What does Preamble of HUD Payment Integrity and Accountability Act of 2026 do?

This bill requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to conduct an improper payment assessment. The assessment applies to both project-based and tenant-based assistance.

What does SHORT TITLE. of HUD Payment Integrity and Accountability Act of 2026 do?

This bill is formally titled the HUD Payment Integrity and Accountability Act of 2026.

What does DEFINITIONS. of HUD Payment Integrity and Accountability Act of 2026 do?

This section defines terms used within the Act. “Department” is defined as the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The terms “project-based assistance” and “tenant-based assistance” are defined by reference to section 8(f) of the United States Housing Act of 1937. “Public housing agency” is defined by reference to section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937. “Secretary” is defined as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

What does MANDATORY COMPLIANCE DATE. of HUD Payment Integrity and Accountability Act of 2026 do?

This section establishes a mandatory compliance date for improper payment assessments. The Secretary must include a compliant improper payment assessment in the agency financial report for fiscal year 2027. The assessment applies to both project-based and tenant-based assistance. The Secretary is required to develop and execute a detailed plan and timeline for testing and reporting improper payment estimates. The plan and timeline must comply with Federal law and guidance from the Office of Management and Budget.

What does IDENTIFYING FRAUD IN HOUSING AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE. of HUD Payment Integrity and Accountability Act of 2026 do?

This section requires the Secretary to notify the Inspector General of the Department within 60 days of determining significant increases in housing assistance payments or grants. A determination triggers notification when the aggregate amount of payments under the United States Housing Act of 1937 increases by over 100% in a single year for a ZIP Code and county. Another trigger for notification is a greater than 100% increase in the number of owners, landlords, or public housing agencies receiving Federal rental assistance in a ZIP Code and county. Similar notification requirements apply to the Community Development Block Grant program and Disaster Recovery funds, based on increases exceeding 100% in payments or the number of sub-recipients/contractors. Within two years of enactment and annually thereafter, the Inspector General must identify programs or areas with a 400% increase in payments or participating providers over five years. The Inspector General is then required to audit these identified programs, agencies, or recipients to ensure compliance with improper payment testing and detect potential fraud.

What does INSPECTOR GENERAL OVERSIGHT. of HUD Payment Integrity and Accountability Act of 2026 do?

This section establishes oversight responsibilities for the Department's Inspector General (IG) regarding rental assistance programs. Before a deadline, the IG must certify the Secretary’s assessment methodology is statistically sound and addresses findings from audits related to improper payments. The IG must also certify the Secretary made a serious effort to obtain data and supporting documents for the assessment. The IG is required to conduct and submit a fraud risk assessment to specified Senate committees focusing on approximately $50 billion annually in rental assistance. This assessment must identify high-risk nodes in the payment chain. The IG must execute a comprehensive data draw to reconcile payments and identify barriers to computer matching agreements with the 'Do Not Pay' database. The report must analyze how system enhancement funding has been utilized to address noncompliance with improper payment laws.

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HUD Payment Integrity and Accountability Act of 2026

Last updated: 4/23/2026 · Introduced: 4/23/2026

Author: Daniel Meuser (R-PA)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill mandates the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to conduct annual improper payment assessments for project-based and tenant-based assistance programs, starting with the fiscal year 2027 agency financial report.
The bill requires the Secretary to notify the Department's Inspector General of significant increases (over 100%) in housing assistance payments or the number of recipients within a specific geographic area, and directs the Inspector General to audit programs showing extreme increases.
The bill establishes oversight responsibilities for the Department's Inspector General, including certifying the Secretary’s assessment methodology, conducting fraud risk assessments of rental assistance programs, and analyzing the use of system enhancement funding.

119th Congressin committeeOfficial page

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Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 4 more.

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