H.R. 1769House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Local Zoning Decisions Protection Act of 2025

AI-Generated Summary

Updated November 24, 2025 at 2:16 AM UTC

The Local Zoning Decisions Protection Act of 2025 seeks to invalidate HUD’s “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing” rules and related notices, preventing them from having legal effect. It also prohibits federal funding for a national database tracking racial and affordable‑housing gaps. The bill requires HUD to consult with state, local, and public‑housing officials and to publish draft and final reports on any recommendations, with public comment and a consensus requirement.

Key Provisions

Cancels HUD’s existing and any similar future rules titled “Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing,” including the 2015 final rule, the 2021 interim rule, and the 2023 proposed rule, plus a related assessment‑tool notice.
Bars any federal money from being used to create or maintain a national geospatial database that tracks racial or affordable‑housing disparities.
Requires the HUD Secretary to consult with state, local and public‑housing officials to develop recommendations that align with the Fair Housing Act and Supreme Court rulings.
Mandates a draft report of those recommendations within 12 months, a 180‑day public comment period, and a final report (also within 12 months) that must reflect consensus or explain disagreements.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

March 3, 2025

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 3, 2025

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

March 3, 2025

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 1769 on the floor

1 Democrat

Rep. Hillary J. ScholtenD-MI-3 · Jun 23, 2026

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and support the thousands of Americans whose lives have been shaped by the cost of war: our Nation's toxic-exposed veterans and their children and…

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and support the thousands of Americans whose lives have been shaped by the cost of war: our Nation's toxic-exposed veterans and their children and grandchildren.

In my district, the 180th Transportation Company based in Muskegon, Michigan, answered our Nation's call for service. They served in Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and most of their members have proudly called West Michigan home. Their families carry the weight of that service long after they return, including the lasting impact of exposure to toxic chemicals during their service. It is their stories, and the stories of families like them across the country, that bring me to the floor today. We have the unique and important opportunity this Congress to stand by these veterans and their families in passing Congresswoman Debbie Dingell's H.R. 1769, the Molly R. Loomis Research for Descendants of Toxic Exposed Veterans Act. I am a proud cosponsor of this bill, and I am calling on my colleagues to join me.

This legislation bears the name of Molly Loomis, whose story puts a human face to an issue that has gone unaddressed for far too long. Molly is the daughter of a U.S. Navy veteran who was exposed to Agent Orange during his service aboard the USS Ogden. Unfortunately, her father passed away from cancer related to this toxic exposure. Molly developed a spinal cord illness known as Spina Bifida, which was also caused by exposure to Agent Orange. She was unable to receive aid from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for this condition because she herself was not a veteran. A previous bill, H.R. 1769, the Toxic Exposure Research Act, became law in 2016 and authorized research into birth defects associated with chemical exposures during military service. Yet the VA did not act on it, determining the research was not feasible because it would focus on descendants rather than veterans themselves. The sons and daughters of our veterans were deemed, in effect, outside the scope of this pressing issue. That must change today.

Molly's story is not unique. Countless families in my own district share this story as well. Across the country, the children and grandchildren of veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange, burn pits, and other toxic chemicals are living with conditions that medicine is only just beginning to treat. Research has identified birth defects and health conditions in the offspring of exposed veterans, including spina bifida, heart deformities, autoimmune disorders, and many other rare conditions.

These families have waited decades for answers. The hidden cost of war is real; it goes beyond generational divides and deserves our full attention. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to amplify the voices of our veterans and their families. I want to recognize the bravery of our Nation's toxic-exposed veterans and honor the strength and resilience of their descendants. Their lives remind us that a true commitment to service members and veterans must also extend to their families, who, in their meaningful and heartbreaking stories, have also made brave sacrifices for our Nation.

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 3, 2025

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1769

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 3, 2025

Mr. Gosar introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To nullify certain regulations and notices of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Local Zoning Decisions Protection Act of 2025.

Nullification of rules and notices

(a)

Proposed rule

The proposed rule of the Department of Housing and Urban Development entitled Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing, published in the Federal Register on February 9, 2023 (88 Fed. Reg. 8516; Docket No. FR–6250–P–01), and any successor rule that is substantially similar to such proposed rule shall have no force or effect.

(b)

Interim final rule

The interim final rule of the Department of Housing and Urban Development entitled Restoring Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Definitions and Certifications, published in the Federal Register on June 10, 2021 (86 Fed. Reg. 30779; Docket No. FR–6249–I–01), and any successor rule that is substantially similar to such interim final rule shall have no force or effect.

(c)

Final rule

The final rule of the Department of Housing and Urban Development entitled Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing, published in the Federal Register on July 16, 2015 (80 Fed. Reg. 42272; Docket No. FR–5173–F–04), and any successor rule that is substantially similar to such final rule shall have no force or effect.

(d)

Notice

The notice of the Department of Housing and Urban Development relating to the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Assessment Tool, published in the Federal Register on December 31, 2015 (80 Fed. Reg. 81840; Docket No. FR–5173–N–07), and any successor notice or rule substantially similar to such notice shall have no force or effect.

Prohibition on use of Federal funds

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no Federal funds may be used to design, build, maintain, utilize, or provide access to a Federal database of geospatial information on community racial disparities or disparities in access to affordable housing.

Federalism consultation and report

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall jointly consult with State officials, local government officials, and officials of public housing agencies to develop recommendations, consistent with applicable rulings of the Supreme Court of the United States, to further the purposes and policies of the Fair Housing Act.

(b)

Consultation requirements

In developing the recommendations required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

(1)

provide State officials, local government officials, and officials of public housing agencies with notice and an opportunity to participate in the consultation process required under subsection (a);

(2)

seek to consult with State officials, local government officials, and officials of public housing agencies that represent a broad cross-section of regional, economic, and geographic perspectives in the United States;

(3)

emphasize the importance of collaboration with and among the State officials, local government officials, and officials of public housing agencies;

(4)

allow for meaningful and timely input by State officials, local government officials, and officials of public housing agencies;

(5)

promote transparency in the consultation process required under subsection (a); and

(6)

explore with State officials, local government officials, and officials of public housing agencies whether Federal objectives under the Fair Housing Act can be attained by means other than through new regulations.

(c)

Reports

(1)

In general

Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register a draft report describing the recommendations developed pursuant to subsection (a).

(2)

Consensus requirement

The Secretary may include a recommendation in the draft report only if consensus has been reached with regard to the recommendation among the Secretary, the State officials, local government officials, and officials of public housing agencies consulted pursuant to subsection (a).

(3)

Failure to reach consensus

If the Secretary, State officials, local government officials, and officials of public housing agencies consulted under subsection (a) fail to reach consensus on a regulatory proposal, the draft report shall identify that consensus was not reached and shall describe—

(A)

the areas and issues with regard to which consensus was reached;

(B)

the areas and issues of continuing disagreement that resulted in the failure to reach consensus; and

(C)

the reasons for the continuing disagreements.

(4)

Public review and comment period

The Secretary shall make the draft report available for public review and comment for a period of not fewer than 180 days.

(5)

Final report

The Secretary shall, in consultation with the State officials, local government officials, and officials of public housing agencies, address any comments received pursuant to paragraph (4) and shall prepare a final report describing the final results of the consultation process under subsection (a).

(d)

Submission of final report

Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall make publicly available online the final report prepared pursuant to subsection (c)(5).

(e)

Definitions

In this Act, the following definitions apply:

(1)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

(2)

Local government official

The term local government official means an elected or professional official of a local government or an official of a regional or national organization representing local governments or officials.

(3)

State official

The term State official means an elected or professional official of a State government or an official of a regional or national organization representing State governments or officials.

(4)

Public housing agency

The term public housing agency has the meaning given such term in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437a(b)).