Truth in Housing Act
Latest action. Referred to Senate Committee on Commerce.
Truth in Housing Act - Declares it to be the purpose of this Act to promote effective price competition by (1) minimizing the capacity of sales practices to deceive the consumer; and (2) by enabling the consumer to make an informed choice with respect to the cost of purchasing and maintaining a dwelling, especially regarding plumbing, heating and electrical systems and structural components. Provides that any person who sells, acts as an agent, or furnishes mortgage credit for the purchase of a dwelling for occupancy by not more than 4 families shall be responsible for the written disclosure to the purchaser of any substantial defects which exist. States that where such disclosure has not been made the contract shall be voidable at the option of the purchaser. Provides that if any part of a written disclosure contains an untrue statement, the purchaser acquiring the dwelling may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction, against the seller or his agent in the sale, and the person who furnished mortgage credit for the purchase of that dwelling. Makes void any condition purporting to bind a person acquiring any dwelling to which this Act applies to waive compliance with any provision of this Act. Directs the Federal Trade Commission to administer and enforce this Act, with the assistance of the Secretary for Housing and Urban Development, the Administrator for Veterans Affairs, and the Secretary of Agriculture. Directs the Commission to establish an Advisory Committee to advise and consult with in the exercise of its functions under this Act. Authorizes appropriations to the Commission of such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in Senate" stage on June 20, 1973. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on July 25, 1973: Referred to Senate Committee on Commerce.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the Senate
- Passage by the House
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 93rd Congress (1973-74), 651 of the 23,396 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 2.8 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
PHILIP HART (D-MI) introduced it on June 20, 1973. No cosponsors are recorded.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on June 20, 1973, 19440 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 19405 days ago, on July 25, 1973.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 93rd Congress has not finished by January 3, 1975 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- SenateIn committee, no floor vote yet
- HouseAwaits Senate passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers