Bills of The Day:

Homeownership Affordability Act
House of Congress: Senate
Bill Code: S. 3862
Date Introduced: March 5, 2024
Sponsor: Menendez (D-NJ)
Co-Sponsor(s): N/A

Summary: This legislative change aims to improve affordability and accessibility in the housing market, particularly in the multifamily housing sector. It amends Title II of the National Housing Act to revise multifamily loan limits. The adjustments to the loan limits are to be calculated annually by the Secretary, using the change in the Price Deflator Index of Multifamily Residential Units Under Construction. This adjustment process is set to commence on July 1, 2024. The bill specifies new loan limit amounts for various sections within the National Housing Act, significantly increasing the current limits across different housing types and categories to reflect more current market values. Additionally, it mandates the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to publish any adjustments in the Federal Register, with adjustments rounded down to the nearest dollar to maintain precision in loan limit adjustments.

Next Action: The bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Livable Communities Act of 2024
House of Congress: Senate
Bill Code: S. 3867
Date Introduced: March 5, 2024
Sponsor: Menendez (D-NJ)
Co-Sponsor(s): Cortez Masto (D-NV), Wyden (D-OR), Padilla (D-CA), Reed (D-RI), Blumenthal (D-CT)

Summary: The Act aims to enhance community livability through coordinated public investment and simplified requirements. The Act finds that coordinated housing, transportation, and infrastructure investments can spur economic growth and that federal policies should support local development goals, including accessibility, environmental quality, and equitable access to transportation and housing. Its purposes include strengthening economies, promoting local innovation, maximizing federal investment efficiency, and supporting historically disadvantaged communities. The Act outlines the establishment of the Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities, comprehensive planning and community challenge grant programs, a credit facility for transit-oriented development, and initiatives for healthy housing, focusing on reducing housing-related health hazards and assessing the impact of sustainable building features on indoor environmental quality.

Next Action: The bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Verifying Kids' Online Privacy Act
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7534
Date Introduced: March 5, 2024
Sponsor: Auchincloss (D-MA)
Co-Sponsor(s): N/A

Summary: The Act seeks to amend the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 to enhance online protections for children. The bill proposes raising the definition of a child from under the age of 13 to under the age of 16, requiring operators of websites and online services to verify the age of individuals to determine if they are children, and restricting the use of information collected for age verification purposes only. Operators are prohibited from selling or transferring age verification information and must delete such information within 30 days of account termination. The Federal Trade Commission would promulgate and implement regulations within 180 days. Furthermore, the Act establishes the Children's Online Safety Fund, funded by civil penalties under the Act, to support digital literacy and online safety programming for children through grants to local educational agencies. These provisions apply to activities occurring after the effective date of the new regulations and do not affect accounts established before that date.

Next Action: The bill was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Education and the Workforce for further consideration.

Solar Use Network Act or the SUN Act
House of Congress: House of Representatives
Bill Code: H.R. 7518
Date Introduced: March 1, 2024
Sponsor: Porter (D-CA)
Co-Sponsor(s): Williams (D-GA), Norton (D-DC), Huffman (D-CA), Menendez (D-NJ), Johnson (D-GA)

Summary: This legislation aims to accommodate certain facilities within the right-of-way on Federal-aid highways. Specifically, it designates electric vehicle charging infrastructure, renewable energy generation facilities, electrical transmission and distribution infrastructure, and broadband infrastructure and conduit as facilities eligible for accommodation under existing federal regulations on the right-of-way on federal aid highways. The Act empowers states, on behalf of the Secretary of Transportation, to approve such accommodations, effectively integrating critical infrastructure development into the national transportation network. This move underscores a strategic push towards supporting renewable energy, enhancing digital connectivity, and encouraging the use of electric vehicles through improved infrastructure.

Next Action: The bill was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for further consideration.

Declaring Our Energy Independence from China Act of 2024
House of Congress: Senate
Bill Code: S. 3866
Date Introduced: March 5, 2024
Sponsor: Hawley (R-MO)
Co-Sponsor(s): N/A

Summary: The legislation proposes plans to assert the United States' energy independence from China by targeting the importation of green energy goods. The legislation mandates the imposition of additional duties on imported green energy goods from the People's Republic of China, including electric vehicle batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines. Initially, these goods will face a 25% ad valorem duty, increasing by 5% annually for up to five years. The bill defines the origin criteria for these goods, adding duties to existing ones and prohibiting the use of emergency authority to import these goods duty-free. Additionally, it requires the United States Trade Representative to report on industrial subsidies provided by China to its battery, solar, and wind energy sectors over the past 15 years, including direct funds transfers, tax benefits, and preferential treatment.

Next Action: The bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance for further consideration.