Housing FIRST Act
Apr 29, 2026
Introduced: Apr 29, 2026
Apr 29, 2026
Introduced: Apr 29, 2026
Summary
Stops landlords from seeing certain old or minor criminal records when deciding whether to rent to someone, making it easier for people to find housing.
What problem does this solve?
People with criminal records often struggle to find housing because landlords can see their past and deny their applications. This bill helps by preventing certain criminal history from being included in tenant background checks.
What does this bill do?
Reference
Text:
Section:
Sec. 3
Header:
Prohibition on information included in consumer reports furnished for tenant scre...
Prohibits certain criminal history in tenant screening reports
Forbids reporting agencies from including information like arrest records, juvenile convictions, and convictions where the sentence is completed, when creating a report for a landlord.
Reference
Text:
Section:
Sec. 6
Header:
Duties of users of consumer reports for housing purposes
Requires landlords to explain housing denials
Mandates that if a landlord denies a rental application based on a background check, they must tell the applicant within 3 days and explain the specific reasons for the denial.
Reference
Text:
Section:
Sec. 8
Header:
Additional exclusion of information from consumer reports
Removes exception for reporting old criminal convictions
Changes existing law to remove a rule that allowed criminal convictions to be reported on background checks forever. This implies old convictions may eventually be excluded from reports.
Defines 'tenant screening purposes' in federal law
Adds a formal legal definition for 'tenant screening purposes' to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, clarifying that these new rules apply to reports used to evaluate potential renters.
Who does this affect?
- Formerly incarcerated individuals
- Landlords and property managers
- Consumer reporting agencies
What is the real world impact?
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Promotes fair housing opportunities
Aims to help people who have been in trouble with the law find a place to live. By hiding certain past mistakes from landlords, it gives these individuals a better chance to rebuild their lives and stay out of trouble.
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Limits landlord discretion
Some may argue this bill restricts a landlord's ability to properly screen tenants for safety and reliability. Property owners might feel they are being forced to take on more risk without having all the information about a potential renter's past.
When does this start?
The rules in this bill would take effect as soon as it is signed into law.