H.R. 9861: Veteran’s Surviving Spouse Parity Act of 2026

This bill would change how certain first-time homebuyer mortgage benefits are applied for military families. Under current law, some veterans can qualify for special home loans and mortgage credit certificates even if they owned a home in the past three years. This bill would extend that same treatment to certain spouses and surviving spouses of veterans who are legally treated as veterans under federal veterans law.

What changes

• It updates the tax code rule for qualified mortgage bonds and mortgage credit certificates.
• It says that certain spouses and surviving spouses of veterans should count as veterans for the purpose of an exception to the 3-year homeownership look-back rule.
• That rule matters because these programs are generally aimed at helping eligible borrowers who have not owned a home recently.

Who could be affected

• Certain spouses of veterans.
• Certain surviving spouses of veterans, including those covered by existing federal rules that treat them as veterans.
• State and local agencies, lenders, and housing finance programs that issue these bonds or mortgage credit certificates.

Administrative guidance

The bill would require the Treasury Department, working with the Department of Veterans Affairs, to issue guidance to help program operators decide who counts as a veteran for this purpose. The guidance would also address how remarriage rules apply to surviving spouses.

Effective date

The change would apply to bonds and mortgage credit certificates issued after December 31, 2026.

Relevant Companies

None found.