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119-hr-855119th CongressWALLET

Housing Innovation Act

Sponsored By: Representative DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]

Introduced

Summary

An Office of Housing Innovation at HUD would coordinate planning, pilots, and cross‑agency work to expand and diversify housing supply, improve affordability, and shorten commutes.

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  • Families and workers: Targets more housing near transit and job centers to improve affordability and reduce commute times. Local planning grants can cover outreach and research and may be up to $2 million per locality.
  • Local governments and planners: Provides technical assistance and competitive grants to support zoning and regulatory reforms. Congress authorizes $100 million per year for 2026 through 2032 with 90 percent directed to local planning grants.
  • Researchers, nonprofits, and federal partners: Creates pilot and education grants to study housing and mobility with awards capped at $500,000 for pilots and $200,000 for education projects. The bill also adds two Assistant Secretary positions and requires detailees from DOT, EPA, and DOE to staff the office.

*Authorizes new federal spending including $100 million per year for grants from 2026 through 2032 and $50 million per year for the office's operations beginning in 2026.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Cities and schools get housing grants

The government would provide $100 million each year from FY2026 through FY2032. 90% would fund city planning grants, 5% research pilots, and 5% education and outreach. Cities in urbanized areas could seek up to $2 million for planning to boost supply, affordability, and cut commutes. Partnerships of local governments, colleges, or nonprofits could get research or pilot grants up to $500,000, with limits for repeat awards based on non‑federal match. Partnerships with an academic institution could get outreach grants up to $200,000, with similar limits; Congress says this should not cut other affordable housing funding.

New HUD office for housing innovation

HUD would create an Office of Housing Innovation led by a new Assistant Secretary. The office would share new housing ideas, run the bill’s grants, and help cities update plans. HUD would have nine Assistant Secretaries in law (up from seven). Two staff from Transportation, one from EPA, and one from Energy would be detailed on a reimbursable basis. The office would get $50 million each year starting in FY2026, and HUD could issue rules to run it.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]

CA • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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