Congressman Maxwell Frost Reintroduces Bipartisan Fair Future Act to Support Successful Reentry by Ending Housing Exclusion for People With Prior Drug Convictions

Congressman Maxwell Frost Reintroduces Bipartisan Fair Future Act to Support Successful Reentry by Ending Housing Exclusion for People With Prior Drug Convictions

Under Current Law, Americans Who Have Served Their Time and Paid Their Debt to Society for Certain Drug Convictions Are Being Denied Housing

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL) and Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) introduced H.R.7765, the Fair Future Act, legislation that would repeal a 1988 amendment to the Fair Housing Amendments Act that has resulted in the permanent denial of rental housing to individuals with prior drug convictions, regardless of the severity of the offense or how much time has passed since the conviction. Rep. Frost first introduced the bill in 2024.

Under current law, more than 9 million people in the United States with prior drug convictions can be denied rental housing. Yet there are no comparable federal restrictions for individuals convicted of murder or other violent crimes, creating a confusing and inconsistent patchwork of rules for property owners to navigate.

Because drug laws vary widely from state to state, this policy can produce dramatically different outcomes for Americans living just miles apart. In one state, a person may serve jail time for marijuana possession and then face permanent exclusion from federal Fair Housing protections. Across the state line, however, the same conduct may be entirely legal.

"Housing is a fundamental human right and the foundation for a stable and dignified life. People who have served their time and repaid their debt to society should be no exception," said Congressman Maxwell Frost. "Outdated housing policies and conflicting state laws deny those with prior drug convictions a fair shot at reentering society. At the same time, the criminalization of homelessness only deepens the cycle of instability, setting people up to fail before they have a chance to rebuild. The Fair Future Act will help break this cycle of exclusion and ensure that a past mistake does not erase a person's right to a safe, stable place to call home."

"Fair access to housing is fundamental to the American Dream," said Congressman Ryan Mackenzie. "For some Americans working to move beyond past mistakes and access housing, the Thurmond Amendment has become an insurmountable obstacle. By allowing housing providers to automatically reject some applicants based on certain past drug convictions, regardless of how much time has passed, the law can shut the door on individuals who have worked to rebuild their lives. It's time to give every American equal opportunity when applying for a lease. That's why it is long overdue that the Thurmond Amendment is repealed and why I'm co-leading the Fair Future Act with Congressman Frost - so millions of Americans can have a fair chance of accessing housing."

The Fair Future Act was inspired in part by testimony from individuals directly affected by the policy, including Yusuf Dahl, a Milwaukee native who served a five-and-a-half-year sentence before earning an Ivy League education and going on to lead a center for entrepreneurship. Despite his accomplishments, Dahl was denied housing while attempting to rent a home for his family in Pennsylvania.

"The bipartisan Fair Future Act recognizes that stable housing is a cornerstone of public safety and economic opportunity," said Yusuf Dahl. "This legislation ensures that a decades-old drug conviction isn't a lifetime barrier to a home. I thank Congressmen Frost and Mackenzie for their leadership in advancing housing policy that rewards rehabilitation, supports families, and strengthens our neighborhoods."

"Prison Fellowship supports the Fair Future Act because we believe that protecting public safety and upholding the God-given dignity of every person can be done at the same time. Blanket housing exclusions do not necessarily make communities safer, and they often undermine successful reentry. Those who have served their time should have access to safe and secure housing options that set them and their families up for success." -Scott E. Peyton, Director, Government Affairs, Prison Fellowship.

The Fair Future Act has also been endorsed by the Drug Policy Alliance, Dream.org, CPAC, Prison Fellowship, Law Enforcement Action Partnership, Center for Employment Opportunities, American Civil Liberties Union, Vera Institute for Justice, Prison Policy Initiative, R Street Institute, JustLeadershipUSA, National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Housing Law Project, National Healthcare for the Homeless Coalition, Due Process Institute, and the National Reentry Network for Returning Citizens.

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