Affordable Housing and Area Median Income Fairness Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9014
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Housing and Community Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-22: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-24T16:47:06Z
AI-Generated Summary
Affordable Housing and Area Median Income Fairness Act of 2026
Purpose
This legislation aims to boost the supply of affordable housing and reduce rents in high-cost urban areas by authorizing additional federal funding for housing programs and requiring an assessment of how area median income (AMI) is calculated for low-income housing assistance.
Key Provisions
- Funding Authorizations: Provides $5,000,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2035 for three programs—the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, Community Development Block Grants, and the Housing Trust Fund—but restricts use to jurisdictions where the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has applied a high housing cost adjustment.
- AMI Assessment: Directs HUD to evaluate alternative methods for calculating AMI and related metrics within 180 days, with a detailed public report due within two years covering topics such as prior findings on AMI, the affordable housing crisis in urban areas, effects of high housing cost adjustments on rents and income limits, ZIP Code-level calculations, state designation processes, alternative metrics, and specific impacts from Westchester and Rockland Counties on New York City's AMI and housing supply.
- Methodology Report: Requires HUD to submit a report on the assessment methodology within 45 days of enactment.
- Definitions: Clarifies terms including area median income (median income levels used in HUD programs), high housing cost adjustment (increases to income limits in high-cost areas), and the Secretary (HUD Secretary).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces new multi-year funding authorizations tied to high-cost adjustments for existing housing programs under the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, and the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992.
- Mandates a comprehensive review and potential reforms to AMI calculations, which could alter income limits and rent caps for tax-subsidized affordable housing under sections 42 and 142 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases administrative workload for HUD in managing new funds and conducting the AMI assessment, while affecting program eligibility and allocation in high-cost jurisdictions.
- Citizens: Could expand access to affordable housing and lower rents for low-income and middle-class families in urban high-cost areas, with comparisons of rent burdens between adjusted and non-adjusted jurisdictions.
- International Relations: No direct impacts identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- HUD and its administered programs.
- Urban low-income households and families in high housing cost areas.
- State housing authorities, which may gain a role in designating AMI jurisdictions.
- Jurisdictions like the City of New York, influenced by surrounding counties.
- Congressional committees on Financial Services and Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Raises questions about equitable distribution of federal housing funds based on cost adjustments, potentially affecting how AMI influences eligibility thresholds across programs.
- Includes a focused analysis of regional impacts within New York State, which could inform broader policy on localized housing metrics.
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 (14)
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-22: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 2026-05-22: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-22: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Affordable Housing and Area Median Income Fairness Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-22 — PDF (7 pages)