A bill to require all newly constructed, federally assisted, single-family houses and town houses to meet minimum standards of visitability for persons with disabilities.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · July 23, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
The Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act of 2025 requires all newly constructed single-family homes and townhouses that receive federal funding or assistance to include at least one level that meets accessibility standards for people with disabilities, specifically the "visitable" design standards established by the American National Standards Institute. The law applies to any dwelling where the builder or developer received federal assistance such as grants, loans, tax credits, or loan guarantees, with an effective date of one year after enactment. Enforcement occurs through state and local building code review agencies, which must approve construction plans and withhold final approval if homes do not meet the visitability standards, and the federal government can condition housing assistance on compliance. The bill also allows individuals to sue builders or developers for violations within five years, with courts able to award damages, attorney's fees, and order repairs or retrofitting of non-compliant homes.
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