No Biometric Barriers to Housing Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 3060

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Housing and Community Development

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-04-29: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

Last Updated

2025-10-07T08:05:23Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "No Biometric Barriers to Housing Act of 2025" aims to prevent the use of certain biometric technologies in federally assisted rental housing to protect tenants from surveillance, bias, and discrimination, ensuring fair access to affordable housing.

Key Provisions

• Prohibition on Biometric Technologies: Starting one year after enactment, owners of covered federally assisted rental dwelling units are banned from using or allowing the use of:
• Facial recognition technology: Automated tools that identify people based on facial features or infer emotions, activities, or locations from face, head, or body characteristics.
• Physical biometric recognition technology: Automated tools that identify individuals using DNA, fingerprints, palmprints, iris, or retina scans.
• Remote biometric recognition technology: Automated tools that identify people from a distance using gait (walking pattern), voice, or other unchangeable traits, or infer emotions, activities, or locations.

These bans apply to the dwelling unit, building, or grounds, but only for surveillance or any purpose that harms tenants' ability to access unbiased, discrimination-free affordable housing.

• Definitions:
• Covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit: Rental housing receiving federal aid under programs like public housing (U.S. Housing Act of 1937), Section 8 vouchers, HOME Investment Partnerships, McKinney-Vento homeless assistance, Housing Trust Fund, supportive housing for elderly or disabled persons, AIDS housing, and Native American or Native Hawaiian housing programs. (Note: "Assistance" includes grants, loans, subsidies, etc., but excludes loan insurance or guarantees.)
• Owner: Any private person, entity (including cooperatives), federal agency, or public housing agency with leasing rights.

• Reporting Requirement: Within one year of enactment, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) must submit a public report to Congress detailing:
• Known use of these technologies in covered units over the past five years.
• Adverse effects on tenants, impacts on residents, and purposes of installation.
• Demographics of affected residents and surrounding areas.
• Potential effects on vulnerable groups (e.g., those protected by the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or family status) regarding privacy, civil rights, and fair housing.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This bill introduces a new federal prohibition on specific biometric technologies in federally assisted housing, which was not previously restricted in this way. It builds on existing fair housing laws by explicitly linking biometric use to potential discrimination but adds enforcement through technology bans rather than just case-by-case complaints.
• It requires HUD to investigate and report on past and potential uses, creating a new oversight mechanism absent in prior housing legislation.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: HUD will face new reporting duties and may need to update guidance or enforcement for assisted housing programs, potentially increasing administrative workload.
• On Citizens: Tenants in covered housing (often low-income, elderly, disabled, homeless, or from minority communities) gain protections against invasive surveillance that could lead to biased decisions in housing access, evictions, or tenant screening. This promotes privacy and reduces discrimination risks but may limit owners' security options.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic housing policy.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Owners and Operators: Public housing agencies, private landlords, cooperatives, and federal entities managing assisted housing must comply with the ban, potentially requiring removal or avoidance of biometric systems.
• Tenants and Residents: Primarily low-income individuals, families, elderly, disabled persons, homeless populations, those with AIDS, and Native American or Native Hawaiian communities in federally aided rentals, who benefit from reduced surveillance and bias.
• Vulnerable Communities: Groups protected under fair housing laws (e.g., racial minorities, people with disabilities) may see enhanced safeguards against technology-driven discrimination.
• Federal Agencies: HUD leads implementation and reporting; other agencies administering listed programs (e.g., for Native housing) must align with the rules.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens fair housing enforcement by prohibiting technologies that could violate anti-discrimination laws; non-compliance may lead to loss of federal funding or civil penalties, though enforcement details are not specified.
• Constitutional: Raises privacy concerns under the Fourth Amendment (protection against unreasonable searches), as it curbs potentially invasive surveillance in private spaces like homes. It aligns with civil rights by addressing biases in AI/biometric tools, which studies show can disproportionately affect minorities.
• Political: Reflects growing concerns over technology in social services, introduced by Democratic representatives to prioritize equity in housing amid debates on AI regulation. It could set precedents for broader biometric restrictions in public benefits programs.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]

Cosponsors (4)

Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]

Recent Actions

• 2025-04-29: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
• 2025-04-29: Introduced in House
• 2025-04-29: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• No Biometric Barriers to Housing Act of 2025 — issued 2025-04-29 — PDF (7 pages)