Senators Jim Justice, Peter Welch (D-VT), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), and Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced the Fostering the Availability in Rural Markets of (FARM) Home Loans Act of 2026. This legislation would modernize housing assistance eligibility requirements and help nearly 30 million homebuyers access rural housing assistance for the first time.
Modernize housing assistance eligibility requirements to help millions of rural homebuyers access rural housing assistance for the first time.
Occurrences
the bill "would modernize housing assistance eligibility requirements" and help nearly 30 million homebuyers access Farm Credit assistance for the first time.
Evidence
unverified · Source version 191 · locator unknown
Press release announcing the FARM Home Loans Act of 2026, stating the bill "would modernize housing assistance eligibility requirements" and help nearly 30 million homebuyers access Farm Credit assistance for the first time.
unverified · Source version 191 · locator unknown
The Senate office press release says Sens. Welch, Justice, Schiff, and Hyde-Smith introduced the FARM Home Loans Act of 2026 and that the bill would modernize housing assistance eligibility requirements by increasing the Rural Home Loan population limit from 2,500 to 10,000.
unverified · Source version 64279 · locator unknown
"Text contains those laws in effect on August 30, 2026 ... For rural housing purposes under this section the term \"rural areas\" shall not be defined to include any city or village having a population in excess of 2,500 inhabitants."
unverified · Source version 75950 · locator unknown
"Last Action Date Listed March 24, 2026 Action Mr. Welch (for himself, Mr. Justice, Mr. Schiff, and Mrs. Hyde-Smith) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry"
unverified · Source version 64283 · locator unknown
"Section 1.11(b) of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 U.S.C. 2019(b)) is amended-- (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``appurtenances'' and inserting ``appurtenances, including accessory dwelling units,''; and (2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``2,500'' and inserting ``10,000''."
unverified · Source version 64285 · locator unknown
"This legislation would modernize housing assistance eligibility requirements and help nearly 30 million homebuyers access rural housing assistance for the first time."
unverified · Source version 75949 · locator unknown
"reported the following original bill; which was read twice and placed on the calendar"
unverified · Source version 75950 · locator unknown
"Last Action Date Listed March 24, 2026 Action Mr. Welch (for himself, Mr. Justice, Mr. Schiff, and Mrs. Hyde-Smith) introduced"
unverified · Source version 64283 · locator unknown
"by striking ``2,500'' and inserting ``10,000''."
unverified · Source version 64285 · locator unknown
"would modernize housing assistance eligibility requirements and help nearly 30 million homebuyers access rural housing assistance for the first time"
unverified · Source version 64279 · locator unknown
"shall not be defined to include any city or village having a population in excess of 2,500 inhabitants"
unverified · Source version 87923 · locator unknown
"Last Action 03/24/2026 Bill S.4182 Title A bill to amend the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to modify rural housing financing under that Act."
unverified · Source version 87925 · locator unknown
"12/15/2025 | H.R. 6720 | FARM Home Loans Act of 2025 Official Title To amend the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to modify rural housing financing under that Act."
Assessments
Justice materially advanced the goal by helping introduce the FARM Home Loans Act of 2026, which proposed modernizing rural housing assistance eligibility. The record provided shows only bill introduction, not enactment, rulemaking, or any implemented policy change, so the promised outcome was not delivered.
Sen. Justice is listed as a cosponsor of the FARM Home Loans Act of 2026, and a press release states the bill would modernize eligibility and help nearly 30 million rural homebuyers. However, the evidence only shows bill introduction/announcement (March 31, 2026) and provides no documentation that the bill was enacted or that eligibility changes were implemented. Because the legislative effort exists but the policy outcome has not been shown to have been delivered, the status is unresolved.