Overview
Title
To require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Secretary of Agriculture to withdraw a final determination relating to energy efficiency standards for housing, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
The HOUSE Act of 2024 is a plan to stop certain parts of the government from making or using special rules about saving energy in homes. It also says that more than half of the states need to agree on better energy-saving rules before new rules are made.
Summary AI
H.R. 8624, also known as the "Helping Owners with Unaffordable Shoddy Edicts Act of 2024" or the "HOUSE Act of 2024," aims to revoke a final decision on energy efficiency standards for housing made by the Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development and Agriculture. The bill prohibits these departments and the Department of Veterans Affairs from using federal funds to enforce or implement this decision or any similar ones. It also prevents the Federal Housing Finance Agency from finalizing or enforcing any rules related to energy efficiency standards for single and multifamily housing. Additionally, the bill mandates that at least 26 states must adopt energy efficiency codes that meet or exceed certain revised standards.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The bill titled "Helping Owners with Unaffordable Shoddy Edicts Act of 2024," or the "HOUSE Act of 2024," primarily seeks to withdraw certain federal energy efficiency standards applied to housing. It mandates that the Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development and Agriculture retract their finalized decision on energy efficiency standards for new constructions financed by HUD and USDA. The bill further restricts the use of federal funds to enforce or establish such standards in the future. Additionally, it prevents the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Federal Housing Finance Agency from implementing similar standards. An amendment to the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act emphasizes that any new standards must be adopted by at least 26 states before federal acceptance.
Summary of Significant Issues
The proposed legislation raises several issues. Key among them is the potential for inconsistent implementation of housing-related energy efficiency policies, which could result in wasted resources due to frequent changes. By barring similar energy standards, the bill introduces ambiguity, particularly concerning what constitutes a "substantially similar" standard. Moreover, the requirement that more than half of the states adopt a similar code before federal implementation lacks clarity regarding its rationale and potential impact on achieving universal energy efficiency goals.
Impact on the Public Broadly
The withdrawal of energy efficiency standards could have varied impacts on the public. On one hand, it might ease the regulatory and financial burdens associated with implementing such standards, potentially lowering costs for homebuyers or renters in federally financed housing. On the other hand, it could hinder advancements in energy conservation, leading to higher utility costs in the long term and making it harder to achieve national energy efficiency targets. The lack of a cohesive approach may affect the overall quality and sustainability of new housing developments.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
The bill might impact stakeholders in contrasting ways. Housing developers and owners of federally financed properties may welcome reduced regulatory compliance burdens. This sector might see cost savings in the immediate term, which could be attractive to investors and developers concerned about the upfront expenses associated with energy-efficient construction.
Conversely, environmental advocates and energy efficiency proponents could view the bill negatively, seeing it as a setback in efforts to enhance sustainability and reduce carbon footprints. Moreover, federal agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Federal Housing Finance Agency may face restrictions in promoting energy-saving initiatives, potentially limiting their ability to reduce veterans' housing and mortgage costs through efficiency gains.
Given these dynamics, the HOUSE Act of 2024 highlights the balancing act between regulatory relief and the pursuit of broader energy efficiency and environmental policy goals. The nuanced approach to state adoption adds another layer of complexity, meriting further discussion and analysis on its practical implications.
Issues
The requirement for the Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development and Agriculture to withdraw the final determination on energy efficiency standards might result in inconsistent policy and wasted resources (Section 2). This move could lead to inefficiencies and confusion in applications for federally financed housing projects.
Prohibiting the use of federal funds to implement or enforce any energy efficiency determinations that are 'substantially similar' introduces legal ambiguity and might hinder progress on national energy efficiency objectives (Section 2). The term 'substantially similar' is not clearly defined, which could lead to varying interpretations and potential legal disputes.
The bill does not explicitly clarify how the threshold of 'not less than 26 States' adopting an energy efficiency code or standard was determined or its significance, which raises questions about the threshold's relevance and appropriateness in influencing federal standards (Section 2(c)).
The changes to the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act's requirements based on state energy efficiency codes may lead to a decentralized and potentially fragmented approach to housing standards (Section 2(c)). This could run contrary to efforts for a cohesive national housing strategy.
Stopping the Federal Housing Finance Agency and Department of Veterans Affairs from implementing energy efficiency rules or determinations could impair their ability to promote or mandate energy efficiency measures in housing finance and veteran housing programs (Section 2(b)).
The proposed legislation omits financial implications or the impacts on beneficiaries, leading to uncertainties about who might gain or lose from these changes, and whether there are hidden costs or benefits associated with the withdrawal of energy efficiency standards (Section 1).
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the bill specifies the short title of the Act as the “Helping Owners with Unaffordable Shoddy Edicts Act of 2024” or simply the “HOUSE Act of 2024.”
2. Energy efficiency standards for housing Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The proposed section outlines that the Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development and Agriculture must withdraw a previous decision about energy efficiency standards for housing and not implement similar standards using federal funds. Additionally, it prevents similar action by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and amends legislation to ensure any revised energy standards align with those adopted by at least 26 states.