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HOUSE Act of 2025
2/12/2025, 9:01 AM
Summary of Bill HR 75
The bill is focused on reversing a decision made by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Agriculture regarding energy efficiency standards for housing. The bill does not specify the exact determination that is being targeted for withdrawal, but it is clear that the sponsors of the bill believe that the current standards are not in the best interest of the housing industry.
The bill is likely to be controversial, as energy efficiency standards are a key component of efforts to reduce energy consumption and combat climate change. Supporters of the bill may argue that the current standards are too stringent and are placing unnecessary burdens on the housing industry. Opponents, on the other hand, may argue that rolling back these standards could have negative consequences for the environment and public health. Overall, Bill 119 hr 75 is a significant piece of legislation that could have far-reaching implications for the housing industry and energy efficiency standards in the United States. It will be important to closely monitor the progress of this bill as it moves through the legislative process.
Congressional Summary of HR 75
Helping Owners with Unaffordable Shoddy Edicts Act of 2025 or the HOUSE Act of 2025
This bill directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to withdraw the final determination titled Adoption of Energy Efficiency Standards for New Construction of HUD- and USDA-Financed Housing and published on April 26, 2024.
The determination adopted updated minimum energy efficiency standards for newly built homes (except manufactured housing) financed through certain HUD and USDA programs. Specifically, it adopted the (1) 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), which applies to single family homes and multifamily low-rise buildings up to three stories; and (2) 2019 American National Standards Institute/American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers/Illuminating Electrical Society (ANSI/ASHRAE/IES) Standard 90.1, which applies to multifamily residential buildings with four or more stories. HUD and USDA must also revert to using the energy efficiency standards required before the determination.
In addition, the bill prohibits HUD, USDA, and the Department of Veterans Affairs from taking actions or using federal funds to implement or enforce the determination or any substantially similar determination. It also prohibits the Federal Housing Finance Agency from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing a determination or rule relating to energy efficiency standards for single and multifamily housing.
Finally, the bill prohibits HUD and USDA from adopting updates to the IECC or ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1 in certain circumstances unless at least 26 states have adopted codes or standards that meet or exceed the update's requirements.
