Respect State Housing Laws Act

The Respect State Housing Laws Act aims to repeal a specific provision of the 2020 CARES Act that requires landlords of federally backed or assisted properties to provide tenants with a 30-day notice to vacate before initiating eviction proceedings for nonpayment of rent. While the CARES Act's temporary eviction moratorium expired years ago, this specific notice requirement did not have a sunset date, leading to ongoing legal disputes over whether it still applies to millions of rental units nationwide.

If enacted, the bill would remove this federal mandate and return full authority over eviction notice periods to state and local governments. Proponents argue this would eliminate confusion caused by conflicting federal and state rules and restore the traditional role of states in regulating housing. They suggest that the current 30-day federal requirement is significantly longer than the average state-level notice period of eight days, which they claim creates financial strain for property owners.

For citizens, the practical impact would depend on where they live. In states with shorter notice requirements, tenants in federally backed housing could face much faster eviction timelines if they fall behind on rent. Conversely, in states that already have 30-day or longer notice requirements, the bill would likely have little to no impact on the eviction process.