HR 5072 — A Just Society: A Place to Prosper Act of 2019

Summary

A Just Society: A Place to Prosper Act of 2019 This bill addresses housing affordability, access, security, and safety. For example, the bill specifies that landlords that own more than five residential properties or more than two manufactured housing parks (1) may not raise rent by more than a certain percentage; (2) may evict tenants only for specified reasons, such as for missing rent for two or more consecutive months; and (3) must keep units in good repair. The bill also prohibits a large-scale landlord or a landlord the Department of Housing and Development (HUD) has found to have committed certain acts, such as repeated evictions without cause, from purchasing a federally supported mortgage or mortgage-backed security or obtaining federally provided mortgage insurance. The bill allows nonresident aliens to receive HUD housing assistance. The bill also prohibits discrimination based on an individual's source of income in the sale or rental of housing and other related real estate transactions. Additionally, HUD may award grants for states and local governments to establish a right to counsel for tenants in eviction proceedings. The bill also authorizes additional grants and activities to evaluate and reduce lead and other hazards in housing. The bill also (1) increases the federal share of costs for state highway projects in jurisdictions with laws or regulations that encourage equitable growth, and (2) decreases the federal share for projects in jurisdictions with laws or regulations that discourage equitable growth.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in House Current html November 13, 2019

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

The bill introduces new regulations on landlords and expands protections against housing discrimination based on source of income.

• 42 U.S.C. 3602

  (p) `Source of income' includes-- (1) a housing voucher under section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f) and any form of Federal, State, or local housing assistance provided to a family or provided to a housing owner on behalf of a family, including rental vouchers, rental assistance, and rental subsidies from nongovernmental organizations; (2) income received during a taxable year as Social Security benefits, as defined in section 86(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or as supplemental security income benefits under title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.); (3) income received by court order, including spousal support and child support; (4) any payment from a trust, guardian, or conservator; and (5) any other lawful source of income.

  Defines 'source of income' to include various forms of income assistance and establishes it as a basis for housing protections.

• 42 U.S.C. 3604

  source of income,

  Expands the Fair Housing Act's protections to include discrimination based on source of income.

• 42 U.S.C. 3605

  source of income,

  Incorporates source of income as a protected class against discriminatory housing practices.

• 42 U.S.C. 3606

  source of income,

  Adds source of income to the provisions related to discriminatory advertising and communications.

• 42 U.S.C. 3608(e)(6)

  source of income,

  Enhances Fair Housing Act obligations by prohibiting discrimination based on source of income in housing practices.

• 42 U.S.C. 3631

  source of income (as defined in section 802),

  Updates the Civil Rights Act of 1968 to include source of income as a basis for discrimination.

Action History

1. November 13, 2019

   Introduced in House

2. November 13, 2019

   Introduced in House

3. November 13, 2019

   Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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. November 13, 2019

   Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.

5. November 13, 2019

   Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.

6. November 14, 2019

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.

7. December 05, 2019

   Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H9284)

8. December 18, 2019

   Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Sponsors

• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez · Primary

Subjects