S. 2361

119 S2361 IS: Accelerating Home Building Act of 2025
 U.S. Senate
 2025-07-21
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 II  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  S. 2361  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   July 21, 2025   Ms. Blunt Rochester  (for herself and  Mr. Moreno ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs    A BILL
To provide grants to units of general local government related to pre-reviewed designs for mixed-income housing, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Accelerating Home Building Act of 2025  .
2.
Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1)
The United States faces an acute housing supply crisis. As of 2023, the United States faced an estimated housing shortage of 4,870,000 units.
(2)
An increasing share of households are cost-burdened or severely cost-burdened. In 2023, 24 percent of all homeowner households and 50 percent of all renter households were cost-burdened.
(3)
Complex and restrictive land use regulations, permitting processes, and related regulatory burdens hinder housing production and drive housing costs.
(4)
Pre-reviewed designs, also known as pattern books, are sets of construction plans that are assessed and approved by localities for compliance with local building and zoning standards to streamline approval pathways for construction.
(5)
For developers, faster and more predictable permitting through pre-reviewed designs increases access to housing development opportunities and makes new home construction possible.
(6)
For communities, pre-reviewed designs ensure that future development includes positive design features while simplifying review of construction plans.
(7)
Developing pre-reviewed designs strikes a balance between local architectural features and rapid home construction.
3.
Definitions
(a)
In this Act:
(1)
Affordable housing
The term  affordable housing  means housing for which the total monthly housing cost payment is not more than 30 percent of the monthly household income for a household earning not more than 80 percent of the area median income.
(2)
Covered structure
The term  covered structure  means—
(A)
a low-rise or mid-rise structure with not more than 25 dwelling units; and
(B)
includes—
(i)
an accessory dwelling unit;
(ii)
infill development;
(iii)
a duplex;
(iv)
a triplex;
(v)
a fourplex;
(vi)
a cottage court;
(vii)
a courtyard building;
(viii)
a townhouse;
(ix)
a multiplex; and
(x)
any other structure with not less than 2 dwelling units that the Secretary considers appropriate.
(3)
Eligible entity
The term  eligible entity  means—
(A)
a unit of general local government, as defined in section 102(a) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5302(a) );
(B)
a municipal membership organization; and
(C)
an Indian tribe, as defined in section 102(a) of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5302(a) ).
(4)
High opportunity area
The term  high opportunity area  has the meaning given the term in section 1282.1 of title 12, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation.
(5)
Infill development
The term  infill development  means residential development on small parcels in previously established areas for replacement by new or refurbished housing that utilizes existing utilities and infrastructure.
(6)
Mixed-income housing
The term  mixed-income housing  means a housing development that is comprised of housing units that promote differing levels of affordability in the community.
(7)
Pre-reviewed design
The term  pre-reviewed design  means a construction plan that is assessed and approved by a locality for compliance with local building and zoning standards to streamline approval pathways for construction.
(8)
Rural area
The term  rural area  means any area other than a city or town that has a population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants.
(9)
Secretary
The term  Secretary  means the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
4.
Grants for establishing pre-reviewed designs for mixed-income housing
(a)
Authority
The Secretary may award grants to eligible entities to establish designs of covered structures for use in the jurisdiction of the eligible entity that the eligible entity pre-reviews as mixed-income housing.
(b)
Considerations
In reviewing applications submitted by eligible entities for a grant under this section, the Secretary shall consider—
(1)
the need for affordable housing by the eligible entity;
(2)
the presence of high opportunity areas in the jurisdiction of the eligible entity;
(3)
coordination between the eligible entity and a regulating or non-regulating State agency;
(4)
coordination between the eligible entity and State, local, and regional transportation planning authorities; and
(5)
steps the eligible entity has taken to reduce barriers to housing development related to land use regulations, permitting, or related procedural issues.
(c)
Set-Aside for rural areas
Of the amount made available in each fiscal year for grants under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that not less than 10 percent shall be used for grants to eligible entities that are located in rural areas.
(d)
Reports
The Secretary shall require eligible entities receiving grants under this section to report on—
(1)
the impacts of the activities carried out using the grant amounts in improving the production and supply of affordable housing;
(2)
the pre-reviewed designs established using the grant amounts in their communities;
(3)
the number of permits for pre-reviewed designs issued; and
(4)
the number of housing units produced using the pre-reviewed designs.
(e)
Availability of information
The Secretary shall—
(1)
to the extent possible, encourage localities to make publicly available through a website information on the pre-reviewed designs submitted by eligible entities receiving grants under this section, including information on the benefits of use of those designs; and
(2)
collect, identify, and disseminate best practices regarding such designs to interested localities and parties.
(f)
Repayment
The Secretary may require an eligible entity to return to the Secretary any grant funds received under this section if the pre-reviewed designs submitted under this section have not been approved during the 5-year period following receipt of the grant, unless that period is extended by the Secretary.
(g)
Authorization of appropriations
(1)
In general
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
(2)
Technical assistance
The Secretary may set aside not more than 10 percent of amounts appropriated under paragraph (1) in a fiscal year to provide technical assistance to grant recipients under this section and pre-grant technical assistance for prospective applicants.