Veteran Owner-Builders Rights Act
Creates low-interest VA loans for rural veterans building homes and changes the date for certain VA loan-fee entries.
In the House Veterans' Affairs Committee since Sept. 24, 2026, 11 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 24, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- SENATESENATE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Building a rural home involves financing land and construction, getting permits, and managing the work. The bill would create a VA pilot offering eligible veterans direct loans to buy rural land and build a home, along with blueprints and technical assistance. It would also set permit deadlines and change dates in certain VA loan-fee table entries.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Create direct loans for rural veteran homebuilders
The VA would make loans to eligible veterans to buy rural land and build a home for use as their primary residence. Veterans would have to live there for at least 24 consecutive months after construction, meet credit and repayment requirements, and use the bill’s blueprints.
- Set loan terms and construction rules
Loans would carry 1% interest and could not exceed the reasonable value of construction. Homes would have to use domestic lumber for structural wood framing and, to the maximum extent practicable, domestically sourced or manufactured wood products for listed non-structural components. Representatives Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Bruce Westerman would establish the blueprints with the VA.
- Require timely permits and cover fees
State and local governments would have to issue a construction permit using the program’s blueprints within 45 days of receiving the application, notwithstanding other law. The VA would pay the permit fee.
- Provide help and enforce occupancy rules
The VA would provide technical assistance, which could include construction or repair training and help applying for a permit. If a veteran sells, transfers, leases, or otherwise lets someone else use the home as a primary residence before the 24-month period ends, the unpaid loan balance and accrued interest would become due; the VA could waive this for specified or other unavoidable circumstances.
- Change certain VA loan-fee dates
The bill would change the date in certain VA housing-loan fee-table entries from June 9, 2034, to June 12, 2034.
The bill would offer rural veterans a federal financing option for buying land and building a home, paired with blueprints and technical help. The practical stakes include the terms veterans face, the materials used in construction, and how quickly qualifying permits must be issued.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 24, 2026HOUSESEP 24, 2026By Rep. Perez with 1 original cosponsorReferred to Veterans' Affairs
- SAME DAYNOWHouse committeeSEP 24, 2026VETERANS' AFFAIRS NOWSEP 24, 2026In committee for 11 daysNo hearing yet
- 11 DAYS SO FARPassed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Senate committee—SENATE—
- Passed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 242026SEP 24, 2026REFERREDHOUSEReferred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- SEP 242026SEP 24, 2026INTRODUCEDHOUSEIntroduced in House
At day 11, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
Where your members stand on it
Support from one state
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Rep. Perez’s record: sponsored 28 bills this Congress. 1 passed the House; 0 became law.
- Bruce WestermanR-AR-4ORIGINAL
What readers think
Discussion
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