Paul Gosar (R-AZ)
Local Zoning Decisions Protection Act of 2025
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Local Zoning Decisions Protection Act of 2025" aims to nullify specific regulations and notices from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. It specifically targets an interim final rule from 2021, a final rule from 2015, and a notice regarding an assessment tool. Additionally, the bill prohibits the use of Federal funds to create or maintain a database regarding racial or affordable housing disparities. The Act requires the Secretary of HUD to consult with state and local officials to develop recommendations for the Fair Housing Act. These recommendations must be developed through a process emphasizing collaboration and consensus among various government officials.
Yes
- Scored +5
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
The bill shifts power back to state and local officials by requiring consensus between the Secretary and local officials for any new housing recommendations.
- Scored +3
Would white Americans be better off under this?
The bill reduces federal oversight and regulatory requirements related to affirmative fair housing policies.
The opposite· 3 of 7
- Scored -6
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?
The bill prohibits the use of federal funds to maintain a database tracking racial disparities in housing and nullifies regulations aimed at affirmatively furthering fair housing.
- Scored -5
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The restriction on tracking affordable housing disparities may hinder efforts to address housing needs for low-income families.
- Scored -5
Would Black Americans be better off under this?
By nullifying rules and banning data collection regarding racial disparities in housing, the bill removes tools used to combat racial inequities.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Nullification of HUD Rules: By stripping the force of the 2021 interim final rule, the 2015 final rule, and the succeeding notice, this provision impacts the current regulatory landscape of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (Section 2).
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Collaborative Recommendation Process: The Secretary must consult with state officials, local government officials, and public housing agencies to develop recommendations for the Fair Housing Act, which includes providing these officials with notice and an opportunity to participate (Section 4(a) and 4(b)).
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Requirement for Consensus: The bill requires that a recommendation can only be included in the draft report if consensus is reached among the Secretary and the consulted officials (Section 4(c)(2)).
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Public Transparency: The Secretary is required to make a draft report available for public review and comment for at least 180 days (Section 4(c)(4)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Restriction of Data Access: The bill prohibits the use of Federal funds to design, build, maintain, utilize, or provide access to a Federal database containing geospatial information on community racial disparities or disparities in access to affordable housing (Section 3).
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Nullification of Existing Regulations: Certain rules and notices related to "Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing" will have no force or effect, which removes those specific existing regulations and notices (Section 2).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would white Americans be better off under this? — The bill reduces federal oversight and regulatory requirements related to affirmative fair housing policies. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — By nullifying rules and banning data collection regarding racial disparities in housing, the bill removes tools used to combat racial inequities. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — The prohibition of a database on community racial disparities impacts the tracking of equity for all minority groups. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill limits the ability to monitor and address racial or community-based disparities in housing access. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The restriction on tracking affordable housing disparities may hinder efforts to address housing needs for low-income families. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill restricts the ability to use federal funds to track racial disparities in housing access.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill prohibits the use of federal funds to maintain a database tracking racial disparities in housing and nullifies regulations aimed at affirmatively furthering fair housing. Does this make housing cost less? — The bill nullifies existing HUD rules and prohibits a database used to track and address disparities in access to affordable housing.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill shifts power back to state and local officials by requiring consensus between the Secretary and local officials for any new housing recommendations.
- 2/26/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Introduced in House
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.