activities; (3) confidential counseling to owners and operators of small businesses regarding compliance with federal and state regulations; and (4) technical assistance. Directs the Administrator to contract with the Association to act as the repository of and clearinghouse for data and information submitted by Centers. Requires the Administrator, giving substantial weight to the Association's recommendations, to select the Centers programs of two states from each of ten groups of states for participation in the program. Authorizes the Administrator to make additional selections after three years, with a preference for programs that have a plan for consulting with federal and state agencies to ensure that assistance provided under this act is not duplicated by any other federal or state program. Sets forth the formula for determining program grant amounts. Provides a minimum grant amount of $250,000.

Date: 2007-01-30
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Family Small Business Tax Fairness Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a married couple filing a joint tax return an election to conduct a trade or business as a qualified joint venture for purposes of determining separate net employment income. Defines "qualified joint venture" as an entity that is not treated as a partnership and that allows spouses to: (1) treat items of income and expense in accordance with their respective interests in the venture; and (2) conduct their business activities as sole proprietors.

Date: 2007-02-07
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Taxation
Small Business Growth Act of 2007 - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to provide for establishment and governance of association health plans (AHPs), which are group health plans that meet certain ERISA certification requirements and whose sponsors are trade, industry, professional, chamber of commerce, or similar business associations. Requires the Secretary to establish a Solvency Standards Working Group.Preempts any state law that may preclude a health insurance issuer from: (1) offering health insurance coverage in connection with a certified AHP; or (2) offering health insurance coverage of the same policy type to other employers operating in the state that are eligible for coverage under such AHPs, whether or not such other employers are participating employers in such plan.Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend through 2011 the increased expensing allowance for small business assets.Amends the Paperwork Reduction Act to prohibit agency heads from imposing civil fines for first-time paperwork violations by small business concerns unless certain requirements are met.Amends Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to require courts to impose sanctions on attorneys, law firms, or parties who file frivolous lawsuits. Sets forth provisions concerning: (1) additional sanctions for willful and intentional destruction of certain documents; and (2) public disclosure of Rule 11 proceedings.Amends the Small Business Act to increase the government-wide goal for procurement contracts awarded to small businesses concerns to 25% (currently, 23%) of federal procurement contracts awarded in a fiscal year.

Date: 2007-02-13
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Small Business Disaster Response and Loan Improvements Act of 2007 - Amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to: (1) guarantee the payment of principal and interest on private lender loans to small businesses located in a disaster area; and (2) make disaster loans to private nonprofit organizations located or operating in a disaster area. Increases disaster loan caps.

Date: 2007-02-14
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Equity Act of 2007 - Amends the Small Business Act to authorize the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to award contracts to small businesses owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans on the same basis as those awarded to socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses. Requires annual certification to the SBA as to the service-disabled veteran-owned nature of the small business.

Date: 2007-03-01
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce
Emergency Child Care Lending for the Gulf Coast Act of 2007 - Authorizes the proceeds of a loan for plant acquisition, construction, conversion, or expansion under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 to be used by the certified development company to provide loans to small, nonprofit child care businesses that have a track record of providing such services in the presidentially declared disaster areas in the Gulf Coast region.Limits to 3% the amount of the total number of such loans guaranteed in FY2008-FY2009 that may be awarded for the program under this Act. Terminates such program after December 30, 2008.

Date: 2007-03-08
Topic: Domestic Commerce (Small Businesses)
Subject: Commerce