[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2361 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2361
To provide grants to units of general local government related to pre-
reviewed designs for mixed-income housing, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Accelerating Home Building Act of
2025''.
SEC. 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.
SEC. 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.
SEC. 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.
<all>