Bill Seeks to Ban Use of Biometrics in Public Housing, Citing Bias Concerns

A newly introduced bill in Congress seeks to prohibit the use of facial recognition and biometric surveillance in public housing and other federally assisted rental programs. The measure, titled the “No Biometric Barriers to Housing Act of 2025” (H.R. 3060), was reintroduced recently by Representatives Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI). If enacted, the legislation would bar housing authorities and owners from installing or operating systems that rely on biometric identification for purposes such as building access, surveillance, or tenant monitoring. Biometric identification includes facial scans, fingerprint readers, iris recognition, or voice-based identification.

The bill stems from growing concern over the use of emerging security technologies in HUD-assisted sites. In 2019, residents at a New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) site organized to oppose the installation of facial recognition entry systems. Tenants have challenged these systems as biased and prone to error, especially for women, elderly residents, and people of color. False matches have already led to reports of tenants being locked out of their buildings, flagged as intruders, or subject to unjustified police scrutiny.

Some public housing agencies have adopted facial recognition systems for entry and security, sometimes with HUD crime prevention funds or local grants. Though HUD signaled in 2023 that new safety grants should not be used to fund facial recognition systems, the agency has stopped short of requiring their removal or prohibiting their continued use in existing developments.

Biometric System Prohibition, Reporting Requirements

Under the bill, a one-year phaseout period would apply, after which covered properties would be prohibited from using biometric systems for any purpose that could impair fair access to housing. This includes not just public housing and Housing Choice Voucher units, but also properties receiving funding through programs such as HOME, Section 202, Section 811, and the Housing Trust Fund.

In addition to the prohibition, the bill would require HUD to prepare a public report outlining how and where biometric systems have been used in federally assisted housing over the previous five years. That report must include an examination of its impact on residents, demographic breakdowns of affected populations, and any documented cases of harm or bias. The goal, according to the bill’s sponsors, is to inject transparency into a conversation that has so far taken place largely behind closed doors.

Tenant Protections

Civil rights groups have broadly endorsed the bill. For them, the legislation is about affirming the rights of tenants to live without fear of algorithmic discrimination or constant monitoring. As Congress begins to debate the measure, the issue is likely to remain part of a wider conversation about privacy, civil liberties, and digital rights in the age of artificial intelligence.

Housing authorities using or considering facial recognition or biometric entry systems should monitor the bill’s progress closely. Even without new legislation, HUD has previously stated that security grants should not be used to acquire facial recognition technology. And if H.R. 3060 gains traction, existing systems could be subject to removal or deactivation.