Respect State Housing Laws Act

The Respect State Housing Laws Act (H.R. 802) would eliminate a federal requirement that currently requires landlords of federally assisted or federally backed housing to provide tenants with at least 30 days' notice before starting eviction proceedings for nonpayment of rent. This 30-day notice period was originally established as a temporary measure under the 2020 CARES Act during the COVID-19 pandemic but has remained in effect for many properties.

If passed, the bill would return the authority to set eviction notice timelines entirely to state and local governments. For residents in federally backed housing, this could mean that the amount of notice required before an eviction filing would decrease in states where local laws allow for shorter notification periods, such as three or five days. Supporters of the bill argue it removes federal overreach and streamlines the eviction process for property owners, while critics suggest it could increase the risk of homelessness by giving families less time to resolve financial issues or find new housing.