SB 470, the “Respect State Housing Laws Act,” would amend Section 4024 of the CARES Act by striking subsection (c). The bill’s stated purpose is to remove a federal requirement that lessors provide notice to vacate, thereby eliminating that specific federal notice provision from the CARES Act’s housing-related protections. In practical terms, the bill would narrow the federal overlay on certain landlord-tenant eviction procedures tied to CARES Act-covered properties.
By repealing subsection (c) of Section 4024, the bill would shift greater authority back to state and local housing law in determining notice requirements for vacating tenants. The measure is framed as a clarification and as a way to “respect” state housing laws, suggesting that existing federal notice rules may be viewed by sponsors as duplicative or inconsistent with state eviction frameworks. The bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Impact
The bill would amend federal law in 15 U.S.C. 9058 by deleting the CARES Act subsection that imposes a notice-to-vacate requirement on lessors, thereby reducing federal regulation in this area and allowing state landlord-tenant law to govern more fully. Its effect would be limited to the specific CARES Act housing provision, but it could materially affect landlords, tenants, property managers, and housing courts in jurisdictions where the federal notice requirement currently applies.
Sentiment
Based on the bill title and sponsorship, the overall sentiment appears supportive of state control over housing and eviction rules, with the sponsors presenting the bill as a correction to federal overreach. No committee transcript or recorded votes were provided, so there is no evidence in the available record of broader bipartisan support or organized opposition. The bill’s referral status suggests it was still in the early stages of consideration.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely whether federal notice protections for tenants should remain in place or be removed in favor of state law. Supporters, including the sponsors, appear to argue that the CARES Act notice requirement interferes with state housing laws and should be repealed. Opponents would likely view the provision as an important tenant safeguard that provides uniform notice protections, especially in federally affected housing situations. No formal debate or vote history is available to identify specific dissenting members or arguments.