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.
Key claim: S5125 would require all newly constructed, federally assisted single-family houses and townhouses to meet minimum visitability standards for persons with disabilities.
Abstract
(S5125 · 119th Congress) Latest action (2026-07-23): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Why this matters
Single-family homes and townhouses are largely exempt from the Fair Housing Act’s accessible-design requirements and the ADA, leaving people with mobility disabilities unable to enter or use most private housing — including that built with federal assistance. S5125 would apply minimum visitability standards (typically a zero-step entry, accessible ground-floor bathroom, and wider interior doors) at the point of new construction, when compliance is cheapest, expanding the housing stock that disabled residents and visitors can meaningfully access.