Overview

Title

To amend title 10, United States Code, to modify the treatment of nondisclosure agreements with respect to privatized military housing, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

H.R. 9833 wants to help military families by stopping landlords from making them keep secrets about their homes; this means families can talk freely if something is wrong without being worried.

Summary AI

H.R. 9833, titled the "Restore Military Families’ Voices Act," proposes changes to how nondisclosure agreements are handled in privatized military housing. The bill aims to prevent landlords from requiring tenants or potential tenants to sign nondisclosure agreements related to the housing unit or services provided by the landlord. It also removes certain existing provisions in the current law regarding these agreements. This legislation seeks to enhance transparency and protect the rights of military families living in privatized housing.

Published

2024-09-25
Congress: 118
Session: 2
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Introduced in House
Date: 2024-09-25
Package ID: BILLS-118hr9833ih

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
2
Words:
294
Pages:
2
Sentences:
9

Language

Nouns: 87
Verbs: 23
Adjectives: 11
Adverbs: 0
Numbers: 15
Entities: 25

Complexity

Average Token Length:
3.96
Average Sentence Length:
32.67
Token Entropy:
4.45
Readability (ARI):
16.79

AnalysisAI

The bill H.R. 9833 aims to amend title 10 of the United States Code concerning nondisclosure agreements in privatized military housing. Introduced by Ms. Jacobs and Mr. Davis of North Carolina, this legislation's primary focus is to prevent landlords from requiring tenants or prospective tenants to sign nondisclosure agreements related to their housing units. By striking certain existing provisions, the bill seeks to modify existing rules and remove specific requirements concerning nondisclosure agreements.

General Summary of the Bill

At its core, the bill proposes changes to how nondisclosure agreements are treated concerning privatized military housing. Specifically, landlords cannot request tenants or future tenants to sign such agreements. The amendment is intended to increase transparency and ensure tenants' rights are protected in housing situations managed privately but dictated by military housing policies.

Summary of Significant Issues

The most notable issue with the bill is the lack of clarity and detail in its language. There is ambiguity around the definition of “services related to the housing unit,” which could lead to varying interpretations. Another significant concern is the removal of existing paragraphs without clear justification. This could result in losing important protections for tenants that were previously in place. Furthermore, the absence of established mechanisms for oversight or enforcement poses a challenge to ensuring landlord compliance with the new regulations.

Impact on the Public

Broadly, the bill attempts to empower military families living in privatized housing by safeguarding their rights and preventing undue pressures that could be associated with signing nondisclosure agreements. By eliminating these agreements, residents might feel more secure expressing concerns or reporting issues without fear of legal repercussions, potentially leading to better housing conditions and tenant experiences.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

Military Families: Potentially positive impacts include increased transparency and the ability to voice concerns freely about housing conditions, enhancing overall living standards. By preventing the enforcement of nondisclosure agreements, families might find it easier to seek external assistance or advice when issues arise, fostering a more open community dialog.

Landlords and Housing Providers: This group may view the bill as limiting, as it removes their ability to use nondisclosure agreements as a tool for maintaining confidentiality regarding their housing operations. However, it can also be seen as an opportunity to foster trust and improve tenant satisfaction, which might lead to enhanced reputation and tenant retention.

In conclusion, while the bill's intent seems to align well with protecting tenants in privatized military housing, its effectiveness could be hampered by its ambiguity and lack of enforcement measures. Careful consideration and possible amendments might be necessary to ensure the bill provides the intended protections and improved transparency for all stakeholders involved.

Issues

  • The amendment in Section 2 lacks clear definitions for 'services related to the housing unit,' which may lead to different interpretations and create legal ambiguity.

  • In Section 2, the removal of paragraphs (2) and (3) is carried out without explaining the implications of this action, potentially leading to the unintended loss of existing tenant protections.

  • The bill, particularly in Section 2, does not establish oversight or enforcement mechanisms to ensure landlords comply with the revised nondisclosure agreement requirements, which could undermine the effectiveness of the changes.

  • Section 2's modification that a landlord may not request a tenant or prospective tenant to sign a nondisclosure agreement related to services could raise concerns if not clearly defined or specified, affecting tenant rights and legal clarity.

  • Section 1 lacks substantive content and specific language provisions, making it difficult to assess whether the title reflects the bill's purpose and scope accurately.

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 provides its short title, "Restore Military Families’ Voices Act," which is the name by which this law may be referred to.

2. Treatment of nondisclosure agreements with respect to privatized military housing Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section changes the rules about nondisclosure agreements for privatized military housing by stating that landlords cannot ask tenants or potential tenants to sign such agreements. It also removes some existing rules about these agreements from the law.