Federal fair housing laws refer to a set of legislation that prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or financing of housing based on certain protected characteristics such as race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status and disability. These laws aim to ensure equal access to housing opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their protected characteristics. The primary federal law that enforces fair housing is the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which was later amended in 1988 to include additional protected classes.