Respect State Housing Laws Act
Introduced February 6, 2025 · Last action February 25, 2026
Plain English Summary
This bill removes a requirement from the CARES Act that landlords provide notice to vacate to tenants before evicting them. By striking Section 4024(c) of the CARES Act, the bill allows landlords to proceed with evictions under their state's existing housing and eviction laws without the federal notice requirement that was imposed during the pandemic.
Who benefits
Landlords and property owners who own residential rental properties, particularly those seeking to evict tenants with the minimum process their state law requires rather than following stricter federal notice requirements.
Who pays / loses
Residential tenants facing eviction, who lose the federal notice-to-vacate protection that the CARES Act previously guaranteed, and who will instead rely solely on the notice periods set by their individual state eviction laws (which vary widely and in many states are shorter than federal requirements).
Funding & Lobbying Interests
Landlord and property management associations, real estate investment firms, and single-family and multifamily rental property owners have historically lobbied for removal of tenant protections and streamlined eviction procedures. The bill's sponsors include 17 Republican representatives, many from districts with significant real estate and business-friendly constituencies.
Political Impact
Affected Groups
Residential tenants in states with weak eviction protections (particularly low-income renters, households with children, and those experiencing housing instability). Landlords and property owners benefit across all geographic areas but primarily in states where current state eviction law requires shorter notice periods than Section 4024(c) of the CARES Act provided. The impact will be most acute in states that did not supplement or strengthen federal CARES Act protections with state-level laws.
Political Subtext
Proponents argue this bill restores state authority over housing and eviction law and removes onerous federal mandates on property owners. Critics contend this weakens tenant protections established during the pandemic emergency and accelerates evictions of vulnerable renters, particularly those still facing economic hardship from COVID-19. Non-partisan evidence shows that shorter eviction notice periods correlate with higher eviction filing rates and increased housing instability, particularly among low-income households. The bill aligns with broader Republican efforts to deregulate landlord-tenant relations and reduce federal housing mandates.
Real-World Stakes
If passed, tenants will lose the uniform federal baseline of notice-to-vacate protection provided by the CARES Act. In states with shorter eviction timelines (many Southern and Western states require only 3-7 days notice), eviction filings are likely to increase. Research on state eviction laws shows that shorter notice periods lead to higher eviction rates and worse housing stability outcomes. Comparable to the end of the federal eviction moratorium in 2021, which resulted in a surge in eviction filings in the months following its expiration, this removal of the CARES Act notice requirement could accelerate evictions in states that do not independently require longer notice periods. No specific dollar amount or fiscal impact is stated in the bill.
Sponsor
Sponsor information not available.
Vote Record
No recorded votes.
Campaign Finance — Primary Sponsor
No campaign finance data available yet.
501(c)(4) disclosure: Contributions from 501(c)(4) "dark money" organizations are not required to be publicly disclosed and are not reflected in the figures above. Data sourced from FEC public disclosure filings.
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