This bill aims to prevent individuals from being denied federally assisted housing solely because of marijuana-related activities that are legal under state law. It achieves this by amending key federal housing statutes, including the United States Housing Act of 1937 and the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998. The legislation ensures parity for individuals residing in federally supported housing programs. The bill specifically redefines terms such as "criminal activity" and "illegal use of a controlled substance" within these acts. It clarifies that the manufacture, sale, distribution, use, or possession of marijuana, when compliant with state law, will not be considered grounds for denying admission to federally assisted housing. This provision directly prohibits public housing agencies and owners from using state-legal marijuana activities as a basis for exclusion. Additionally, the legislation restricts the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from discouraging or prohibiting any state-compliant marijuana activity in federally assisted housing. A significant mandate requires the Secretary to issue regulations within 90 days to restrict smoking marijuana in federally assisted housing, aligning these rules with existing restrictions on tobacco smoking. The bill also broadens the definition of "State" to encompass various U.S. territories, ensuring wider applicability.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Marijuana in Federally Assisted Housing Parity Act of 2025
USA119th CongressS-3537| Senate
| Updated: 12/17/2025
This bill aims to prevent individuals from being denied federally assisted housing solely because of marijuana-related activities that are legal under state law. It achieves this by amending key federal housing statutes, including the United States Housing Act of 1937 and the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998. The legislation ensures parity for individuals residing in federally supported housing programs. The bill specifically redefines terms such as "criminal activity" and "illegal use of a controlled substance" within these acts. It clarifies that the manufacture, sale, distribution, use, or possession of marijuana, when compliant with state law, will not be considered grounds for denying admission to federally assisted housing. This provision directly prohibits public housing agencies and owners from using state-legal marijuana activities as a basis for exclusion. Additionally, the legislation restricts the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from discouraging or prohibiting any state-compliant marijuana activity in federally assisted housing. A significant mandate requires the Secretary to issue regulations within 90 days to restrict smoking marijuana in federally assisted housing, aligning these rules with existing restrictions on tobacco smoking. The bill also broadens the definition of "State" to encompass various U.S. territories, ensuring wider applicability.