Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Modernization Act of 2026

Bill Number

H.R. 8092

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Native Americans

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-04-23: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H3080)

Last Updated

2026-06-30T08:06:01Z

AI-Generated Summary

Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Modernization Act of 2026 (H.R. 8092)

Purpose

This bill reauthorizes and modernizes the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (NAHASDA), which provides block grants to Indian tribes and tribally designated housing entities (TDHEs)—non-profit or tribal organizations that develop and manage housing—for affordable housing activities. It also updates related programs for Native Hawaiians, loan guarantees, veteran assistance, and homeless services to reduce administrative burdens, streamline processes, and expand access to housing.

Key Provisions

• Environmental Reviews (Sec. 2): Consolidates requirements across laws; deems tribes compliant if using ≤49% other federal funds; exempts small/low-impact projects (e.g., <$250,000 affordable housing, minor rehabs); simplifies radon, lead testing in remote areas, siting near small fuel tanks, and wetland permits.
• Funding Authorization (Secs. 3, 12, 16, 17): Extends NAHASDA and Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant appropriations through FY2032; authorizes funds for loan guarantee programs.
• Housing Flexibility (Secs. 4-8, 11): Adds student/college housing; clarifies rent rules apply only to tribe/TDHE-owned units, allows tribes to set their own rent policies; sets 60-day deadline (deemed approved if no response) for exceeding project cost limits; eases low-income rules for lease-to-own conversions; extends trust land leases from 50 to 99 years.
• Administration and Oversight (Secs. 6, 9, 10, 20): Defines "total development cost" based on national indices; allows immediate grant suspension in emergencies with hearing rights; specifies congressional report recipients and public availability; permits consolidated annual reports for multiple grants.
• Loan Guarantees (Secs. 16-17): Expands Section 184 (Indian home loans) and Section 184A (Native Hawaiian loans) to TDHEs on fee simple land, community development financial institutions; introduces direct lender endorsement, indemnification for errors/fraud, lender reviews/terminations; allows 40-year terms for modifications.
• Counseling and Community Development (Secs. 13-15): Qualifies tribes/TDHEs as community-based organizations for new housing grants; waives federal housing counseling certification; adds tribes/TDHEs to counseling grant eligibility.
• Veteran and Homeless Assistance (Secs. 18-19): Creates "Tribal HUD-VASH" program using ≥5% of HUD-VASH funds for homeless/at-risk Indian veterans via grants to NAHASDA recipients; models on existing HUD-VASH with tribal modifications/waivers; updates Continuum of Care (CoC) to include TDHEs, exempts tribal projects from certain civil rights reviews/plans, allows waivers for participation.
• Exemptions (Sec. 21): Waives Build America, Buy America (domestic content) rules for tribal housing activities.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Reauthorizations: Updates expired authorizations (e.g., 2009-2013 to 2026-2032).
• Streamlining: Adds deadlines, exemptions, waivers (e.g., environmental, counseling, reporting, CoC civil rights), direct lender processes for loans.
• Expansions: Broadens eligible entities/borrowers (TDHEs, CDFIs); new Tribal HUD-VASH; 99-year leases; student housing; rent self-determination.
• Oversight Adjustments: Emergency fund actions, lender indemnification/reviews, consolidated reporting.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Reduces HUD administrative workload (e.g., faster approvals, consolidated reports); coordinates HUD/VA/IHS for veterans; eases tribal CoC participation.
• Citizens: Increases affordable housing access for low-income Native families, students, veterans (e.g., rental aid, homeownership loans on trust/fee lands); faster development in remote areas.
• Tribes/TDHEs: Lowers costs/barriers for housing projects; enhances self-determination via policy flexibility.
• No international relations impact noted.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Primary: Indian Tribes, TDHEs, Native Hawaiian families/Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
• Secondary: Homeless/at-risk Indian veterans; low-income Native renters/homebuyers/students; HUD, VA, Indian Health Service (IHS), lenders/CDFIs.
• Others: Congressional committees (e.g., Financial Services, Indian Affairs).

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Tribal Sovereignty: Reinforces self-determination (e.g., rent policies, 99-year leases, waivers) aligning with federal Indian law principles.
• Civil Rights Exemptions (Sec. 19): Limits Titles VI/VIII application for tribal projects, prioritizing housing needs over standard reviews (with certifications).
• Waiver Authorities: Broad HUD/VA waivers (excluding labor/environment) to enable tribal programs, potentially reducing federal oversight.
• No constitutional challenges highlighted; politically supports bipartisan tribal housing priorities via modernization.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Downing, Troy [R-MT-2]

Cosponsors (48)

Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5], Rep. Cole, Tom [R-OK-4], Rep. Lucas, Frank D. [R-OK-3], Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-4], Rep. Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2], Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9], Rep. Haridopolos, Mike [R-FL-8], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15], Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6], Rep. Steil, Bryan [R-WI-1], Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8], Rep. Stutzman, Marlin A. [R-IN-3], Rep. Loudermilk, Barry [R-GA-11], Rep. Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT-1], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3], Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large], Rep. Fedorchak, Julie [R-ND-At Large], Rep. Simpson, Michael K. [R-ID-2], Rep. Liccardo, Sam T. [D-CA-16], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1], Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2], Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2], Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4], Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9], Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Bentz, Cliff [R-OR-2], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Gonzalez, Vicente [D-TX-34], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5], Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Garbarino, Andrew R. [R-NY-2], Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1], Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25], Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45], Rep. Timmons, William R. [R-SC-4], Rep. Moore, Tim [R-NC-14], Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]

Recent Actions

• 2026-04-23: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H3080)
• 2026-03-26: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
• 2026-03-26: Introduced in House
• 2026-03-26: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Modernization Act of 2026 — issued 2026-03-26 — PDF (47 pages)