Legis Daily

Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act of 2026

USA119th CongressS-5125| Senate 
| Updated: 7/23/2026
Tammy Duckworth

Tammy Duckworth

Democratic Senator

Illinois

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill, titled the Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act of 2026, requires that all newly constructed, federally assisted single-family houses, townhouses, modular homes, and certain ground-floor units meet specific visitability standards for persons with disabilities. Specifically, it mandates that at least one level of these covered dwelling units must comply with the Standards for Type C (Visitable) Units of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A117.1-2017, or any successor standard. This requirement applies to units made available for first occupancy one year after the Act's enactment, provided they received federal assistance for their design or construction. The term Federal assistance is broadly defined to include grants, loans, contracts, tax credits, and mortgage or loan guarantees. To ensure compliance, applicants for federal assistance must provide assurances that their programs will adhere to the Act. State or local agencies responsible for building code review must approve architectural and construction plans for covered dwelling units, verifying their compliance with visitability standards. Federal agencies, including the Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, and Veterans Affairs, are authorized to withhold federal housing assistance if state or local agencies fail to enforce these requirements. The Act also allows aggrieved persons to bring civil actions for violations and grants the Attorney General powers to enforce its provisions, with potential remedies including damages and retrofitting of non-compliant units. This legislation does not preempt stronger state or local laws but invalidates any that permit actions violating its standards.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-2291
Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-4447
Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act of 2022
Jul 23, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-9932
Introduced in House
Jul 23, 2026
Introduced in Senate
Jul 23, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-2291
    Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-4447
    Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act of 2022


  • July 23, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-9932
    Introduced in House


  • July 23, 2026
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 23, 2026
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Housing and Community Development

Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act of 2026

USA119th CongressS-5125| Senate 
| Updated: 7/23/2026
This bill, titled the Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act of 2026, requires that all newly constructed, federally assisted single-family houses, townhouses, modular homes, and certain ground-floor units meet specific visitability standards for persons with disabilities. Specifically, it mandates that at least one level of these covered dwelling units must comply with the Standards for Type C (Visitable) Units of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A117.1-2017, or any successor standard. This requirement applies to units made available for first occupancy one year after the Act's enactment, provided they received federal assistance for their design or construction. The term Federal assistance is broadly defined to include grants, loans, contracts, tax credits, and mortgage or loan guarantees. To ensure compliance, applicants for federal assistance must provide assurances that their programs will adhere to the Act. State or local agencies responsible for building code review must approve architectural and construction plans for covered dwelling units, verifying their compliance with visitability standards. Federal agencies, including the Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, and Veterans Affairs, are authorized to withhold federal housing assistance if state or local agencies fail to enforce these requirements. The Act also allows aggrieved persons to bring civil actions for violations and grants the Attorney General powers to enforce its provisions, with potential remedies including damages and retrofitting of non-compliant units. This legislation does not preempt stronger state or local laws but invalidates any that permit actions violating its standards.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-2291
Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act of 2019

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-4447
Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act of 2022
Jul 23, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-9932
Introduced in House
Jul 23, 2026
Introduced in Senate
Jul 23, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-2291
    Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act of 2019


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-4447
    Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act of 2022


  • July 23, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-9932
    Introduced in House


  • July 23, 2026
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 23, 2026
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Tammy Duckworth

Tammy Duckworth

Democratic Senator

Illinois

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee

Housing and Community Development

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted