NOW LAW: Sen. Moran’s Legislation to Support Affordable Rural Housing

Moran's legislation went into effect on Friday as part of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today applauded the enactment of the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which became law over the weekend and includes his Streamlining Rural Housing Act to support housing development in rural communities by simplifying the regulatory process for developers. The landmark housing package also includes three additional pieces of legislation cosponsored by Sen. Moran that will expand access to housing in rural America, reduce unnecessary bureaucracy within federal housing programs and increase access to affordable housing for veterans.

"There is an increasing demand for affordable housing in rural communities, and I'm pleased that the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is now law, helping address this challenge by streamlining rural housing programs, reducing unnecessary regulatory barriers and expanding opportunities for rural families to find affordable housing," said Sen. Moran. "This legislation is the most significant housing package in more than a decade and includes important updates to improve access to rural housing. I'm pleased that my Streamlining Rural Housing Act is now law, and I look forward to seeing the difference this legislation makes for communities in Kansas and across our nation."

Sen. Moran's rural housing priorities enacted into law:

• Streamlining rural housing regulations - Sen. Moran introduced the bipartisan Streamlining Rural Housing Act, which would simplify the regulatory process for developers by requiring the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to align housing standards. The legislation would help lower costs and shorten project timelines for developers, allowing them to address growing housing needs more efficiently in Kansas and across the country.
• Supporting affordable housing in rural communities - Sen. Moran cosponsored the bipartisan Rural Housing Service Reform Act, which would strengthen federal rural housing programs and bolster the supply of affordable housing in rural America by improving and building upon USDA rural housing programs.
• Reducing bureaucratic barriers within federal housing programs - Sen. Moran cosponsored the bipartisan Choice in Affordable Housing Act, which would expand access to affordable housing by reducing HUD inspection delays and allowing units financed through other federal housing programs to automatically satisfy voucher inspection requirements if they are inspected within the past year. The legislation also allows new landlords to request pre-inspections to increase access to housing and encourage landlord participation.
• Increasing veterans' access to affordable housing - Sen. Moran cosponsored the bipartisan Veterans Affairs Loan Information Disclosure (VALID) Act, which would update Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage disclosures to include Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Home Loans alongside FHA and conventional loan options. The legislation would also allow lenders to collect voluntarily provided information regarding an applicant's military service, so they can connect eligible veterans and servicemembers with information about VA loan options early in the homebuying process.

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