H.R. 149: Housing Fairness Act of 2020

116th Congress · introduced 2019-01-03 · Housing and Community Development · Latest: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 548.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2019-01-03 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 548. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Housing Fairness Act of 2020

Plain summary

Housing Fairness Act of 2020 This bill provides for testing and investigations to detect housing discrimination and awards grants to study the causes and effects of such discrimination. Specifically, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) must conduct regional or national testing programs and investigations to (1) detect and document differences in the treatment of prospective renters, homebuyers, or mortgage borrowers; (2) measure patterns of differential treatment because of the status of a renter, homebuyer, or borrower as a member of the protected classes under the Fair Housing Act (i.e., race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability status, or national origin); and (3) measure the prevalence, nature, and extent of such discriminatory practices covered under the Act. Furthermore, the bill (1) eliminates restrictions on the use of fair housing initiative program-earned income received by qualified fair housing enforcement organizations after the grant period for such organizations ends, (2) increases funding for the fair housing initiatives program in FY2021-FY2031, and (3) requires HUD to study and report on the feasibility, efficiency, and effectiveness of converting the program into a specified noncompetitive, entitlement program. Additionally, HUD shall award grants to public and private entities to study housing discrimination, including the causes and effects of such discrimination. Finally, the bill prohibits the use of funds made available by this bill for any political activities, political advocacy, lobbying, such travel-related expenses, or for preparation of or provision of advice on tax returns.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Housing Fairness Act of 2020

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9] · 10 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 149, Housing Fairness Act of 2020 (2020-07-01)

Cosponsors on this site

Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9] reported raising $1.7 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Ballot initiative: A proposed law or constitutional amendment that citizens place on the ballot by gathering enough voter signatures, so voters decide it directly. About half the states allow some form of it.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-116hr149.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/116/hr>

Record fed-us-cong116-hr149 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116