Respect State Housing Laws Act

Bill Summary: Respect State Housing Laws Act (S.470)

Overview

The Respect State Housing Laws Act (S.470) is a targeted legislative proposal introduced in the 119th Congress to modify the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The primary intent of this bill is to remove a specific federal requirement regarding eviction notices, effectively returning the authority to determine "notice to vacate" requirements back to individual state laws.

Key Provisions

The bill is concise and focused on a single primary action:

• Amendment to the CARES Act: The bill seeks to amend Section 4024 of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9058).
• Removal of Subsection (c): It specifically strikes subsection (c) of that section. This subsection previously imposed a federal requirement on lessors (landlords) to provide a specific notice to vacate before initiating certain eviction proceedings.

Who is Affected?

This legislation primarily impacts the relationship between landlords and tenants in the context of federally backed rental properties:

• Lessors/Landlords: If passed, landlords would no longer be bound by the specific federal notice-to-vacate requirements dictated by the CARES Act's subsection (c). Instead, they would follow the laws established by the state in which the property is located.
• Tenants: Tenants' protections regarding the notice period required before an eviction attempt would shift from a federal baseline back to their respective state's housing laws.
• State Governments: States would regain full jurisdiction over the notice-to-vacate timelines and procedures for these properties.

Summary of Impact

The "Respect State Housing Laws Act" represents a shift toward deregulation at the federal level, arguing that state governments are better positioned than the federal government to manage housing and eviction laws based on local market conditions and legal frameworks.

By removing the federal mandate, the bill would eliminate a layer of federal oversight, potentially streamlining the eviction process for landlords in states with shorter notice requirements, while removing federal protections in states where the CARES Act provided more stringent requirements than local law.

Procedural Status

• Introduced: February 6, 2025
• Current Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
• Sponsorship: Introduced by Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith and Senator Bill Hagerty, with a broad coalition of Republican co-sponsors.