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HR 589 105th Congress House Housing and Community Development Citizen lawsuits Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Crime and Law Enforcement Drug abuse Drug addicts Ex-offenders Federal preemption Government Operations and Politics Group homes Housing codes Housing discrimination Injunctions Judicial review Land use Law Local laws Sex offenders Single family housing Social Welfare

Fair Housing Reform and Freedom of Speech Act of 1997

Introduced: February 5, 1997 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 17, 1997
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Mar 5, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.
Feb 5, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 5, 1997
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Fair Housing Reform and Freedom of Speech Act of 1997 - Amends the Fair Housing Act to permit a dwelling restriction relating to number of unrelated inhabitants, building proximity, or inhabitant's criminal record if such restriction's purpose is to limit land use to single family dwellings.

States that such Act shall not be construed to apply to lawful activity, including a legal action, engaged in solely to: (1) achieve or prevent governmental action; or (2) receive a judicial interpretation of any provision of such Act.

What's happening now April 17, 1997

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Republican 2
R
Wicker, Roger F.
Mississippi · May 1, 1997
 R
Calvert, Ken
California · Feb 5, 1997
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 589: Fair Housing Reform and Freedom of Speech Act of 1997. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-589/
MLA
"H.R. 589: Fair Housing Reform and Freedom of Speech Act of 1997." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-589/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 589, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-589/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 589: Fair Housing Reform and Freedom of Speech Act of 1997](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-589/)
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