H.R. 8185

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8185 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8185

To create a database of eviction information, establish grant programs 
for eviction prevention and legal aid, and limit use of housing court-
related records in consumer reports, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 2, 2026

Ms. Pressley (for herself, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Gomez, Ms. Norton, Ms. 
Tlaib, and Ms. Jayapal) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Financial Services

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To create a database of eviction information, establish grant programs 
for eviction prevention and legal aid, and limit use of housing court-
related records in consumer reports, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Housing Emergencies Lifeline Program 
Act of 2026'' or the ``HELP Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. DATABASE OF EVICTION INFORMATION.

(a) Reports by Housing Providers.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development shall require each State and local entity that 
receives covered housing assistance to submit to the Secretary 
annual reports under this section regarding evictions from 
assisted dwelling units of the covered housing occurring during 
the preceding year.
(2) Contents.--Each report submitted pursuant to subsection 
(a) shall include--
(A) for each household subject to an eviction 
proceeding during the year which the report covers--
(i) the reason or reasons that the eviction 
proceeding was undertaken and, in the case of 
any eviction proceeding undertaken in whole or 
in part based on an arrearage in rent owed, the 
amount of such arrearage and the amount of the 
tenant's required contribution toward rent;
(ii) the date on which the household was 
ordered to be evicted;
(iii) the address of the dwelling unit from 
which the household was evicted;
(iv) whether the household was represented 
by legal counsel in any eviction proceeding, if 
such information is available;
(v) the number of days the household was 
given to vacate the dwelling unit, if such 
information is available; and
(vi) whether a writ of execution was issued 
in regards to the eviction; and
(B) for each individual in any household subject to 
an eviction proceeding during the year which the report 
covers--
(i) the name of the individual;
(ii) the annual income of the individual in 
the fiscal year prior to the year during which 
the individual was evicted, if available;
(iii) the disability status of the 
individual evicted, if available;
(iv) any available demographic information 
about the individual including race, ethnicity, 
age, and gender;
(v) any foster care history for the 
individual, if available;
(vi) any serious physical health problems 
or serious mental illness of the individual, if 
such information is available;
(vii) any history of prior homelessness of 
the individual, if such information is 
available; and
(viii) whether the individual has a 
criminal record, if such information is 
available.
(3) Data requirements.--The Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development shall develop requirements for States and local 
entities that receive covered housing assistance that--
(A) provides limitations on how long the 
information described in paragraph (2) shall be 
retained; and
(B) establishes data privacy and security 
requirements for the information described in paragraph 
(2) that--
(i) includes appropriate measures to ensure 
that the privacy of the individuals and 
households is protected and that the 
information, including any personally 
identifiable information, is collected and used 
only for the purpose of submitting reports 
under paragraph (1); and
(ii) ensures that any names collected are 
redacted and replaced with an anonymous 
identifier.
(b) Database.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a database 
for collecting and maintaining information submitted in reports 
pursuant to subsection (a).
(2) Disaggregation.--To the extent possible, such database 
shall be disaggregated by the smallest census tract, block 
group, or block possible for the data set, and by income, race, 
gender, disability, and all other protected classes under the 
Fair Housing Act.
(3) Privacy protections.--The Secretary shall establish 
appropriate measures regarding information in the database to 
ensure that, subject to paragraph (3), the privacy of the 
individuals and households is protected and that any personally 
identifiable information is not disclosed, including by 
redacting all names.
(4) Research.--The Secretary may make full and unredacted 
information available to academic institutions for the purpose 
of researching causes and solutions to evictions and adherence 
to civil rights protections.

SEC. 3. EVICTION PROTECTION GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a grant program 
to award competitive grants to eligible entities as described in this 
section.
(b) Eligibility.--To be eligible for a grant under this section, an 
entity shall be a nonprofit or government entity.
(c) Eligible Uses.--An entity that is awarded a grant under this 
section shall use such grant to provide legal assistance (including 
assistance related to pretrial activities, trial activities, post-trial 
activities and alternative dispute resolution) at no cost to eligible 
low-income tenants at risk of or subject to eviction.
(d) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary 
shall give preference to eligible entities that--
(1) include a marketing strategy for residents of areas 
with high rates of eviction;
(2) have experience providing no-cost legal assistance to 
low-income individuals, including those with limited English 
proficiency or disabilities; and
(3) have sufficient capacity to administer such assistance.
(e) Use in Urban and Rural Areas.--The Secretary shall ensure, to 
the extent practicable, that the proportion of tenants living in rural 
areas who will receive legal assistance with grant amounts under this 
section is not less than the overall proportion of tenants who live in 
rural areas.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary such sums as needed for--
(1) grants under this section; and
(2) assistance under the emergency solutions grants program 
under subtitle B of title IV of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11371 et seq.), to be used only for--
(A) providing legal counsel for tenants subject to 
or at risk of eviction with regard to any eviction 
related legal proceeding; and
(B) costs of any court fees associated with an 
eviction-related legal proceeding for a tenant 
(excluding any attorneys fees for the attorney of the 
landlord of the tenant).

SEC. 4. CONSUMER REPORTS.

(a) In General.--Section 605(a) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act 
(15 U.S.C. 1681c(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(9) An eviction, or any information related to an 
eviction or a proceeding seeking eviction, of a consumer from a 
rental dwelling.
``(10) Any adverse item of information related to rent or 
utility arrears.''.
(b) Applicability.--The amendment made by this section shall apply 
to any consumer report (as defined in section 603 of the Fair Credit 
Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681a)) issued on or after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 5. EVICTION INFORMATION.

(a) In General.--The Secretary shall, not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, issue rules that require each 
owner of a covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit to ensure 
that each tenant of such dwelling unit owned by such owner receives 
information, in writing--
(1) not less than once each year regarding--
(A) the rights and responsibilities of such owner 
with regard to eviction; and
(B) local organizations and resources that can 
provide assistance in eviction-related matters;
(2) upon provision of any notice of eviction, stating the 
reason or reasons for the eviction; and
(3) all notices given shall clarify that rights and 
responsibilities of tenants are subject to State and local law.
(b) Hotline.--The Secretary shall, not later than 1 year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, establish a hotline to provide 
assistance with regard to eviction-related matters to tenants of 
covered federally assisted rental dwelling units. The Secretary shall 
establish guidance to ensure that the hotline is visible, promoted to 
consumers, is accessible in English and other languages, has 
accommodations for those who have disabilities, and maintains adequate 
staff to match the volume of calls to the hotline. Assistance must 
direct callers to available resources, including legal aid, and make 
callers aware of their rights and responsibilities as tenants.

SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Assistance.--The term ``assistance'' means any grant, 
loan, subsidy, contract, cooperative agreement, or other form 
of financial assistance, but such term does not include the 
insurance or guarantee of a loan, mortgage, or pool of loans or 
mortgages.
(2) Covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit.--The 
term ``covered federally assisted rental dwelling unit'' means 
a residential dwelling unit that--
(A) is made available for rental; and
(B)(i) for which assistance is provided, or that is 
part of a housing project for which assistance is 
provided, under any program administered by the 
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, including--
(I) the public housing program 
under the United States Housing Act of 
1937 21 (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.);
(II) the program for rental 
assistance under section 8 of the 
United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 
U.S.C. 1437f);
(III) the HOME Investment 
Partnerships program under title II of 
the Cranston-Gonzalez National 
Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12721 
et seq.);
(IV) title IV of the McKinney-Vento 
Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
11360 et seq.);
(V) the Housing Trust Fund program 
under section 1338 of the Housing and 
Community Development Act of 1992 (12 
U.S.C. 4568);
(VI) the program for supportive 
housing for the elderly under section 
202 of the Housing Act of 1959 (12 
U.S.C. 1701q);
(VII) the program for supportive 
housing for persons with disabilities 
under section 811 of the Cranston-
Gonzalez National Affordable Housing 
Act (42 U.S.C. 8013);
(VIII) the AIDS Housing 
Opportunities program under subtitle D 
of title VIII of the Cranston-Gonzalez 
National Affordable Housing Act (42 
U.S.C. 12901 et seq.);
(IX) the program for Native 
American housing under the Native 
American Housing Assistance and Self-
Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 
4101 et seq.); and
(X) the program for housing 
assistance for Native Hawaiians under 
title VIII of the Native American 
Housing Assistance and Self-
Determination Act of 1996 7 (25 U.S.C. 
4221 et seq.); or
(ii) is a property, or is on or in a 
property, that has a federally backed mortgage 
loan or federally backed multifamily mortgage 
loan, as 11 such terms are defined in section 
4024(a) of the CARES Act (15 U.S.C. 9058(a)).
(3) Covered housing.--The term ``covered housing'' means a 
dwelling unit assisted with amounts made available, or a loan 
or mortgage made, insured, or guaranteed, under any of the 
following programs:
(A) The programs for tenant- and project-based 
rental assistance under section 8 of the United States 
Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 21 1437f).
(B) The program for public housing under the United 
States Housing Act of 1937 (42 24 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.).
(C) The program for supportive housing for the 
elderly under section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959 
(12 U.S.C. 1701q).
(D) The program for supportive housing for persons 
with disabilities under section 811 of the Cranston-
Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 
8013).
(E) The community development block grant program 
under title I of the Housing and Community Development 
Act of 1974 (42 11 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.).
(F) The HOME Investment Partnerships program under 
titles I and II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National 
Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12704 et seq.).
(G) The program for housing opportunities for 
persons with AIDS under subtitle D of title VIII of the 
Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 
U.S.C. 12901 et seq.).
(H) The programs for homeless assistance under 
title IV of the Mckinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act 
(42 U.S.C. 11361 et seq.).
(4) Covered housing assistance.--The term ``covered housing 
assistance'' means assistance under any program specified in 
paragraph (3).
(5) Legal counsel.--The term ``legal counsel'' means full 
representation by an attorney throughout proceedings in issue.
(6) Owner.--For the purposes of this Act, the term 
``owner'' means any private person or entity, including a 
cooperative, an agency of the Federal Government, or a public 
housing agency, having the legal right to lease or sublease 
dwelling units.
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means Secretary of 
Housing and Urban Development.
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