[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8185 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8185
To create a database of eviction information, establish grant programs
for eviction prevention and legal aid, and limit use of housing court-
related records in consumer reports, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 2, 2026
Ms. Pressley (for herself, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Gomez, Ms. Norton, Ms.
Tlaib, and Ms. Jayapal) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Financial Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To create a database of eviction information, establish grant programs
for eviction prevention and legal aid, and limit use of housing court-
related records in consumer reports, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Housing Emergencies Lifeline Program
Act of 2026'' or the ``HELP Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. DATABASE OF EVICTION INFORMATION.
(a) Reports by Housing Providers.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development shall require each State and local entity that
receives covered housing assistance to submit to the Secretary
annual reports under this section regarding evictions from
assisted dwelling units of the covered housing occurring during
the preceding year.
(2) Contents.--Each report submitted pursuant to subsection
(a) shall include--
(A) for each household subject to an eviction
proceeding during the year which the report covers--
(i) the reason or reasons that the eviction
proceeding was undertaken and, in the case of
any eviction proceeding undertaken in whole or
in part based on an arrearage in rent owed, the
amount of such arrearage and the amount of the
tenant's required contribution toward rent;
(ii) the date on which the household was
ordered to be evicted;
(iii) the address of the dwelling unit from
which the household was evicted;
(iv) whether the household was represented
by legal counsel in any eviction proceeding, if
such information is available;
(v) the number of days the household was
given to vacate the dwelling unit, if such
information is available; and
(vi) whether a writ of execution was issued
in regards to the eviction; and
(B) for each individual in any household subject to
an eviction proceeding during the year which the report
covers--
(i) the name of the individual;
(ii) the annual income of the individual in
the fiscal year prior to the year during which
the individual was evicted, if available;
(iii) the disability status of the
individual evicted, if available;
(iv) any available demographic information
about the individual including race, ethnicity,
age, and gender;
(v) any foster care history for the
individual, if available;
(vi) any serious physical health problems
or serious mental illness of the individual, if
such information is available;
(vii) any history of prior homelessness of
the individual, if such information is
available; and
(viii) whether the individual has a
criminal record, if such information is
available.
(3) Data requirements.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development shall develop requirements for States and local
entities that receive covered housing assistance that--
(A) provides limitations on how long the
information described in paragraph (2) shall be
retained; and
(B) establishes data privacy and security
requirements for the information described in paragraph
(2) that--
(i) includes appropriate measures to ensure
that the privacy of the individuals and
households is protected and that the
information, including any personally
identifiable information, is collected and used
only for the purpose of submitting reports
under paragraph (1); and
(ii) ensures that any names collected are
redacted and replaced with an anonymous
identifier.
(b) Database.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a database
for collecting and maintaining information submitted in reports
pursuant to subsection (a).
(2) Disaggregation.--To the extent possible, such database
shall be disaggregated by the smallest census tract, block
group, or block possible for the data set, and by income, race,
gender, disability, and all other protected classes under the
Fair Housing Act.
(3) Privacy protections.--The Secretary shall establish
appropriate measures regarding information in the database to
ensure that, subject to paragraph (3), the privacy of the
individuals and households is protected and that any personally
identifiable information is not disclosed, including by
redacting all names.
(4) Research.--The Secretary may make full and unredacted
information available to academic institutions for the purpose
of researching causes and solutions to evictions and adherence
to civil rights protections.
SEC. 3. EVICTION PROTECTION GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a grant program
to award competitive grants to eligible entities as described in this
section.
(b) Eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant under this section, an
entity shall be a nonprofit or government entity.
(c) Eligible Uses.--An entity that is awarded a grant under this
section shall use such grant to provide legal assistance (including
assistance related to pretrial activities, trial activities, post-trial
activities and alternative dispute resolution) at no cost to eligible
low-income tenants at risk of or subject to eviction.
(d) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary
shall give preference to eligible entities that--
(1) include a marketing strategy for residents of areas
with high rates of eviction;
(2) have experience providing no-cost legal assistance to
low-income individuals, including those with limited English
proficiency or disabilities; and
(3) have sufficient capacity to administer such assistance.
(e) Use in Urban and Rural Areas.--The Secretary shall ensure, to
the extent practicable, that the proportion of tenants living in rural
areas who will receive legal assistance with grant amounts under this
section is not less than the overall proportion of tenants who live in
rural areas.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary such sums as needed for--
(1) grants under this section; and
(2) assistance under the emergency solutions grants program
under subtitle B of title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11371 et seq.), to be used only for--
(A) providing legal counsel for tenants subject to
or at risk of eviction with regard to any eviction
related legal proceeding; and
(B) costs of any court fees associated with an
eviction-related legal proceeding for a tenant
(excluding any attorneys fees for the attorney of the
landlord of the tenant).
SEC. 4. CONSUMER REPORTS.
(a) In General.--Section 605(a) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act
(15 U.S.C. 1681c(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(9) An eviction, or any information related to an
eviction or a proceeding seeking eviction, of a consumer from a
rental dwelling.
``(10) Any adverse item of information related to rent or
utility arrears.''.
(b) Applicability.--The amendment made by this section shall apply
to any consumer report (as defined in section 603 of the Fair Credit
Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681a)) issued on or after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 5. EVICTION INFORMATION.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall, not later than 1 year after
the date of the enactment of this Act, issue rules that require each
owner of a covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit to ensure
that each tenant of such dwelling unit owned by such owner receives
information, in writing--
(1) not less than once each year regarding--
(A) the rights and responsibilities of such owner
with regard to eviction; and
(B) local organizations and resources that can
provide assistance in eviction-related matters;
(2) upon provision of any notice of eviction, stating the
reason or reasons for the eviction; and
(3) all notices given shall clarify that rights and
responsibilities of tenants are subject to State and local law.
(b) Hotline.--The Secretary shall, not later than 1 year after the
date of the enactment of this Act, establish a hotline to provide
assistance with regard to eviction-related matters to tenants of
covered federally assisted rental dwelling units. The Secretary shall
establish guidance to ensure that the hotline is visible, promoted to
consumers, is accessible in English and other languages, has
accommodations for those who have disabilities, and maintains adequate
staff to match the volume of calls to the hotline. Assistance must
direct callers to available resources, including legal aid, and make
callers aware of their rights and responsibilities as tenants.
SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Assistance.--The term ``assistance'' means any grant,
loan, subsidy, contract, cooperative agreement, or other form
of financial assistance, but such term does not include the
insurance or guarantee of a loan, mortgage, or pool of loans or
mortgages.
(2) Covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit.--The
term ``covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit'' means
a residential dwelling unit that--
(A) is made available for rental; and
(B)(i) for which assistance is provided, or that is
part of a housing project for which assistance is
provided, under any program administered by the
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, including--
(I) the public housing program
under the United States Housing Act of
1937 21 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.);
(II) the program for rental
assistance under section 8 of the
United States Housing Act of 1937 (42
U.S.C. 1437f);
(III) the HOME Investment
Partnerships program under title II of
the Cranston-Gonzalez National
Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12721
et seq.);
(IV) title IV of the McKinney-Vento
Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
11360 et seq.);
(V) the Housing Trust Fund program
under section 1338 of the Housing and
Community Development Act of 1992 (12
U.S.C. 4568);
(VI) the program for supportive
housing for the elderly under section
202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12
U.S.C. 1701q);
(VII) the program for supportive
housing for persons with disabilities
under section 811 of the Cranston-
Gonzalez National Affordable Housing
Act (42 U.S.C. 8013);
(VIII) the AIDS Housing
Opportunities program under subtitle D
of title VIII of the Cranston-Gonzalez
National Affordable Housing Act (42
U.S.C. 12901 et seq.);
(IX) the program for Native
American housing under the Native
American Housing Assistance and Self-
Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C.
4101 et seq.); and
(X) the program for housing
assistance for Native Hawaiians under
title VIII of the Native American
Housing Assistance and Self-
Determination Act of 1996 7 (25 U.S.C.
4221 et seq.); or
(ii) is a property, or is on or in a
property, that has a federally backed mortgage
loan or federally backed multifamily mortgage
loan, as 11 such terms are defined in section
4024(a) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9058(a)).
(3) Covered housing.--The term ``covered housing'' means a
dwelling unit assisted with amounts made available, or a loan
or mortgage made, insured, or guaranteed, under any of the
following programs:
(A) The programs for tenant- and project-based
rental assistance under section 8 of the United States
Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 21 1437f).
(B) The program for public housing under the United
States Housing Act of 1937 (42 24 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.).
(C) The program for supportive housing for the
elderly under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959
(12 U.S.C. 1701q).
(D) The program for supportive housing for persons
with disabilities under section 811 of the Cranston-
Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C.
8013).
(E) The community development block grant program
under title I of the Housing and Community Development
Act of 1974 (42 11 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.).
(F) The HOME Investment Partnerships program under
titles I and II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National
Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12704 et seq.).
(G) The program for housing opportunities for
persons with AIDS under subtitle D of title VIII of the
Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42
U.S.C. 12901 et seq.).
(H) The programs for homeless assistance under
title IV of the Mckinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
(42 U.S.C. 11361 et seq.).
(4) Covered housing assistance.--The term ``covered housing
assistance'' means assistance under any program specified in
paragraph (3).
(5) Legal counsel.--The term ``legal counsel'' means full
representation by an attorney throughout proceedings in issue.
(6) Owner.--For the purposes of this Act, the term
``owner'' means any private person or entity, including a
cooperative, an agency of the Federal Government, or a public
housing agency, having the legal right to lease or sublease
dwelling units.
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development.
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