United States 117th Congress Status: In Committee 1 D cosponsors

HR 9587 — Tenants’ Right to Organize Act

Last action — 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.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 117th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Tenants' Right to Organize Act This bill provides for the right of tenants who receive certain rental assistance to establish, operate, and participate in a tenant organization. Specifically, tenants who participate in Housing Choice Voucher (i.e., Section 8 tenant-based housing assistance) or Low-Income Housing Tax Credit programs administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development have the right to engage in a tenant organization to address issues related to their living environment and participate in community development activities. Public housing agencies and unit owners are required to recognize tenant organizations and allow tenants to conduct protected activities, including distributing leaflets, initiating tenant contact, and convening meetings in the building. A public housing agency or building owner may not require prior permission for any of these activities. Further, these entities may not retaliate against a tenant for participating in a tenant organization. The bill also provides grants for state and local organizations for training and outreach with respect to tenant organization capacity building and technical assistance.

Bill Text

Sections of law this bill changes

3 sections in 3 laws

From the bill's own amending language, matched to the official United States Code (current through Public Law 119-121).

National housing · 12 U.S.C. ch. 13 1 section
  • § 1715z-1b Tenant participation in multifamily housing projects Amends

    12 U.S.C. § 1715z-1b — at 1715z-1b(a)

    The law today

    (a) Purpose; definitions The purpose of this section is to recognize the importance and benefits of cooperation and participation of tenants in creating a suitable living environment in multifamily housing proj­ects and in contributing to the successful operation of such projects, including their good physical condition, proper maintenance, security, energy efficiency, and control of operating costs. For the purpose of this section, the term “multifamily housing project” means a project which is eligible for assistance as described in section 1715z–1a(c) of this title or section 1701q of this title, or a project which receives project-based assistance under section 1437f of title 42 or enhanced vouchers under the Low-Income Housing Preservation and Resident Homeownership Act of 1990 [12 U.S.C. 4101 et seq.], the provisions of the Emergency Low Income Housing Preservation Act of 1987, or the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997. (b) Rights of tenants The Secretary shall assure that— (1) where the Secretary’s written approval is required with respect to an owner’s request for rent increase, conversion of residential rental units to any other use (including commercial use or use as a unit in any condominium or cooperative project), partial release of security, or major physical alterations or where the Secretary proposes to sell a mortgage secured by a multifamily housing project, tenants have adequate notice of, reasonable access to relevant information about, and an opportunity to comment on such actions (and in the case of a project owned by the Secretary, any proposed disposition of the project) and that such comments are taken into consideration by the Secretary; (2) project owners not interfere with the efforts of tenants to obtain rent subsidies or other public assistance; (3) leases approved by the Secretary provide that tenants may not be evicted without good cause or without adequate notice of the reasons therefor and do not contain unreasonable terms and conditions; and (4) project owners do not impede the reasonable efforts of resident tenant organizations to represent their members or the reasonable efforts of tenants to organize. (c) Regulations The Secretary shall promulgate regulations to carry out the provisions of this section not later than 90 days after October 31, 1978.

    3 other bills also change this section · Follow it → Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗

Normal taxes and surtaxes · 26 U.S.C. ch. 1 1 section
  • § 42 Low-income housing credit Amends

    26 U.S.C. § 42 — at 42(g)

    The law today

    (a) In general For purposes of section 38, the amount of the low-income housing credit determined under this section for any taxable year in the credit period shall be an amount equal to— (1) the applicable percentage of (2) the qualified basis of each qualified low-income building. (b) Applicable percentage: 70 percent present value credit for certain new buildings; 30 percent present value credit for certain other buildings (1) Determination of applicable percentage For purposes of this section— (A) In general The term “applicable percentage” means, with respect to any building, the appropriate percentage prescribed by the Secretary for the earlier of— (i) the month in which such building is placed in service, or (ii) at the election of the taxpayer— (I) the month in which the taxpayer and the housing credit agency enter into an agreement with respect to such building (which is binding on such agency, the taxpayer, and all successors in interest) as to the housing credit dollar amount to be allocated to such building, or (II) in the case of any building to which subsection (h)(4)(B) applies, the month in which the tax-exempt obligations are issued.  A month may be elected under clause (ii) only if the election is made not later than the 5th day after the close of such month. Such an election, once made, shall be irrevocable. (B) Method of prescribing percentages The percentages prescribed by the Secretary for any month shall be percentages which will yield over a 10-year period amounts of credit under subsection (a) which have a present value equal to— (i) 70 percent of the qualified basis of a new building which is not federally subsidized for the taxable year, and (ii) 30 percent of the qualified basis of a building not described in clause (i). (C) Method of discounting The present value under subparagraph (B) shall be determined— (i) as of the last day of the 1st year of the 10-year period referred to in subparagraph (B), (ii) by using a discount rate equal to 72 percent of the average of the annual Federal mid-term rate and the annual Federal long-term rate applicable under section 1274(d)(1) to the month applicable under clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (A) and compounded annually, and (iii) by assuming that the credit allowable under this section for any year is received on the last day of such year. (2) Minimum credit rate for non-federally subsidized new buildings In the case of any new building— (A) which is placed in service by the taxpayer after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, and (B) which is not federally subsidized for the taxable year, the applicable percentage shall not be less than 9 percent. (3) Minimum credit rate In the case of any new or existing building to which paragraph (2) does not apply and which is placed in service by the taxpayer after December 31, 2020, the applicable percentage shall not be less than 4 percent. (4) Cross references (A) For treatment of certain rehabilitation expenditures as separate new buildings, see subsection (e). (B) For determination of applicable percentage for increases in qualified basis after the 1st year of the credit period, see subsection (f)(3). (C) For authority of housing credit agency to limit applicable percentage and qualified basis which may be taken into account under this section with respect to any building, see subsection (h)(7). (c) Qualified basis; qualified low-income building For purposes of this section— (1) Qualified basis (A) Determination The qualified basis of any qualified low-income building for any taxable year is an amount equal to— (i) the applicable fraction (determined as of the close of such taxable year) of (ii) the eligible basis of such building (determined under subsection (d)(5)). (B) Applicable fraction For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term “applicable fraction” means the smaller of the unit fraction or the floor space fraction. (C) Unit fraction For purposes of subparagraph (B), the term “unit fraction” mean...

    86 other bills also change this section · Follow it → Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗

Low-income housing · 42 U.S.C. ch. 8 1 section
  • § 1437f Low-income housing assistance Amends

    42 U.S.C. § 1437f — at 1437f(o)

    The law today

    (a) Authorization for assistance payments For the purpose of aiding low-income families in obtaining a decent place to live and of promoting economically mixed housing, assistance payments may be made with respect to existing housing in accordance with the provisions of this section. (b) Other existing housing programs (1) In general.— The Secretary is authorized to enter into annual contributions contracts with public housing agencies pursuant to which such agencies may enter into contracts to make assistance payments to owners of existing dwelling units in accordance with this section. In areas where no public housing agency has been organized or where the Secretary determines that a public housing agency is unable to implement the provisions of this section, the Secretary is authorized to enter into such contracts and to perform the other functions assigned to a public housing agency by this section. (2) The Secretary is authorized to enter into annual contributions contracts with public housing agencies for the purpose of replacing public housing transferred in accordance with subchapter II–A of this chapter. Each contract entered into under this subsection shall be for a term of not more than 60 months. (c) Contents and purposes of contracts for assistance payments; amount and scope of monthly assistance payments (1) (A) An assistance contract entered into pursuant to this section shall establish the maximum monthly rent (including utilities and all maintenance and management charges) which the owner is entitled to receive for each dwelling unit with respect to which such assistance payments are to be made. The maximum monthly rent shall not exceed by more than 10 per centum the fair market rental established by the Secretary periodically but not less than annually for existing or newly constructed rental dwelling units of various sizes and types in the market area suitable for occupancy by persons assisted under this section, except that the maximum monthly rent may exceed the fair market rental (A) by more than 10 but not more than 20 per centum where the Secretary determines that special circumstances warrant such higher maximum rent or that such higher rent is necessary to the implementation of a housing strategy as defined in section 12705 of this title, or (B) by such higher amount as may be requested by a tenant and approved by the public housing agency in accordance with paragraph (3)(B). In the case of newly constructed and substantially rehabilitated units, the exception in the preceding sentence shall not apply to more than 20 per centum of the total amount of authority to enter into annual contributions contracts for such units which is allocated to an area and obligated with respect to any fiscal year beginning on or after October 1, 1980. Each fair market rental in effect under this subsection shall be adjusted to be effective on October 1 of each year to reflect changes, based on the most recent available data trended so the rentals will be current for the year to which they apply, of rents for existing or newly constructed rental dwelling units, as the case may be, of various sizes and types in the market area suitable for occupancy by persons assisted under this section. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, after October 12, 1977, the Secretary shall prohibit high-rise elevator projects for families with children unless there is no practical alternative. If units assisted under this section are exempt from local rent control while they are so assisted or otherwise, the maximum monthly rent for such units shall be reasonable in comparison with other units in the market area that are exempt from local rent control. (B) Fair market rentals for an area shall be published not less than annually by the Secretary on the site of the Department on the World Wide Web and in any other manner specified by the Secretary. Notice that such fair market rentals are being published shall be published in ...

    140 other bills also change this section · Follow it → Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗

How this bill changes current law

6 changes Share ↗

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends the U.S. Housing Act of 1937 to grant specific rights to tenants receiving rental assistance, enhancing their ability to organize while also imposing obligations on public housing agencies and owners regarding tenant organizations.

  • 42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)

    (22) Right to organize.-- (A) In general.--Tenants receiving tenant-based rental assistance have the right to establish, operate, and participate in a resident organization for the purpose of addressing issues related to their living environment, which includes the terms and conditions of their tenancy as well as activities related to housing and community development and may not be retaliated against for asserting these rights.

    This addition grants tenants the explicit right to organize for their interests without fear of retaliation.

  • 42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)

    (B) Required engagement.-- (i) Public housing agencies.--Each public housing agency shall-- (I) recognize legitimate resident organizations; (II) solicit comments from all resident organizations not less than once each year; and (III) not later than 60 days after receiving a comment from a resident organization, meaningfully respond in writing to such comment.

    This mandates public housing agencies to engage with resident organizations and respond to their comments.

  • 42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)

    (C) Protections.-- (i) In general.--Each public housing agency and each owner may not interfere with the right of tenants to establish and operate a tenant organization.

    This ensures that public housing agencies and owners cannot obstruct tenant organization activities.

  • 42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)

    (ii) Protected activities.--Each public housing agency and each owner shall allow tenants and tenant organizers to conduct the following activities related to the establishment or operation of a tenant organization: (I) Distributing leaflets in lobby areas. (II) Placing leaflets at or under tenants' doors. (III) Distributing leaflets in common areas. (IV) Initiating contact with tenants. (V) Conducting door-to-door surveys of tenants to ascertain interest in establishing a tenant organization and to offer information about tenant organizations. (VI) Posting information on bulletin boards. (VII) Assisting tenants to participate in tenant organization activities. (VIII) Convening regularly scheduled tenant organization meetings in a space on site and accessible to tenants, in a manner that is fully independent of management representatives.

    This specifies the activities that tenants and organizers can engage in without interference.

  • 42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)

    (D) Enforcement protocol.-- (i) In general.--The Secretary shall, not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, establish a protocol for the enforcement of this paragraph and such protocol shall-- (I) include an independent investigation of tenant and advocate allegations of abuse and retaliation; (II) provide a mechanism for administrative complaints to be made and cataloged; (III) keep tenants informed about the progression of any complaint; (IV) prohibit the withholding of tenant-based rental assistance from any tenant that makes a complaint, until such complaint is closed; and (V) provide confidentiality where necessary, including in cases where alleged abuse is extreme and targeted.

    This establishes a formal enforcement mechanism for tenant rights and protections.

  • 42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)

    (E) Notice of right to organize.-- (i) In general.--Each public housing agency shall notify each tenant receiving tenant-based rental assistance of the right to organize described in subparagraph (A) annually during the recertification process.

    This requires public housing agencies to inform tenants annually of their right to organize.

Action History

  1. Introduced in House

  2. Introduced in House

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (546)

546 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

housing labor
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HR 9587 do?
Tenants' Right to Organize Act This bill provides for the right of tenants who receive certain rental assistance to establish, operate, and participate in a tenant organization. Specifically, tenants who participate in Housing Choice Voucher (i.e., Section 8 tenant-based housing assistance) or Low-Income Housing Tax Credit programs administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development have the right to engage in a tenant organization to address issues related to their living environment and participate in community development activities. Public housing agencies and unit owners are required to recognize tenant organizations and allow tenants to conduct protected activities, including distributing leaflets, initiating tenant contact, and convening meetings in the building. A public housing agency or building owner may not require prior permission for any of these activities. Further, these entities may not retaliate against a tenant for participating in a tenant organization. The bill also provides grants for state and local organizations for training and outreach with respect to tenant organization capacity building and technical assistance.
Who sponsors HR 9587?
HR 9587 is sponsored by Levin, Andy (Democratic).
What is the current status of HR 9587?
This bill died with 117th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HR 9587?
Track HR 9587 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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