Ayanna Pressley (D-MA)
Appraisal Modernization Act
A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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
This bill, known as the Appraisal Modernization Act, amends the Truth in Lending Act to give consumers the right to request a reconsideration of value or a subsequent appraisal. It sets clear rules for what counts as an unacceptable appraisal practice, such as using unsupported terms, inaccurate data, or references to crime rates. Creditors must provide a standard format for consumers to submit their requests and must keep all related documents in the loan file for seven years. If a creditor finds material deficiencies or evidence of discrimination, they must order a subsequent appraisal at their own expense. Additionally, the bill requires the Comptroller General to issue a public report to Congress assessing the feasibility of creating a national public appraisal database.
Yes· 3 of 26
- Scored +8
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
Establishes a formal, standardized consumer right to request reconsideration of value and requires lenders to cover subsequent appraisals for deficiencies or discrimination.
- Scored +7
Would Black Americans be better off under this?
Directly addresses racial bias in home appraisals by banning crime rate references and enforcing penalties for discriminatory valuations.
- Scored +7
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
Provides mortgage applicants with a structured due process mechanism to challenge unfair or deficient home appraisals.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Consumers gain a clear, standardized process to request a reconsideration of value or a subsequent appraisal if they believe their appraisal report is unsupported, deficient, or discriminatory, as outlined in Section 2. This helps protect people from unfair home valuations.
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Creditors are required to order a subsequent appraisal at their own expense if there are material deficiencies or evidence of discrimination that the original appraiser does not correct, as detailed in Section 2. This ensures that borrowers do not have to pay out of pocket to fix appraisal mistakes.
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The bill explicitly bans appraisers from using references to crime rates or crime statistics and unsupported or subjective terms in their reports under Section 2. This prevents biased information from negatively impacting home values in specific communities.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Creditors must manage a detailed review and resolution procedure, provide written disclosures, and retain all related documentation for a 7-year period, as required in Section 2. These added administrative steps and record-keeping burdens could potentially slow down the mortgage loan process for applicants.
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 Black Americans be better off under this? — Directly addresses racial bias in home appraisals by banning crime rate references and enforcing penalties for discriminatory valuations. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Helps protect Hispanic homebuyers from discriminatory or unsupported home valuations in specific neighborhoods. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Benefits Asian American homebuyers by establishing strict standards against subjective and biased appraisal practices. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Protects lower-income homebuyers from predatory or discriminatory valuation practices that could derail homeownership. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Ensures middle-class mortgage applicants have clear channels to contest inaccurate home appraisals. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Protects Native American communities from unsupported and deficient property appraisals. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Eliminates the use of crime statistics in appraisals, which often unfairly penalize urban neighborhoods. Would immigrants be better off under this? — Protects immigrant families purchasing homes from biased or uninformed appraisal practices. Would LGBTQ people be better off under this? — Offers broad consumer protection benefits during the homebuying process. Would men be better off under this? — Offers broad consumer protection benefits during the homebuying process. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Offers broad consumer protection benefits during the homebuying process. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Improves appraisal standardization and accountability in rural housing markets. Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Improves valuation standards that affect mortgages backed by agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs. Would white Americans be better off under this? — Provides general protections against inaccurate appraisals for all homebuyers regardless of race. Would women be better off under this? — Offers broad consumer protection benefits during the homebuying process. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Helps first-time and younger homebuyers secure fair property valuations without bearing the cost of fixing flawed appraisals. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Benefits middle-aged homebuyers and homeowners navigating the mortgage and refinancing process. Would retired people be better off under this? — Assists retirees participating in the mortgage or home equity market. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Assists seniors seeking to leverage home equity through mortgages or refinancing with fairer valuation protections.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — Provides mortgage applicants with a structured due process mechanism to challenge unfair or deficient home appraisals. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Mandates public reports and studies regarding the feasibility of a national public appraisal database to track valuation practices. Does this give the federal government more power? — Requires federal agencies and the FHFA to establish new rules and study a national public appraisal database.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — Bans the use of crime rates and subjective terms in appraisals and mandates action against discriminatory valuations, helping protect minority neighborhoods from undervaluation. Does this make housing cost less? — Helps ensure fair home valuations and prevents biased appraisals from harming property values in specific communities.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — Establishes a formal, standardized consumer right to request reconsideration of value and requires lenders to cover subsequent appraisals for deficiencies or discrimination. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Provides clearer standardized guidelines for lenders and valuation professionals in the mortgage process.
- 11/7/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 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.