Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Fix Moldy Housing Act

Study on conditions in which mold assessment and remediation is warranted

(a)

In general

The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall enter into an arrangement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study on—(1)the conditions in which indoor mold assessment and remediation is warranted; and(2)how to assess and remediate indoor mold properly and safely.(b)

Report

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act—(1)the study under subsection (a) shall be completed; and(2)the Administrator shall submit a report to the Congress on the results of such study.

Standards for assessing and remediating mold

(a)

In general

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in conjunction with the heads of appropriate Federal agencies, shall issue nonbinding national standards that—(1)identify levels of mold that should be assessed and remediated; and(2)outline standards for—(A)properly and safely assessing mold; and(B)properly and safely remediating mold.(b)

Consideration

In issuing the standards under subsection (a), the Administrator shall take into consideration the results of the study conducted under section 2.

Program to assist State and Tribal governments with assessing and remediating mold

(a)

Program

Taking into consideration the results of the study under section 2 and the national standards under section 3, the Administrator shall carry out a program to assist State and Tribal governments in carrying out programs and activities to assess and remediate mold.(b)

Grants

(1)

Authorization

In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Administrator shall award grants to State and Tribal governments to establish a licensing program for persons engaged in assessing and remediating mold.(2)

Permissible use

A grant awarded under paragraph (1) may be used to pay the costs of operating a licensing program described in paragraph (1), including administrative costs.(3)

Preference

In awarding grants under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall give preference to State and Tribal governments that include geographic areas that are highly susceptible to indoor mold contamination based on—(A)the national standards established under section 3;(B)outdoor environmental conditions, such as humidity; or(C)other factors identified by the Administrator.(c)

Technical assistance

In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Administrator shall provide technical assistance to State and Tribal programs to assess and remediate mold.(d)

Training program

In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Administrator shall administer training seminars on assessing and remediating mold.(e)

Authorization of appropriations

To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.

Grants for assessment and remediation of mold in public buildings and severely impacted homes

(a)

In general

The Administrator shall award grants to State and Tribal governments to cover the costs associated with assessing and remediating mold in—(1)buildings owned or leased by such governments, including schools and housing; and(2)private residential properties, including single family and multifamily properties.(b)

Additional permissible uses of funds

In addition to uses allowed under subsection (a), a grant awarded under this section may also be used to cover the costs of temporary housing for periods not in excess of 6 months, including moving costs, for individuals who—(1)are severely impacted by mold in their residences;(2)are without insurance coverage for mold; and(3)do not have sufficient financial resources to obtain alternative housing, as determined on a case-by-case basis by the State or Tribal government.(c)

Licensing program

As a condition on receipt of a grant awarded under this section, a State or Tribal government shall agree to implement a licensing program for persons in the relevant jurisdiction engaged in assessing and remediating mold.(d)

Not for use for high-Income households

As a condition on receipt of a grant awarded under this section, a State or Tribal government shall agree to refrain from using the grant to assess or remediate mold in housing occupied by households that are, as determined by the Administrator, high-income.(e)

Prioritization

In awarding grants under this section, the Administrator shall give priority to—(1)applicants proposing to use a grant under this section to assess and remediate mold in—(A)housing occupied by households that are, as determined by the Administrator, low-income; or(B)buildings serving communities that are, as determined by the Administrator, low-income; and(2)State and Tribal governments that include geographic areas that are highly susceptible to indoor mold contamination based on—(A)the national standards established under section 3;(B)outdoor environmental conditions, such as humidity; or(C)other factors identified by the Administrator.(f)

Federal share

The Federal share of the cost of activities implemented with a grant under this section in any fiscal year shall not exceed 60 percent of the costs incurred by the State or Tribal government receiving the grant in implementing such activities.(g)

Allocation

Of the funds made available to carry out this section each fiscal year—(1)at least 20 percent shall be used pursuant to subsection (a) to cover costs associated with assessing and remediating mold in buildings owned or leased by governments; and(2)at least 20 percent shall be used pursuant to subsection (a) to cover costs associated with assessing and remediating mold in private residential properties.(h)

Authorization of appropriations

To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.

Definitions

In this Act:(1)

Administrator

The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.(2)

Mold

The term mold means a fungal growth that forms and spreads on various kinds of damp or decaying organic matter.(3)

State

The term State includes, in addition to the several States, the District of Columbia and any territory of the United States.