HUD Pipeline Includes Over 50 Proposed Rules

According to the 2023 spring regulatory agenda recently released by the White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), HUD has over 50 proposed rules in the pipeline. The spring regulatory agenda details additional actions that federal agencies are considering over the coming months. HUD’s proposed rules listed in the agenda range from easing access to housing programs for people with criminal histories to modernizing communications among lenders, borrowers, and counselors.

One level deeper: Most of the rule entries for HUD are in the “proposed rule stage.” This stage is the second of five stages involved in the process prior to full implementation and actual regulatory authority. Several of the proposed rules involve easing or streamlining access to HUD programs, with one proposed rule easing access to HUD housing programs for people with criminal histories.

The abstract for the proposed rule regarding eliminating barriers that may unnecessarily prevent individuals with criminal histories from accessing or maintaining HUD-assisted housing says, “HUD is seeking to ensure that housing opportunities are not denied to people with criminal histories that are not relevant to their suitability as tenants. Further, the proposed rule reduces the risk of Public Housing Agencies and owners of federally-assisted housing violating nondiscrimination laws.”

The revival of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule is also included in the spring agenda, seeking to focus on “advancing equity and providing access to opportunity for underserved populations in a manner that is more effective in achieving measurable improvements while avoiding unnecessary burden,” it says. Final action on this rule is expected by December.