H.R. 5443: Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2025

The Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2025 aims to strengthen protections against housing discrimination in the United States. Specifically, it proposes several key amendments to the Fair Housing Act to include prohibitions against discrimination based on:

Key Provisions

• Source of Income: The term "source of income" encompasses various forms of financial support, including:
  • Housing vouchers, such as those provided under section 8 of the United States Housing Act.
  • Federal, State, or local housing assistance intended for individuals or families.
  • Rental assistance, subsidies, and homeownership subsidies.
  • Monthly benefits from Social Security or related acts.
  • Income received through court orders, such as child support or spousal support.
  • Any lawful source of income, including savings and investments.
• Veteran Status: This refers to individuals who have served as members of the Armed Forces.
• Military Status: This defines individuals as active members of the uniformed services.

Amendments to the Fair Housing Act

The bill suggests amendments in several sections of the Fair Housing Act to formally include protections against discrimination based on the aforementioned categories.

• In Section 802, definitions for "military status," "source of income," and "veteran status" will be added.
• Section 804 will incorporate these terms to ensure discrimination in housing sales and rentals is prohibited based on these groups.
• Section 805 will also reflect these changes to emphasize the prohibition in advertising and statements regarding housing.
• Additional sections will be updated to ensure that entities can continue to provide services to individuals receiving government housing assistance without being subject to discrimination.

Protection Against Intimidation

The bill includes measures to protect individuals from intimidation in fair housing cases. It amends the Civil Rights Act of 1968 to clearly include "source of income," "veteran status," and "military status" as protected categories against intimidation, ensuring that individuals can seek justice without fear of retribution.

Implementation Timeline

The bill also outlines that agencies certified for housing assistance prior to the enactment of this Act will be considered certified for a period of 40 months following enactment. If an agency cannot meet certification requirements during this time due to exceptional circumstances, this period may be extended by up to six months.

Overall Goal

The central objective of the Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2025 is to enhance safety and equality in housing opportunities, making it illegal to refuse housing based on one's source of income or status as a veteran or military member. This is intended to ensure that people with diverse financial backgrounds and service histories can access housing without discrimination.

Relevant Companies

• BLD (Top Build Corp): May be affected as it operates in the home construction and renovation sector and could face impacts related to housing policies and consumer market changes due to the bill's stipulations.
• LEN (Lennar Corporation): As a major homebuilder, changes in housing laws could influence their operations, particularly in how they market and sell properties related to source of income nuances.
• DHI (D.R. Horton Inc.): This company could see changes in demand if housing discrimination laws evolve, impacting their business strategies and compliance requirements.