Washington D.C. (February 6, 2025) | Rep. Barry Loudermilk (GA-11) issued the following statement after he reintroduced the Respect State Housing Laws Act in the 119th Congress.
“Hidden in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a temporary provision that requires landlords to provide tenants with thirty days’ notice before a landlord can begin an eviction proceeding. This federal regulation was supposed to be a one-time grace period when the eviction moratorium ended; but a drafting error caused the 30-day notice requirement to remain in place permanently. This overrides state eviction notice laws, which are on average, eight days.
“This federal overreach in the eviction process has caused immeasurable suffering for veterans, retirees, and families who depend on rental income to make ends meet. That is why my Respect State Housing Laws Act is a critical step in easing that burden by simply removing the federal government from the equation, and returning housing policies back to the states, where they should be – and were for decades before the pandemic. It’s time we let this unnecessary provision expire.”
Rep. Loudermilk first introduced the Respect State Housing Laws Act during the 117th Congress.
“During the pandemic, Congress took various temporary measures to ensure Americans were not left to fend for themselves in the face of so much uncertainty,” said Rep. Tracey Mann (KS-01). “Emergency measures taken during the pandemic were always meant to be temporary, not permanent. Our bill helps give property owners the clarity and tools they need to deal with bad intentioned tenants who have taken advantage of this flaw in federal law. I’m proud to support this legislation that returns notice to vacate jurisdiction back to the states where it belongs.”
“Unnecessary and duplicative federal intrusion into complex state and local law amplifies the financial and operational challenges housing providers across our country continue to face. With 93 cents of each rent dollar paying the bills that keep rental housing operational, prolonged disturbances to standard operating procedures have major implications. On behalf of the nation’s rental housing providers, the National Apartment Association (NAA) thanks Representatives Vicente Gonzalez and Barry Loudermilk and Senators Bill Hagerty and Cindy Hyde-Smith for recognizing this adverse impact and reintroducing the Respect State Housing Laws Act to help restore balance and normalcy to rental housing operations,” said Robert Pinnegar, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Apartment Association.
“For professional housing providers, eviction is always a last resort. This legislation will help ensure that providers can continue to provide stable, affordable housing options for American families. We thank Representative Loudermilk for his leadership on this issue and for his introduction of the ‘Respect State Housing Laws Act’,” said Gail Phillips, Chief Executive Officer, National Association of Residential Property Managers.
“Throughout the pandemic and its aftermath, housing providers and their residents have navigated immense challenges that are only worsened by federal intervention. The legal process for addressing lease violations and non-payment of rent is well established at the state and local levels. Evictions are detrimental to both housing providers and residents. Federal oversight causes confusion that ultimately harms residents and housing providers alike and limits housing affordability and availability,” said Sharon Wilson Géno, President, National Multifamily Housing Council.
Original co-sponsors include Reps. Vincente Gonzalez (TX-34), John Rutherford (FL-5), Andy Barr (KY-06), William Timmons (SC-04), Ralph Norman (SC-05), Rich McCormick (GA-07), Andrew Clyde (GA-09), David Kustoff (TN-08), Richard Hudson (NC-09), Andy Ogles (TN-05), Scott Franklin (FL-18), Glenn Grothman (WI-6), Morgan Luttrell (TX-08), Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Steve Womack (AR-3), and Pete Stauber (MN-08).
Click here for the full bill text of the Respect State Housing Laws Act.
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