Arkansas housing and borrowing

Gross rent includes contract rent and tenant-paid utilities. Rental protections, assistance, and housing supply concern components of rental-market conditions; they do not set Arkansas’s median rent. This connection does not establish causation. Actions after the measurement period cannot explain the earlier observed value.

Retained Arkansas evidence context: Median gross rent. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

SEC. 405. CHOICE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACT.(a) Satisfaction of Inspection Requirements Through Participation in Other Housing Programs.—Section 8(o)(8) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(8)) is amended by adding at the end the following:“(I) Time period.Satisfaction of inspection requirements through participation in other housing programs.—“(i) Low-income housing tax credit-financed buildings.—A dwelling unit shall be deemed to meet the inspection requirements under this paragraph if—“(I) the dwelling unit is in a building, the acquisition, rehabilitation, or construction of which was done by a building owner who may be eligible for low-income housing credits because the building had been allocated a housing credit dollar amount under section 42(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or is described in section 42(h)(4) of such Code (concerning buildings that meet a criterion for a certain amount of tax-exempt financing); “(II) the dwelling unit, during the preceding 12-month period, was physically inspected and satisfied the suitability-for-occupancy requirement in section 42(i)(3)(B)(ii) of such Code; and “(III) the applicable public housing agency performed the inspection itself or is able to obtain the results of the inspection described in subclause (II). “(ii) Home investment partnerships program.—A dwelling shall be deemed to meet the inspection requirements under this paragraph if—“(I) the dwelling unit is assisted under the HOME Investment Partnerships Program under title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12721 et seq.); “(II) the dwelling unit was physically inspected and passed inspection as part of the program described in subclause (I) during the preceding 12-month period; and “(III) the applicable public housing agency is able to obtain the results of the inspection described in subclause (II). “(iii) Rural housing service.—A dwelling unit shall be deemed to meet the inspection requirements under this paragraph if—“(I) the dwelling unit is assisted by the Rural Housing Service of the Department of Agriculture; “(II) the dwelling unit was physically inspected and passed inspection in connection with the assistance described in subclause (I) during the preceding 12-month period; and140 STAT. 906 “(III) the applicable public housing agency is able to obtain the results of the inspection described in subclause (II). “(iv) Remote or video inspections.—When complying with inspection requirements for a housing unit located in a rural or small area using assistance under this section, the Secretary may allow a grantee to conduct a remote or video inspection of a unit if the remote or video inspection—“(I) is thorough; “(II) does not misrepresent the condition of the unit; and “(III) provides the information necessary to fully and accurately evaluate the conditions of the unit to ensure that the unit meets the relevant standards. “(v) Rule of construction.—Nothing in clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) shall be construed to affect the operation of a housing program described in, or authorized under a provision of law described in, that clause.” . (b) Pre-approval of Units.—Section 8(o)(8)(A) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(8)(A)) is amended by adding at the end the following:“(iv) Initial inspection prior to lease agreement.—“(I) Definition.—In this clause, the term ‘new landlord’ means an owner of a dwelling unit who has not previously entered into a housing assistance payment contract with a public housing agency under this subsection for any dwelling unit. “(II) Determination.Early inspection.—Upon the request of a new landlord, a public housing agency may inspect the dwelling unit owned by the new landlord to determine whether the unit meets the housing quality standards under subparagraph (B) before the unit is selected by a tenant assisted under this subsection. “(III) Contracts.Deadline.Effect.—An inspection conducted under subclause (II) that determines that the dwelling unit meets the housing quality standards under subparagraph (B) shall satisfy this subparagraph and subparagraph (C) if the new landlord enters into a lease agreement with a tenant assisted under this subsection not later than 60 days after the date of the inspection. “(IV) Information when family is selected.—WhenList. a public housing agency selects a family to participate in the tenant-based assistance program under this subsection, the public housing agency shall include in the information provided to the family a list of dwelling units that have been inspected under subclause (II) and determined to meet the housing quality standards under subparagraph (B).” .140 STAT. 907

Gross rent includes contract rent and tenant-paid utilities. Rental protections, assistance, and housing supply concern components of rental-market conditions; they do not set Arkansas’s median rent. This connection does not establish causation. Actions after the measurement period cannot explain the earlier observed value.

Retained Arkansas evidence context: Median gross rent. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

TENANT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCEFor activities and assistance for the provision of tenant-based rental assistance authorized under the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1437 et seq.) (in this heading the Act), not otherwise provided for, $34,083,000,000, to remain available until expended, which shall be available on October 1, 2026 (in addition to the $4,000,000,000 previously appropriated under this heading that shall be available on October 1, 2026), and $4,000,000,000, to remain available until expended, which shall be available on October 1, 2027: Provided, That of the sums appropriated under this heading—(1)$35,453,000,000 shall be available for renewals of expiring section 8 tenant-based annual contributions contracts (including renewals of enhanced vouchers under any provision of law authorizing such assistance under section 8(t) of the Act) and including renewal of other special purpose incremental vouchers: Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, from amounts provided under this paragraph and any carryover, the Secretary for the calendar year 2027 funding cycle shall provide renewal funding for each public housing agency based on validated voucher management system (VMS) or successor system leasing and cost data for the prior calendar year and by applying an inflation factor as established by the Secretary, by notice published in the Federal Register, and by making any necessary adjustments for the costs associated with the first-time renewal of vouchers under this paragraph including tenant protection and choice neighborhoods vouchers: Provided further, That none of the funds provided under this paragraph may be used to fund a total number of unit months under lease which exceeds a public housing agency's authorized level of units under contract, except for public housing agencies participating in the moving to work (MTW) demonstration, which are instead governed in accordance with the requirements of the MTW demonstration program or their MTW agreements, if any, or as necessary on a temporary basis and within available resources to facilitate the transition of residents assisted by emergency housing vouchers (Public Law 117–2; 135 Stat. 58) to tenant-based rental assistance under the housing assistance payment contract under section 8(o) of the Act: Provided further, That any leasing or associated costs authorized for emergency housing vouchers in the preceding proviso above the public housing agency’s authorized level of units under contract shall not be included in the calculation of the agency’s renewal funding allocation for any subsequent fiscal year: Provided further, That the Secretary shall, to the extent necessary to stay within the amount specified under this paragraph (except as otherwise modified under this paragraph), prorate each public housing agency's allocation otherwise established pursuant to this paragraph: Provided further, That except as provided in the following provisos, the entire amount specified under this paragraph (except as otherwise modified under this paragraph) shall be obligated to the public housing agencies based on the allocation and pro rata method described above, and the Secretary shall notify public housing agencies of their annual budget by the latter of 60 days after enactment of this Act or March 1, 2027: Provided further, That the Secretary may extend the notification period only after the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations are notified at least 10 business days in advance of the deadline: Provided further, That public housing agencies participating in the MTW demonstration shall be funded in accordance with the requirements of the MTW demonstration program or their MTW agreements, if any, and shall be subject to the same pro rata adjustments under the preceding provisos: Provided further, That the Secretary may perform a statutory offset of public housing agencies' calendar year 2027 allocations based on the excess amounts of public housing agencies' net restricted assets accounts, including HUD-held programmatic reserves (in accordance with VMS or successor system data in calendar year 2026 that is verifiable and complete), as determined by the Secretary: Provided further, That public housing agencies participating in the MTW demonstration shall also be subject to the statutory offset: Provided further, That for amounts subject to the single fund budget authority provisions of their MTW agreements, excess amounts shall be offset only to the extent permitted by section 239 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Public Law 114–113): Provided further, That for public housing agencies in the MTW demonstration subject to single fund budget authority provisions, the Secretary shall provide not less than 60 days to appeal such offsets and shall not offset amounts that have been committed to capital improvement, development, and other repositioning activities that are scheduled to close within 12 months of enactment of this Act, as evidenced in funding applications, project schedules, or other commitments to third parties implementing such activities, to the extent that reserve amounts excluded from offset under such section 239 are insufficient to cover such commitments: Provided further, That the Secretary shall not offset any portion of a public housing agency’s excess amounts if offsetting such portion would result in a public housing agency being put in a shortfall position in calendar year 2027, as estimated by HUD prior to the offset’s implementation, as determined by the Secretary: Provided further, That the Secretary shall use any such offset amounts referred to in the preceding five provisos throughout the calendar year to prevent the termination of rental assistance for families as the result of insufficient funding, as determined by the Secretary, and to avoid or reduce the proration of renewal funding allocations: Provided further, That the Secretary may waive or specify alternative requirements for section 5A and section 8(o) of the Act or any regulation applicable to such statutes related to the administration of waiting lists, local preferences, portability, and public housing agency plan and public hearing requirements to facilitate or expedite the transition of residents assisted by emergency housing vouchers (Public Law 117–2; 135 Stat. 58) to tenant-based rental assistance under the housing assistance payment contract under section 8(o) of the Act: Provided further, That up to $200,000,000 shall be available only:(A)for vouchers that were not in use during the previous 12-month period in order to be available to meet a commitment pursuant to section 8(o)(13) of the Act, or an adjustment for a funding obligation not yet expended in the previous calendar year for a MTW-eligible activity to develop affordable housing for an agency added to the MTW demonstration under the expansion authority provided in section 239 of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016 (division L of Public Law 114–113); (B)for adjustments for costs associated with HUD–Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD–VASH) vouchers; (C)for public housing agencies that, despite taking reasonable cost savings measures as determined by the Secretary, would otherwise be required to terminate rental assistance for families as a result of insufficient funding; Provided further, That the Secretary shall allocate amounts under the preceding proviso based on need, as determined by the Secretary;

Gross rent includes contract rent and tenant-paid utilities. Rental protections, assistance, and housing supply concern components of rental-market conditions; they do not set Arkansas’s median rent. The provision concerns valuation rules for properties with qualifying affordable-housing restrictions, a potential owner-cost component. It does not impose new tenant rent limits. This connection does not establish causation or a change in the earlier measured value.

Retained Arkansas evidence context: Median gross rent. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

SECTION 2. Arkansas Code § 26-26-1202, concerning valuation procedures for property, is amended to add an additional subsection to read as follows: (j) The Assessment Coordination Division shall promulgate rules, including guidelines, for the fair and equitable assessment of real property that has federally imposed or state-imposed restrictions that use rent limitations, operations requirements, or any other restrictions on the real As Engrossed: H4/8/25 HB1894 2 04-08-2025 09:46:36 JLL321 property that are connected to: (1) The real property being eligible for an income tax credit under 26 U.S.C. § 42; (2) Real property constructed with the use of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development HOME Investment Partnerships Program; or (3) Real property constructed with the use of incentives provided by the United States Department of Agriculture under 42 U.S.C. § 1485. SECTION 3. DO NOT CODIFY. Rules. (a) When adopting the initial rules required under this act, the Assessment Coordination Division shall file the final rules with the Secretary of State for adoption under § 25-15-204(f): (1) On or before January 1, 2026; or (2) If approval under § 10-3-309 has not occurred by January 1, 2026, as soon as practicable after approval under § 10-3-309. (b) The division shall file the proposed rules with the Legislative Council under § 10-3-309(c) sufficiently in advance of January 1, 2026, so that the Legislative Council may consider the rules for approval before January 1, 2026.

Gross rent includes contract rent and tenant-paid utilities. Rental protections, assistance, and housing supply concern components of rental-market conditions; they do not set Arkansas’s median rent. The provision concerns valuation rules for properties with qualifying affordable-housing restrictions, a potential owner-cost component. It does not impose new tenant rent limits. This connection does not establish causation or a change in the earlier measured value.

Retained Arkansas evidence context: Median gross rent. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

SECTION 2. Arkansas Code § 26-26-1202, concerning valuation procedures for property, is amended to add an additional subsection to read as follows: (j) The Assessment Coordination Division shall promulgate rules, including guidelines, for the fair and equitable assessment of real property that has federally imposed or state-imposed restrictions that use rent limitations, operations requirements, or any other restrictions on the real As Engrossed: H4/8/25 HB1894 2 04-08-2025 09:46:36 JLL321 property that are connected to: (1) The real property being eligible for an income tax credit under 26 U.S.C. § 42; (2) Real property constructed with the use of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development HOME Investment Partnerships Program; or (3) Real property constructed with the use of incentives provided by the United States Department of Agriculture under 42 U.S.C. § 1485. SECTION 3. DO NOT CODIFY. Rules. (a) When adopting the initial rules required under this act, the Assessment Coordination Division shall file the final rules with the Secretary of State for adoption under § 25-15-204(f): (1) On or before January 1, 2026; or (2) If approval under § 10-3-309 has not occurred by January 1, 2026, as soon as practicable after approval under § 10-3-309. (b) The division shall file the proposed rules with the Legislative Council under § 10-3-309(c) sufficiently in advance of January 1, 2026, so that the Legislative Council may consider the rules for approval before January 1, 2026.