Sen. Welch Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Expand Rural Home Loans to Towns of 10,000 People
The FARM Home Loans Act of 2026 is currently in the early stages of the legislative process. It was recently introduced in the Senate and sent to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry for review. No further actions are scheduled at this time.
The bill has strong bipartisan support from both parties and addresses a common issue, but it is still in the early stages of the committee process.
This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
By encouraging the construction of accessory dwelling units in rural areas, the bill could add more rental housing options in small towns where housing supply is tight. More available rental units could help stabilize or lower rents in communities that have struggled with housing shortages.
“appurtenances, including accessory dwelling units”
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Senator Peter Welch joined a bipartisan group to introduce the FARM Home Loans Act of 2026. The bill aims to modernize the Farm Credit System by raising the population limit for rural home loans from 2,500 to 10,000, potentially helping 100,000 Vermonters access housing assistance.
Bipartisan legislation introduced in the Senate would allow the Farm Credit System to provide home loans in towns with up to 10,000 people. The FARM Home Loans Act also expressly includes accessory dwelling units in the definition of housing eligible for financing, aligning FCS with USDA goals.
The Fostering the Availability in Rural Markets of (FARM) Home Loans Act would raise the population limit for Farm Credit System lending from 2,500 to 10,000. Proponents argue the current cap is outdated as rural areas grow and face intensifying housing affordability challenges.
No votes or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
FARM Home Loans Act of 2026
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