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119-hr-5601119th CongressWALLET

Faith in Housing Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50]

Introduced

Summary

Federal preemption to let houses of worship use their land for affordable housing is the bill’s central idea. This bill would let qualifying faith landowners construct or substantially rehabilitate affordable rental housing or shelters under set rules and after giving written notice.

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  • Houses of worship and faith landowners: They could elect to build or rehab affordable housing on qualifying faith land after giving written notice. Units must be deed-restricted for 30 years and owners may reserve up to 5% of units for employees.
  • Low-income households: Housing must meet building or manufactured housing standards and affordability rules, including an average low-income threshold and that all units be affordable at or below 140% of area median income.
  • State and local governments: Conflicting local land use laws are preempted to the extent of the inconsistency, while narrowly tailored site-specific hazard rules such as flood, wildfire, or landslide are allowed and states may inspect for compliance.
  • Enforcement and attorneys: The bill creates a private cause of action for injunctive or declaratory relief and amends the attorney-fees statute to acknowledge claims under this act.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Rules for affordable homes on faith land

If enacted, this would set clear rules for affordable homes built on land owned by a house of worship. Every unit would need to be affordable at or below 140% of area median income, and the average cost across units would fit low‑income family budgets under federal housing rules. Affordability would be locked in for 30 years. Buildings would have to meet local building codes (or national codes for manufactured homes). Rental projects would be run by experienced nonprofit managers. Projects could include a nonprofit childcare center and keep preexisting religious uses, but not expand them beyond their current square footage. Up to 5% of units (or one unit if there are at least five) could go to employees of the house of worship, and Fair Housing Act rules would still apply. States and cities could inspect to confirm these rules. These requirements would start once enacted.

Easier building on faith land with safeguards

This bill would let a house of worship choose to build or rehab affordable housing on its land. The owner would need to send written notice to the local or state zoning office, and the project would have to affect interstate commerce or use federal funds. The bill would override conflicting state or local rules, but safety rules to prevent a site‑specific hazard (like floods, landslides, or wildfires) could still apply if they treat all housing the same. Faith land would mean land the house of worship owned by January 1, 2023, or has owned for at least 5 years. Anyone could sue to enforce these rights and ask a judge to order compliance, and winners could seek attorneys’ fees. These changes would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50]

CA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

  • Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 9/26/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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